Puzzle Ring Solution

First, and very important. No force should ever be used! A bent band or a band that has been forced though another can make these rings nearly impossible for most people to assemble.

Locate the two outside bands. These bands will be rounded on one edge. Hold them so the rounded edges are facing up. Now bring them up together as shown in step two. If you have an eight-band ring, you will do this step with the outside four bands.

With the outside bands held in the left hand as shown (note the knotted parts pointing away from each other) in the photograph, line up the other inside bands so they hang by their knot parts. The orientation of these hanging bands is important and not easy to describe. Generally, the knotted parts are correct when they line up the worst. For now, just observe and we'll correct it in step 4.

If you have an eight-band ring, there will be four bands hanging down and four bands (two pairs) held in your left hand.

Grasp the hanging inside bands at the bottom with your right hand and invert. The photograph shows this move half way completed. Transfer the inside bands to your left hand. See the next photograph for clarification.

Holding the inside bands in your left hand as shown, grasp the one shown (two together if you have an eight-band ring) and twist it clockwise with the knotted part coming back into the other inside band. With some rings, this twist will be counter-clockwise. The inside bands will seat nicely together with the hanging outside bands trapped in the knot if you have done this move correctly.

If neither a clockwise or counter-clockwise twist will work, the inside bands might not have been oriented correctly in step 2. Rotate one of the inside bands around so that different flat parts of the band are touching. For example, from the position shown in the photograph, drop the band in the right hand, transfer the top band to the right hand and then bring the dropped band up from behind to get back to the position shown.

You might have to repeat steps 1 to 4 several times until you get the hang of it.

Note how the hanging trapped outside bands go through the knot opening on one side, then over the crossed center of the held inside bands made by the twist in step 4 and exit through the opening on the other side.

Grasp one of the hanging outside bands and rotate it so the knot part comes into position. You will have to relax the other bands a little in order to do this. Which side from which to begin depends on the ring you have. Try it with both until you discover to correct one. If you have an eight-band ring, you will work with one outside band at a time, starting with the outermost band. If is gets all messed up, start over.

Gently bring the outside band up to meet the inside bands. You might have to work the knotted part around so that it rotates smoothly over the other bands.

The one outside band is now in position. If you have an eight-band ring, you will still have three bands hanging.

Turn the ring around and work on the outside band on the other side. If you have an eight-band ring, work with the outermost band.

Grasp the hanging band and rotate it so the knot part comes into position. Then bring it up to meet the inside bands. If you have an eight-band ring, there will still be two outside bands. Just repeat steps 6 through 10 to complete the ring.

Admire you ring!