The Ring of Saruman?

[Thinlómien]

Originally Posted by Gandalf, in the Council of Elrond

But I rode to the foot of Orthanc, and came to stair of Saruman; and there he met me and led me up to his high chamber. He wore a ring in his finger.

It doesn't say anything about rings of power.

The ring however, maybe had some magic abilities, as it is paid so much attention.

[Rhod the Red]

First you say no, then maybe? Lol, untie yourself comrade!

[Thinlómien]

I think we have a problem of definition here. You say, that any ring with magic abilities is a ring of power. (Right?) I use the name ring of power only for really significant items, such as the 19 rings made by the elf smiths and the One Ring.

My theory about Saruman's ring, however, is that it was a lesser ring with little magical power, or it was only a status symbol, or that it was a creation of Saruman, who had tried to create a powerful item (and probably failed by the way).

[Rhod the Red]

It was a ring of power, period, in my view. Whether o not it was equal to the originals, does it matter?

[Thinlómien]

As a matter of definition would you call the lesser rings the elf smiths made rings of power?

[Rhod the Red]

Yes.

[Thinlómien]

Then we're arguing over definitions.

I'm only wondering, that if Saruman's ring had power, what did it do?

[narfforc]

Saruman studied the craft of Ring-making for a long period in an attempt gain inner knowledge of The One and Sauron. The Ring of Saruman may well of been the first step towards creating his own Ring of Power, as with the lesser rings of the elves (Essays in the craft). There is no reason why a wizard of the order of Saruman would require to make and wear Bling, he calls himself Ring-maker and not jewel-smith. Even if the ring had the same power as Bilbo's magic cuff-links, it therefore had some power. It is either a ring of no power or some power, it may not be as one of the rings that the elves made, but does that stop others from doing exactly the same thing the elves did to make theirs.