the dracula rings

[Count_Zirock]

My tax refund was a little bigger than I'd anticipated this year, so I'm considering ordering one of these rings. I have to email them to find out size and price conversions, plus shipping.

Well, the tax refund got eaten up by some unexpected veterinary and car repair expenses. So, no Bram Stoker Film Festival Dracula Ring for me, I'm afraid.

[Count_Zirock]

Well, after almost a year-and-a-half of just about daily wear, the worst thing that could happen, did.

It's the Factory Entertainment Collector's Edition ring, and it clearly states it's a prop replica, not jewelry. The worst part? I didn't hear the crest fall off, so I couldn't retrieve it to glue it back on!

[HARRY HAMMOCK]

Oh crap! Sorry that happened!

[Count_Zirock]

Oh crap! Sorry that happened!

My own fault, really. I wore it out to dinner, then we went grocery shopping. Should've pocketed it once we hit Walmart!
Luckily, I picked up 2 more during last October's $35 & free shipping sale at Factory. But, I just might email them and see if they'd sell me a replacement crest.

[Count_Zirock]

Didn't get a reply from Factory, so I'm guessing they don't have any crests.

[Dr. Vollin]

Has anyone ordered the Stoker International Film Conference ring from Whitby?  I'm really interested in this ring, but $310 US seems a little dear for something that I'm not seeing in advance.

Also -- I've been reading these posts and I'm still a little confused.  If I were to buy a Dracula ring that I intend to wear day-in-day-out, which is the most durable and best bet?

Many thanks!

[Monster Bob]

The $300 ring you are looking at, if you are wearing it. It is the least accurate, but it does have the crest, and is solid CAST in silver. The others are assembled and glued together, and you see what happens. Had they soldered the crest to the base instead of gluing it, the Factory (and others) wouldn't be loosing their crests.

[Dr. Vollin]

Hello Monster Bob -- Many thanks for the advice.  Yes, I do want to wear it.  I've been looking at Dracula rings since the FM Worldcon in 1993 -- but never found one that I thought would hold up with daily wear. 

Do you have the Whitby ring?  If you do, quick question: Is the top solid (like a school graduation ring) or hollow?  That is to say, is there empty space between the underside of the crest and the finger, or is that "bulb" that makes the top of the ring solid and dense?

[Monster Bob]

I would love to have one of these, Dr., but I don't, and would def wear it. My bet is it is hollow underneath, as that just seems to be the way it's done these days, even in custom, one-of-a-kind jewelry. It's a big dollar saver for the manufacturer.

Why not write and ask if it is important to you (I dislike it myself), and let us know.

[Dr. Vollin]

I emailed W. Hammond about the Stoker International/Whitby ring, asking if the uppermost part is solid sterling silver.  This was the reply:

The top of the ring has got cut out open spaces between the silver, but there is whitby jet backed behind the design so you cannot see through it. From the under side all you can see is a solid piece of whitby jet.

So, while this may be the most solid ring, and certainly the one that would survive day-to-day wear best, it somehow seems less attractive to me.  Especially at $310 a pop.  And so, the search continues....!

[Count_Zirock]

That sounds like a cool ring, actually. Wish now I could have afforded it.

Doc, I think for a daily wearing ring, you might want to consider the Factory Collector Edition ring. At $35, it's an inexpensive ring that looks really nice.

Yes, the crest came off mine. But, I should let everyone know that I'm handicapped, and use canes and a wheelchair for mobility. As a result, my jewelry gets banged around, a lot. It's one reason I stopped wearing a wristwatch. (The other is tendonitis in my left wrist.)

[Dr. Vollin]

Sorry to hear about your handicap.  Yes -- for $40 or so I'm a sport -- so I'll try the Collector's Edition.  I'll let you know how it works out!

[Count_Zirock]

Yes -- for $40 or so I'm a sport -- so I'll try the Collector's Edition.  I'll let you know how it works out!

Do a little comparison shopping. A lot of etailers have it for even less than $35, now.

[Count_Zirock]

Yes -- for $40 or so I'm a sport -- so I'll try the Collector's Edition.  I'll let you know how it works out!

Factory Entertainment has both Dracula Crest rings on sale now. $28 for the Collectors Edition, and $199.20 for the Elite Edition.

[BRICK]

First of all, I applaud Factory Entertainment for their concept of offering reproductions from classic Universal movies at  affordable prices to both fans and collectors, and certainly the premise  of owning an actual reproduction of the Dracula Crest ring used in these films (for under $30, no less) would seem to be a pretty major milestone. HOWEVER, being pretty familiar with the design of FJA's ring (I used pictures of it to create, among other things, a wall carving, a pendant and a tie tack), I have some serious concerns about this ring's authenticity and their claim that the piece was cast directly Mr. Ackerman's prop.
Below are pictures of FJA's ring over the years. Notice the stylish texture and detail.



Below is the Factory Entertainment ring. There is a noticeable lack of detail, more so than would be caused by simple re-casting and tweaking (check the missing dimples at the bottom of the topmost crown).



There were rumors that Forry lost the face of his Dracula ring, due to a bad clasp. It is possible that he commissioned a lower quality reproduction of this face. Possibly that could be what this ring is based on. Of course that is mere conjecture. What is certain, however, is that neither version of Factory Entertainment ring appears to be cast from Forry's "official" ring.

Even so, $30 is still pretty reasonable for a rough facsimile of the original ring; admittedly, I nearly bought the piece on a couple of occasions. $250, on the other hand, seems like an outrageous price to pay, especially when one compares quality of Factory Entertainment to the original. I apologize if this topic has been touched upon earlier, and would be curious to know if FactoryEnt can shed any light on this.