The Most Prestigious and Valuable Sports Trophies
Professional athletes hustle every day to win trophies recognizing everything from athleticism to humanitarian accomplishments. Most of the time, winning these trophies is about athletes taking pride in what they’ve done. Sometimes, though, it’s also about placing a trophy that has more than just bragging-rights value in an athlete’s hands. Believe it or not, there are trophies out there that are worth more than your car. There’s at least one trophy that’s worth a lot more than your house too.
The athletes who win these prestigious and valuable trophies are at the top of their game, and so are the trophy makers who’ve designed creations to honor them. At Cristaux, we love the opulence of great trophy awards. That’s why we dig these five valuable, prestigious and soundly designed sports trophies.
Check out Cristaux’s portfolio of trophies and awards.
The FIFA World Cup Trophy
Awarded every four years, this stunning gold trophy is no doubt the most prestigious prize in professional soccer. It’s also the most valuable at a staggering $20,000,000. The trophy award features two human figures supporting a globe and is made from 18k gold. A green malachite base adds a touch of turf to the luxe soccer trophy. This very costly custom trophy has been a coveted award since 1974, when it replaced an earlier trophy that had been awarded to Brazil in perpetuity.
The European Champion Clubs’ Cup
Also known as the Coupe des Clubs Champions Europeens or European Cup, this trophy jug is awarded annually to the soccer club that wins the UEFA Champions League. When it was first commissioned in 1967, the trophy cost some $10,500 to create. Its iteration today is valuable enough that the UEFA keeps the real deal at all times, and winners are awarded a replica or can have their own replica made.
The Stanley Cup
Made of a silver and nickel alloy, hockey’s biggest honor weighs in at almost 35 pounds. The current design features a reproduction of the silver bowl used as the original trophy. In addition to being one of the most prestigious awards around, it’s also one of the easiest to recognize. Of course, each year’s winner enjoys permanent prestige as the names of all players, coaches and club staff are engraved on the cup.
The Larry O’Brien NBA Championship Trophy
This sleek, swirling award features a golden basketball perched atop a gold panel designed to look like a hoop with a net. Tiffany & Co. created the award, which consists of almost 15 pounds of sterling silver and vermeil finished in 24k gold. It’s a beautiful tribute to the NBA Finals champion valued at $13,500. Of course, this stunningly modern design is also clean and elegant, and it represents a lot of what we love here at Cristaux.
The America’s Cup Trophy
Sailing is often considered a sport for the rich, and its biggest award is certainly fit for the rich too. The America’s Cup Trophy is valued today at about $250,000 and is certainly one of the fanciest awards around. An imposing jug, it’s an exemplar of classic trophy design in terms of both craftsmanship and value.
Prestigious, Priceless Design
Of course, prestige isn’t always about monetary value. Even a simple trophy can be priceless when it embodies an accomplishment perfectly. At Cristaux International, we love making trophies that do just that.
Contact Cristaux and start designing your sports trophy today.