The Star of David Ring That Survived: 5 True Tales of Resilience, Identity & Pride

Long before any of us Googled “Star of David ring,” small bands of silver and gold were already carrying whole life stories—hope smuggled past guards, pride flashed in a boxing ring, even a modern beauty‑queen moment that went viral overnight. Every account below is documented; nothing here is invented. Read, share, and remember why a single six‑pointed star still lights the way.

1 · A Mug at Auschwitz Gave Up Its Secret (1945 → 2016)

In 2016, conservators at the Auschwitz‑Birkenau Museum X‑rayed a chipped enamel mug. Tucked between its double walls lay a gold ring and necklace—hidden by a Jewish prisoner who still hoped the Nazis were merely “resettling” families. The jewelry slept unseen for over 70 years until corrosion split the mug’s bottom seam.

A ring is the smallest suitcase; it carried both terror and fragile hope.

Wear the story: our own two‑piece Star of David ring locks together the same way families lock memories.

2 · Ben Bril—The Boxer Who Never Took Off His Star (1935 → 2003)

Dutch flyweight champion Ben Bril won gold at the 1935 Maccabiah Games and began wearing a Star of David ring to match the emblem on his boxing trunks. When the Nazis deported him, guards stripped prisoners of valuables—yet Bril managed to hide the ring through Westerbork, Bergen‑Belsen, and Theresienstadt. After the war he refereed Olympic bouts, the same ring still gleaming on his hand at age 90.

Ben Bril, key figure in the knokploeg of Boxing Club Olympia (Amsterdam, 1945).

“Every jab has a purpose—so does every symbol you carry.” —Ben Bril

Related read: History of the Star of David symbol →

3 · The Hidden Jews of Viviers, France (1942 → 2023)

Wartime records from the medieval town of Viviers list a “bague à l’étoile de David”—a Star of David ring confiscated from Polish refugees. Local clergy later smuggled those families across the Swiss border. In 2023, a new exhibit finally displayed the ring beside video testimony from survivors.

Early-1900s street scene in Viviers-sur-Rhône, France.

Rural rescue networks rarely make headlines; artifacts like this prove how far quiet courage traveled.

4 · Miss Universe Lands in Israel (2021)

Hours after Andrea Meza—reigning Miss Universe 2020—landed at Ben‑Gurion Airport, El Al presented her with a gold Star of David ring engraved “Am Yisrael Chai.” Photos hit Twitter, racking up 1.8 million impressions in 48 hours and sparking style pieces on Jewish jewelry.

The Star of David ring worn by Miss Universe Andrea Meza that was gifted by El Al Israel Airlines and designed by Rachie Shnay. Photo: Instagram.

From red-carpet rings to Reels—symbols travel fast. Yours can, too.

5 · Mobster Bling—Mickey Cohen’s Diamond Star Ring (1950s → Auction 2022)

Los Angeles gangster Mickey Cohen, DOJ booking photo, 1961.

LA crime boss Mickey Cohen flaunted a 14‑carat gold Star of David ring covered in diamonds. When “mobster memorabilia” hit the block in 2022, the ring drew bids past $15,000 and coverage from the Jewish Chronicle.

Symbols transcend heroes and villains; the same star can stand for resistance, faith—or raw swagger.

Why These Star of David Ring Stories Matter

Every era forges its own Star of David rings—some in secret, some center-stage. Whichever story speaks to you, carry it forward. Our two-piece Star of David ring lets you wear that legacy daily, with 10 % donated to IDF support programs. Shop Now