How to Make a Puzzle Ring

The 2nd century Chinese general, Hung Ming, described to his court jeweler how to make a puzzle ring.  This jeweler was to create a gift for the general’s beloved spouse.  The gift was to occupy the mind of his wife while he was away at war.

Making its way to the country of Turkey, then the crossroads of the world, the puzzle ring became associated by name with its new home as did the gem turquoise.

The ability of the puzzle ring to distract was brought into play again during the lengthy pre-wedding wait suffered by the groom to be.  Given a ring puzzle, he could collect himself during the absorbing search for the puzzle ring solution.

Puzzle jewelry though they are, puzzle rings garnered the fascination of medieval European mathematicians who described the puzzle ring solution in their own esoteric terms.

How to Make a Puzzle Ring

There is no secret initiation into the mystery of how to make a puzzle ring.  Like the puzzle ring solution itself, it seems obvious once you know the pattern.

We can use the 4 ring puzzle as our model since all the other versions, six, eight and twelve ring puzzle are based on it.  Simple tools such as wire bending pliers and metal wire are all you need to start.  A vice (hand or bench) makes the job easier but is not required.

Cut four pieces of wire, equal length, and lay the pieces horizontally one above the other.  Make each wire longer than you would normally need for the ring size desired.  This will allow for the bending and twisting involved.

The top wire is #1 and after it goes thru the weaving process it will be in the same position.  This is true for each band in the puzzle ring, it will be return to the same level as it started from. 

Spread wires #2 and #3 apart.  #1 overlaps #2 while #4 overlaps #3 and then over #1.  Make a broad V-shaped bend in both #1 and #4, with #4 overlapping #1 and forming a diamond shape between the two.

Lap #2 over #4 and #3 over #1, then #2 and #4 so that they cross above the middle of the diamond shape formed by the V-bend in #1 and #4.  This leaves you with #3 on the top, #1 next, #4 and #2 on the bottom.

From this point you can wrap the top wire, #3, under #1 and parallel to #4.  This will bring wire #1 back to the top position. 

Bring #2 under #4 and #3 that brings it back to its position parallel to #1.  Each wire has returned to its starting place.

Now you bend the whole thing into a ring shape, size it and solder the end of each wire to itself while avoiding soldering any of the adjacent wires to each other.

Note:  Make a definite small bend in each wire where they cross.  This aids in reassembly when solving the puzzle.

To create puzzle rings with more than four bands is simple.  Double up on each inside wire to make a six band ring and double the outside wires as well to make an eight band ring.  For a ten band ring you will double the outside wires and triple the inside ones or triple #’s 1, 2, 3 and 4 to make a twelve band puzzle ring.

Puzzle Ring Solution

For a four band ring, finding the puzzle ring solution is a matter of identifying the outside bands.  These will each have a definite V-shape bend and when properly oriented will form a diamond shape.  The two inside bands will be dangling at this point.

Grasping the two dangling inside bands, invert the whole assembly, allowing the diamond forming outside bands to dangle.  This brings the two inside bands to the top where they will nestle together when you get them oriented properly.

Rotate one of the outside bands until you can start to align its knot-work with the two inside bands.  Do the same with the other outside band, fitting it gently into the knot.

The six band puzzle ring is essentially a four band ring with each inside band doubled.  Nestle the #2 with #2A and #3 with #3A and treat each pair as a single band.  Assemble as a four band from there.

With eight bands there are two of each outside band and two of each inside.  Bring the pairs together and treat as a single band for the four band puzzle ring solution.

A ten band puzzle ring will have each outside band doubled and each inside band tripled.  The pattern continues with the twelve band puzzle rings have three of each outside band and three of each inside band.  Once the pairs or triplets are matched up it is like finding the four band puzzle ring solution.

Whether you are wondering how to make a puzzle ring or are looking for the puzzle ring solution, you will be delving into the topological mysteries of this puzzle jewelry.

Puzzle Ring

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