On Tuesday night, October 20, I attended a ring-night afterparty at Crane Club hosted by Jason Arasheben, the founder of Jason of Beverly Hills. Earlier that evening, the New York Knicks had unveiled their championship rings at Madison Square Garden before opening the 2026 to 27 season. The moment joined sports history, jewelry design and a question that had already been circulating in New York’s jewelry scene: who should make the city’s championship jewelry?

The ring’s maker was no longer a mystery by the time the team took the floor. Jason of Beverly Hills designed and manufactured the rings in collaboration with Knicks leadership. The on-court ring presentation was handled by Knicks legend Walt “Clyde” Frazier, a member of the franchise’s 1970 and 1973 title teams.

Walt “Clyde” Frazier and Jalen Brunson share a moment on the Madison Square Garden court during the championship ring ceremony.
Walt “Clyde” Frazier and Jalen Brunson during the championship ring ceremony at Madison Square Garden. New York Knicks

The Knicks’ long-awaited title made the ceremony especially meaningful. The 2026 championship was the franchise’s first since 1973, ending a 53-year wait. The team’s ring turns that history into a piece built to be examined up close.

Set in white gold, the ring contains just under 800 diamonds and sapphires totaling 22 carats, according to the announcement from Madison Square Garden Sports. Its most striking feature is mechanical: a turn raises a miniature recreation of Madison Square Garden’s exterior. The removable top and twisting ring body reveal further miniature details of the arena, including its ceiling architecture and lower bowl.

The design also encodes the season. Sixteen emerald-cut diamonds represent the Knicks’ 16 postseason victories. A 0.16-carat diamond recalls the 16-point comeback in the championship-clinching game, while 69 points of diamonds reference the team’s combined regular-season and playoff wins. The inner shank carries “Knicks in Five,” a reference to the team’s Finals victory over San Antonio.

Jalen Brunson raises his hands with a Knicks championship ring visible on his finger at Madison Square Garden.
Jalen Brunson displays his Knicks championship ring at Madison Square Garden. New York Knicks

The choice of maker had a local backdrop. New York jeweler Alex Moss created championship-parade pendants for Knicks players Josh Hart and Karl-Anthony Towns. In a June interview with Page Six, before the official ring maker had been announced, Moss argued for local participation in the city’s championship pieces. “Imagine if someone like Jason of Beverly Hills was making the Knicks pieces. It just doesn’t make sense,” he said.

That comment is relevant context, not evidence of a broader industry backlash or a response to the final ring commission. The official ring maker had not yet been publicly identified when Moss made it, and I have not found a public statement from him reacting to the finished rings. His perspective nevertheless captures a real question behind sports jewelry: should a city’s championship be marked by the strongest ring-making operation available, by a local jeweler, or by a collaboration that brings both together?

For this championship, the Knicks chose Jason of Beverly Hills, whose design makes Madison Square Garden the centerpiece. The ring is technically ambitious and unmistakably tied to New York. The conversation around who gets to make such a symbol is part of the story, too.

The ceremony set the stage for opening night, but the game did not follow the script. Philadelphia rallied to beat New York 106 to 100. Tyrese Maxey scored 28 points, Jaylen Brown added 19 in his 76ers debut, and LeBron James finished with 14 points, nine rebounds and six assists in his first game with Philadelphia.

One Knicks bright spot carried its own milestone. Andre Drummond, pressed into early duty when Karl-Anthony Towns picked up two quick fouls, needed just over 14 minutes to reach 10 points and 11 rebounds, the third-fastest double-double in team history according to SNY, and per BasketNews he became the first Knicks player in 30 seasons to record a first-half double-double in a season opener. He finished the 106 to 100 loss with 12 points and 14 rebounds.

New York raised its banner and received its rings, then had to turn immediately toward the new season. The jewelry will preserve the championship run; the opener was a reminder that the next one has already begun.

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