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How does the Blackhawks’ 2013 Cup ring compare to the 2010 edition? (Photo)

Sunday night marked the end of the NHL preseason, which means the actual season is only a few days from getting underway. But before we drop the puck on another year of hockey, there's still one piece of business to take care of: the exchanging of bling.

Behold, the Chicago Blackhawks 2012-13 Stanley Cup rings:

Shiny. Impressive. Definitely better than my lame wedding ring, which is just a bland gold band.

Although, considering the Cup win came in a lockout year, I will admit my disappointment that the final product doesn't appear to include a diamond-encrusted asterisk. Missed opportunity.

We'll let the jewellers at Jostens -- who also designed the Blackhawks' 2010 rings and many of the other recent Stanley Cup rings -- describe what they did put into these ostentatious collectibles, presented to the Blackhawks at a special ceremony Sunday night:

The spectacular ring is framed by the words “Stanley Cup” and “Champions” and features the iconic Blackhawks logo fashioned in round brilliant and marquis cut diamonds with custom-cut tapered rubies set on a background of 14 kt. white gold.

The side design features seven baguette-cut rubies and two pear-shaped emeralds set in the shape of the Blackhawks’ secondary logo. This emblem is set against the background of a "C" formed in yellow gold and yellow diamonds. Each ring is personalized with a championship team member’s name and respective number against an antique black background.

The opposite side features five diamond-studded Stanley Cup trophies. Each one represents a championship title, and includes the years in which they were won, including 1934, 1938, 1961, 2010 and 2013.

Intricate arboring on the inside of each player’s ring adds to the distinctive design, featuring the team’s motto: “One Goal,” and the playoff series score.

Here's a better look at what they're talking about on the inside, as well as the sides.

According to Jostens, the ring includes 260 diamonds and gemstones totaling approximately 14.68 carats.

That's actually down from the 404 diamonds and gemstones of the 2010 rings, although what they lack in pieces, they make up for in carats. The 2010 rings totalled approximately 8 carats. At 14.68, they very nearly doubled it this time around.

That probably has something to do with all the rubies, which make up the biggest visual difference between that ring and this one. The 2010 editions weren't as red:

Note the absence of rubies. Obviously the Blackhawks were on a budget that offseason. No rubies. No Antti Niemi. Not this offseason. They paid their Cup-winning netminder and they sprung for the rubies.

Check out some of the other recent Stanley Cup rings on this Puck Daddy post.