Being very interested in this thread, I think it worthwhile to put in what Elrond said to Gloin about the Three Elven Rings at the Council held in Rivendell:
'The Three were not made by Sauron, nor did he ever touch them. But of them it is not permitted to speak. So much only in this hour of doubt I may now say. They are not idle. But they were not made as weapons of war or conquest: that is not their power. Those who made them did not desire strength or dominion or hoarded wealth, but understanding, making and healing, to preserve all things unstained. These things the Elves of Middle-earth have in some measure gained, though with sorrow. But all that has been wrought by those who wield the Three will turn to their undoing, and their minds and hearts will be revealed to Sauron, if he regains the One. It would be better if the Three had never been'. (
LotR, Book 2, Chapter II)
This makes clear what has been discussed, by
Morthoron,
Inziladun and others, that the Three were a different sort of ring to the other Rings of Power.
I don't know what people think, but I've always got irritated with Elrond stating that it was 'not permited' to speak about the Three.
My question has been in response, 'Not permitted by
whom?' If Elrond had just said that it was dangerous to talk openly about those rings, it would have been understood by everyone present.