The Limitations of the Istari

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by William Cloud Hicklin

Well, in that same encounter Saruman names himself "Saruman Ring-maker," which implies I think that the ring was one of his own creation, the fruit of his investigations into the Mirdain's craft.

True that, and you're probably right. Then again, Saruman also called himself Saruman the Wise, and that was a bit of an exaggeration at that point in his history.

It still seems clear that whatever the origin of that ring, it wasn't of much account. Maybe Saruman's failure to craft a Ring of Power of his own led to an easier submission to Sauron.