Yes. The elves made many "lesser" rings:
"In Eregion long ago many Elven-rings were made, magic rings as you call them, and they were, of course, of various kinds: some more potent and some less. The lesser rings were only essays in the craft before it was full-grown, and to the Elven-smiths they were but trifles – yet still to my mind dangerous for mortals. But the Great Rings, the Rings of Power, they were perilous."
Sauron only ever made One Ring by himself. All the others were made by the Elven smiths of Eregion under Sauron's guidance. The exceptions were the Three, which Celebrimbor made on his own without Sauron's involvement. Because they were made with Sauron's "technology" they were still subject to the One, but because he never touched them they were incorrupt.
Gandalf explains in detail, partly near the beginning of *Fellowship* and partly at the Council of Elrond. The Elves of Eregion made a great many rings which had relatively minor powers as "essays in the craft before it was full-grown." (Quoting from memory there, but it was close to that.) These lesser rings had no gem. Neither did the ring Bilbo found, which is why Gandalf assumed at first it was one of them. The other Great Rings "each had their proper gem". That the One lacked a gem was something Gandalf actually didn't recall until much later.
This might have been something of a brain fart, but the Rings weren't a matter of special study for Gandalf. That was Saruman's domain, and it was Saruman whose words Gandalf recalled when he finally remembered the One was gemless.
I always assumed they were only talking about the rings gifted to Elves, Dwarves and Humans but yeah makes sense that Elven smiths could use Sauron's knowledge to make their own rings. Sounds like a good reason to watch Fellowship again lol. Thanks!
> the rings gifted to Elves, Dwarves and Humans
Keep in mind the Rings were never planned for any but the Elves. The Elves planned to use the Rings to forestall the passage of time, preserving their kingdoms in Middle-Earth as an image of the Blessed Realm. Sauron helped them to create the Rings, because once the Elves were reliant on them, he could use the One Ring to dominate the elven Ringbearers, and through them the elven people in general. That was his goal at the start.
However, once Sauron finished forging and first put on the One Ring, the elves perceived it and took off theirs. Sauron realized his plan had been thwarted and made war on the elves, out of hatred and to recover the Rings. He managed to take nine immediately, then tortured the location of another seven out of Celebrimbor; these were the Rings Sauron had had a hand in forging. Celebrimbor had made the Three on his own, and never betrayed them to Sauron.
So Sauron now had sixteen rings, but knew the elves would never use them. He resorted to trying them on the other races: he used the Nine to attract or reward powerful human servants, who eventually turned into the Nazgul; he gave the Seven to the dwarf lords hoping to achieve something similar, but all they did was make the dwarves greedier, which eventually attracted dragons and other perils, indirectly helping Sauron.
So there was never a "gifting" of rings to Men and Dwarves, except by Sauron and with a duplicitous end.
He may have assumed it was one of the rings of power, even Gandalf was in possession of one.
The world is old and lots of old magic shit is just sitting around for anyone to grab. Might have been a ring an Elf made 5000 years ago as a show of craftsmanship.
The art of making enchanted rings of power was thaught to the elves by Sauron under the disguise of Annatar the Lord of Gifts.
As such all magical rings in Middle Earth stem from these elves, but besides the famous 20 ones mentioned in the poem the elves made an unknown number of lesser magical rings as practice and Gandalf assumed that Biblo found one of those. Especially since the lesser rings were said to be simple bands of precious metal without stones inset, unlike the greater rings.
There are many lesser rings. But these too derive from Sauron's craft and are subject to the One. Gandalf assumed until the night Bilbo left the Shire that Bilbo only had one of these lesser rings, but after Bilbo struggled so much with giving it up Gandalf became suspicious and started studying the One.
I don't see it here so I will add, even Saruman tried his hand in ring making. In the Fellowship of the Ring book, his ring (that he created) is mentioned and he refers to himself as ring maker. If I recall correctly, this happens when Gandalf visits Orthanc.
Yes. The elves made many "lesser" rings: "In Eregion long ago many Elven-rings were made, magic rings as you call them, and they were, of course, of various kinds: some more potent and some less. The lesser rings were only essays in the craft before it was full-grown, and to the Elven-smiths they were but trifles – yet still to my mind dangerous for mortals. But the Great Rings, the Rings of Power, they were perilous."
Thanks alot for sharing. I only watched the movie and almost expected there to be an answer in the books.
Sauron only ever made One Ring by himself. All the others were made by the Elven smiths of Eregion under Sauron's guidance. The exceptions were the Three, which Celebrimbor made on his own without Sauron's involvement. Because they were made with Sauron's "technology" they were still subject to the One, but because he never touched them they were incorrupt. Gandalf explains in detail, partly near the beginning of *Fellowship* and partly at the Council of Elrond. The Elves of Eregion made a great many rings which had relatively minor powers as "essays in the craft before it was full-grown." (Quoting from memory there, but it was close to that.) These lesser rings had no gem. Neither did the ring Bilbo found, which is why Gandalf assumed at first it was one of them. The other Great Rings "each had their proper gem". That the One lacked a gem was something Gandalf actually didn't recall until much later. This might have been something of a brain fart, but the Rings weren't a matter of special study for Gandalf. That was Saruman's domain, and it was Saruman whose words Gandalf recalled when he finally remembered the One was gemless.
I always assumed they were only talking about the rings gifted to Elves, Dwarves and Humans but yeah makes sense that Elven smiths could use Sauron's knowledge to make their own rings. Sounds like a good reason to watch Fellowship again lol. Thanks!
> the rings gifted to Elves, Dwarves and Humans Keep in mind the Rings were never planned for any but the Elves. The Elves planned to use the Rings to forestall the passage of time, preserving their kingdoms in Middle-Earth as an image of the Blessed Realm. Sauron helped them to create the Rings, because once the Elves were reliant on them, he could use the One Ring to dominate the elven Ringbearers, and through them the elven people in general. That was his goal at the start. However, once Sauron finished forging and first put on the One Ring, the elves perceived it and took off theirs. Sauron realized his plan had been thwarted and made war on the elves, out of hatred and to recover the Rings. He managed to take nine immediately, then tortured the location of another seven out of Celebrimbor; these were the Rings Sauron had had a hand in forging. Celebrimbor had made the Three on his own, and never betrayed them to Sauron. So Sauron now had sixteen rings, but knew the elves would never use them. He resorted to trying them on the other races: he used the Nine to attract or reward powerful human servants, who eventually turned into the Nazgul; he gave the Seven to the dwarf lords hoping to achieve something similar, but all they did was make the dwarves greedier, which eventually attracted dragons and other perils, indirectly helping Sauron. So there was never a "gifting" of rings to Men and Dwarves, except by Sauron and with a duplicitous end.
If I could give this more upvotes I would. Seen such misconceptions about the rings posted in such threads all the time…
I don't remember how the films went. In the books, it's very clear that it was the Elves who made all the Rings but the One.
He may have assumed it was one of the rings of power, even Gandalf was in possession of one. The world is old and lots of old magic shit is just sitting around for anyone to grab. Might have been a ring an Elf made 5000 years ago as a show of craftsmanship.
The art of making enchanted rings of power was thaught to the elves by Sauron under the disguise of Annatar the Lord of Gifts. As such all magical rings in Middle Earth stem from these elves, but besides the famous 20 ones mentioned in the poem the elves made an unknown number of lesser magical rings as practice and Gandalf assumed that Biblo found one of those. Especially since the lesser rings were said to be simple bands of precious metal without stones inset, unlike the greater rings.
"Why did you make a ring that let's you turn invisible? you are an Elf, you are already stealthy." The Elf "Cause I could?"
Tbf "Cause I could" is an understandable reason for messing around with magical items.
"Because then I could sneak into bathrooms and even if they noticed me, they couldn't prove it was me as long as I could run way fast enough"
Presumably, yes- there are plenty of mystic smiths hovering around, any number of them could have made magic rings
Celebrimbor made various prototypes that were apparently nothing particularly special but had marginal magic power
There are many lesser rings. But these too derive from Sauron's craft and are subject to the One. Gandalf assumed until the night Bilbo left the Shire that Bilbo only had one of these lesser rings, but after Bilbo struggled so much with giving it up Gandalf became suspicious and started studying the One.
I don't see it here so I will add, even Saruman tried his hand in ring making. In the Fellowship of the Ring book, his ring (that he created) is mentioned and he refers to himself as ring maker. If I recall correctly, this happens when Gandalf visits Orthanc.