The Class of June 83 is working on a proposal to have an OCS Graduation Ring designed. Design is in progress as shown by the image below.
More information will be provided through class orderlies as the design firms up. If interested, you could contact Ash Pagett through your class orderly who has further information and direct contact details.
4/10/2019 We have just received sample photos of the design as done for 1RNZIR.
Indicative prices will depend on final design. The following are prices for the above rings and depend on the price of gold.
- White Lustrium AUD $499
- Silver/Platinum AUD $699
- 6K Yellow Gold AUD $899
- 10K Yellow or White Gold AUD$1399
- 14K Yellow or White Gold AUD $1899
- 18K Yellow or White Gold AUD $2099
15/11/2019 Since designing the earlier OCS Portsea ring concept in consultation with the project’s early supporters (from multiple classes), the project team has since completed technical final artwork (FA) for the manufacturers we have shortlisted.
See this file containing the range of OCS Portsea (OCSP) rings we designed, in both white precious metal (WPM) and yellow gold (YG). The images are shown below.
Recently, we requested design proposals from several shortlisted vendors and have whittled the list down to 2-3 finalists and we are now in the process of evaluating their design and commercial proposals.
We anticipate the winning designs being available for posting on the project’s blog by the end of Nov. 2019.
Subsequently, prototype rings should be available as photographic product models by year-end 2019 or early Jan. 2020 at the latest.
Once the rings have been supplied to the project’s early supporters (from multiple classes), class 6/83 “2020 SE Asia Reunion” attendee buyers, and class 6/83 buyers by end Q1, 2020; then ring orders will be opened up to all OCS Portsea alumni buyers who are interested. We expect from Q2, 2020 onwards.
Eventually, orders will be able to be placed by individual OCS Portsea alumnus buyers directly with the vendor(s) selected. Our project team and class 6/83 has no profit motive and has completed this project as a public service to the OCS Portsea alumni community.
“Design once, use many times.”
16/12/2019 Update
- Having whittled down its vendor shortlist to two finalists (one US and one Australian), the OCS Portsea Ring Project subsequently received only one vendor’s design proposal on time.
- The proposal submitted on time was from the US vendor finalist. A belated design proposal from the Australian vendor is still awaited.
- The US vendor finalist has proven to be very accommodating of the project’s requirements. Their design proposal (below) conforms exactly with the project’s original design concept and technical drawings.
- Accordingly, the US vendor’s latest revision of their oval face design proposal has been ACCEPTED.
- With the ring’s oval face design proposal now accepted, the project is now focusing on the customisable text elements and commercial matters prior to placing some initial prototype orders.
- Owing to technical constraints, the intended range of ring standard model configurations has been reduced from three to two (below).
- As OCS Portsea’s livery colours evolved over time, to appease the different eras of graduates the ring’s background colours will also be customisable. With two red and two blue colour options to choose from.
- So, all eras of OCS Portsea alumni should be able to select the colour scheme that resonates with them the most.
- In addition to oval class-signet rings; matching cuff links, lapel pins, tie pins/clips, necklace pendants and other quality merchandising products are planned.
2/01/2020 Update
ADDENDUM (02/01/2020):
- On reflection, I was a little disappointed to notice that our Australian vendor finalist’s prototype is not true to our technical final artwork that we provided them. See annotated picture below.
- Alas, an argument for the vendor following our selection process properly and getting their design proposal accepted before going into prototype production.
- In any event, I will raise the design and quality issues noted below with the vendor. Hopefully, they will be receptive to correcting the issues raised.
- UPDATE – FOR PROJECT SUPPORTERS (02/01/2020):
- Happy New Year everyone and best wishes for 2020!
- Our OCS Portsea Ring Project is off to a flying start. Just as well, as my recent/ongoing email provider problems and the year-end Christmas rush resulted in the project falling behind schedule.
- Anyway, our project’s dual source strategy just got a major boost, which may help to get our timeline back on schedule.
- Specifically, our Australian vendor finalist in Melbourne, VIC — having missed the earlier design proposal deadline of 27 Nov. 2019 — is now attempting to make up the lost ground and confidence.
- They are proactively producing a “proof of concept/capability” prototype — at their own expense.
- Presently, the prototype is still a work in progress, sans the contrasting centre lion/crown crest insert and background enamel colour scheme. See picture below.
- While some minor imperfections are visible and need further refinement, it looks very promising. So, this new development augurs well for a “Made In Australia” option.
- The prototype edges (mold?) could do with refinement and hopefully reduce the texture on the non-enamel recessed backgrounds too.
- However, once the crest insert and background enamel has been added, it should be acceptable — subject to the above refinements.
- I think they’re using a mold process rather than die press (stamping)? Anyway, a promising prototype.
- We eagerly await images of their completed prototype in due course.
- Meanwhile, we are still waiting for the US vendor finalist to confirm the “top size” or oval face dimensions in mm (in relation to their price list) prior to placing our pending prototype firm orders with them.
11/02/2020 Update
- Greetings from dusty Delhi, India.
- After permanently relocating to Puteri Harbour, Malaysia recently; your project manager (Carl 6/83) is in Delhi, India on a secret mission. Alas, a long awaited and much anticipated hair transplant — believe it or not.
- Currently, I am five days post op hiding out in a Delhi hotel room.
- Anyway, for the above personal reasons, kindly forgive my belatedly getting around to progressing our OCS Portsea Ring Project.
- Please find below an image of the revised (Prototype 2.0) combined design and prototype proposal from our Australian vendor finalist.
- The prototype is of the OCSP-RYG standard model configuration in default 14K yellow gold and garter blue/red colour way.
- In my absence, Ash Pagett 6/83 will be taking delivery of the prototype in Australia for formal design and prototype quality assurance purposes. A prerequisite to opening up the project for orders, in the earlier mentioned order of march.
- Your acceptance (or not) feedback regarding this prototype 2.0 proposal would be greatly appreciated. Email: carl.corbett@azea.com
SITREP: The not for profit OCS Ring Project (OCSRP) is proud to announce the belated “hard launch” of it’s graduation rings is scheduled for late March 2023. The major delays encountered over the past three years (2020-2023) arose from the global COVID lockdowns and from related issues on the VIC-based ring maker’s side, i.e. enameling skills shortages across the industry following the 2021 COVID lockdowns. Also, in 2022 your SE Asia based project sponsor/manager (Carl Corbett 6/83) was distracted with deceased estate matters and a personal health scare affecting his eyesight to the present time. Despite these challenges, progress with improving the rings’ quality and the ring maker’s in-house skills set has continued on quietly behind the scenes. Including prototyping refinement and fulfillment process test drive stages in 2022, resulting in the ring maker now consistently producing high quality rings within 2-3 months to order. To date, seven rings have been made and accepted by their project volunteers (4) [from class 6/83] and early project supporters [from many difference classes] buyers. All volunteered to become involved with the project during its early teething stages. The project is grateful to them (one and all) for their early support. A belated series of long format project communications updates will follow. End of message.
Correction: …To date, “six (6)” (not seven) rings have been made and accepted…
That’s out of a total of eight (8) rings made so far.
In addition, one of the six FCS accepted rings (Ash Pagett 6/83) above had to be remade, owing to early enameling QA issues.
In March 2022, a First Customer Shipping (FCS) prototyping phase of the project was started, which included four (4) initial volunteers (“pioneers”) from class 6/83. I (Carl 6/83) — your project sponsor/manager — was one of the volunteers.
Of this original group of four volunteers, only two have FCS accepted rings at this time (Jan 2023). The two outstanding ring orders having to be remade, in one case (mine) more than once. The two affected non-accepted orders are notable as they are both in white metal. The only white metal rings ordered to date.
So, we have no white metal rings that have been FCS accepted at this time (Jan 2023). The most recent issue annoyingly, is the resurfacing of an original issue (Mar 2020) of the mid red colour not being made to specification. This is a very frustrating as this issue revisits the original issue that stalled the project three years ago, pre-COVID response lock downs. Two steps forward two steps back?
On a positive note, six rings were supplied and accepted in 2022, to either project initial volunteers (FCS prototyping phase) or project supporters (FCS fulfillment test drive phase) buyers. Also, it’s noteworthy that all these rings were made from yellow metal.
For those interested, I will elaborate on the above annoying intermittent red colour QA issue and more in the planned long format articles coming soon.
In the meantime, prudently, rest assured the project is very focused on QA and specification consistency of all ring products. So, that any OCS Portsea alumni ring buyers can end up with rings that they can be proud and have a good purchase experience too.
For example, your class 6/83 “pioneers” (Shane Stroud, Hillary Nicholson, Ash Pagett, & I) volunteered to endure the FCS prototyping and fulfillment test drive processes and setbacks over the past twelve months, so you wouldn’t have too.
As proverbial pioneers, we have all (with the exception of the fortunate Shane Stroud 6/83) been shot full of arrows to prove it.
In my own case, despite working on the project part-time with the artisan ring maker for the past three years and having sunk a lot of my time and capital into the rings design and development, I still don’t have an FCS accepted ring of my own at this time. My priority being to get all the other project volunteers and supporters rings supplied and/or remade first.
Onward.
I look forward to being able to buy one soon.
Rod, I trust that your new OCS Portsea graduation ring is as desired. Thank you for your early support of the project during our fulfillment test drive stage, which was greatly appreciated. If you are happy with your ring, then the project would greatly appreciate a testimonial from you. Best wishes for 2023.
A “project reboot” update is being prepared for all OCS Project ring supporters and this webpage. The update is expected to be released in May 2021, following the expected acceptance of the second iteration of prototype ring produced by one of the two shortlisted vendors.
Regrettably, the project and some of it’s team members has been negatively impacted by the COVID response measures negatively. Including your project sponsor/manager (Carl 6/83) and the project’s two shortlisted vendors. Especially, the primary (“Made in Australia”) vendor in Victoria, who has only just popped up again after a long absence.
Happily, our rebooted project is now making progress once again.
Thanks to everyone for your extreme patience and to Ash Pagett 6/83 for holding the fort here, while I dealt with consequences for the COVID response measures in NZ, Malaysia & Singapore where I live and/or work. And, presently with illness too, just for good measure.
Onward.
Carl
6/83
P.S. Belated congratulations to the OCS Portsea Statue Project’s team. Very well done!
Hi, I trust it’s not too late to provide feedback or ask a question.
I think its a good idea to have a ring made. I would buy a prototype 2.0 in 14k gold however without black or any colours. Would that be possible? Thanks
Hi Zeljko, thanks for the feedback. I expect it will be possible to order the ring without any background colours or (optional) antiquing. Simply specify no background colours when you eventually order directly from the vendor. I expect one of the two vendors should be open for orders by the second half of 2021.
Zeljko, to simplify the ordering process a new standard model ring — without any enamel coatings — is being added to the product range. More background information about this will be featured in a series of long format updates that will shortly be posted above in the lead up to hard launch in late March 2023.
Most impressed with prototype and advise notice in Vet Affairs has drawn interest in purchase and when orders can be lodged .
Ack. Thx.
+1 Thanks Louis.
Louis, thank you for your extreme patience. As noted in the SITREP comment above, the project is belatedly opening for general orders in late March 2023 on a “first come first served” basis, albeit priority will be given to regular/reserve serving officers, elder classes, and deceased estates.
Alumni and Classmates (6/83) – I just wanted to let you all know that today I received delivery of the prototype OCS Portsea Alumni Ring to review for acceptability. I have to say that, on initial eyeballing of the large sized 9ct yellow gold ring, it looks magnificent. The attention to detail in text on the badge and scroll, the proportions, the use of white and yellow gold in the badge with the two red/blue colours surrounding the badge looks excellent. There is a question over the colour matching of the red colour (might be a tad too burnt orange), but this is not structural and is easily resolved through consultation between our Singapore designer and the Victorian manufacturer (Graduation College Rings – Australia). We also have an RFQ out to a US company which is lagging the Aust firm by some weeks I believe. I have posted some photos today on the FB OCS group pages for which I am a member and will try to post some here too; through Paul Asbury and Ossie Kleinig. More information on precious metals available in 9 & 18 ct gold (white, yellow, rose), Silver & Platinum, and three sizes including large, medium and small (ladies size).
Ash,
Will these rings actually be available before my class of 6/65 all fade away?
John, thank you for your extreme patience. As noted in the SITREP comment above, the project is belatedly opening for general orders in late March 2023 on a “first come first served” basis, albeit priority will be given to regular/reserve serving officers, elder classes, and deceased estates
While I cannot find it on here, I understand there is a post from Glenn Cooper (OCS 12/82) who wanted to see a photo of prototype #2 on a finger to get a better perspective.
When I last checked with Carl Corbett (OCS 6/83), the Kiwi classmate who put all the effort into the ring design and prototyping, logo and shirts for embroidery, and travel planning for our mid-2020 OCS reunion in KL, he has been trapped in NZ on COVID-19 lockdown for the last two months. He intends to get back into the swing of things, but all his documentation is at his home in Puteri Harbour, Malaysia. More to follow… Ash
I like the design of the Prototype 2. I would like to see a photo of the ring on a finger to get a better idea of the relative size please. Very tempted. Well done.
Hi,
Congratulations on your fine initiative.
If I was to gather orders for the Graduating Class of 6/69, can you provide me with indicative costs?
Cheers,
Hugh Polson
Class Orderly, Class of June 1969
Hi Hugh, given the large cost, OCS 6/83 have done the design and development work, but we will not be managing the purchasing centrally for anyone, not even our our classmates. There are no discounts for bulk. So its an individual purchase from manufacturer in accordance with the agreed design.