15 March,2010 04:18 PM IST | | Sowmya Rajaram
With the International Hockey Federation (FIH) World Cup over and the IPL underway, we find out how much the hockey trophy weighs and why IPL victors can fashion a few neckpieces from their prizeu00a0
Diamonds are a cricketer's best friend
'Extravagant' doesn't quite cut it when you're looking for words to describe the Indian Premier League trophy, designed by ORRA. And if you have to ask why, you were probably on a distant galaxy, because this 2554-diamond-studded prize was almost as eye-catching as the cheerleaders in their lycra minis. And what's more -- about 5,500 precious stones are studded in approximately 690 gms of gold. We're no jewellery experts, but that seems like enough stash for a few generations of large families.
The shimmering, diamond and ruby-studded IPL trophy. Pic/Satyajit Desai |
The intricately carved hockey world cup trophy |
Punit Jagasia, Partner, Redlion and COO, Publicis Modem
"I think the IPL trophy is too loud.
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It lacks any real aesthetic senibility.
I was quite disappointed when I first saw it.
Personally, my favourite trophies are the shields they hand out at Wimbledon and the English Premier League (EPL). The Wimbledon shields have a real history to them, with the names of past winners etched on them, and they are high on craftsmanship too. They are engraved with beautiful typography and look really classy and cool at the same time. How you present the trophy is almost as important as the trophy itself -- which is why the EPL trophy also scores. It's large, which denotes the significance and importance of the victory, and it's decorated on both sides with ribbons that match the decorations and confetti all around. That also makes a huge difference. The little cups that you get at school events are also quite cute -- they signify victory without going over the top. I think the key is to be stylish without concentrating too much on the glitz."
Arzan Khambatta, sculptor and architect
"Honestly, I find most trophies, whether sporting or otherwise, quite mundane. They are usually garish and in desperate need of subtlety. My favourite sporting trophy is the football world cup trophy. It's as good as a sculpture, and you have to go close to realise that there are actually people with their arms holding up the globe. Size-wise too, it's perfect. I think trophy designing needs to be commissioned to artists and designers -- people with aesthetic sensibilities. It's art, after all."
The costliest win
The Doncaster Cup won by Vedette in England in 1858 is probably the most expensive sporting trophy. The 150 year-old trophy is valued at around $250,000 and is today offered as a perpetual trophy by the Australian Jockey Club for the Group Three Sir Frank Packer Plate