What is a “Puzzle Ring”?
As the name implies, this is a ring made with interlocking pieces. Take it apart and it is just a series of odd-shaped rings but when put together properly, it forms a most unique and attractive ring designed to compliment any hand. One thing to remember, though, is that when taken apart, it takes some experience and skill to figure out how to put it back together in its original and beautiful form.
OK but you might still be puzzled about why anyone would have spent their time to design such a special piece of jewelry. There are several folklore answers to how a puzzle ring came to be and while they differ in some ways, all seem to agree that it was first designed and used in the country of Turkey and has come to be known as the “Turkish Promise Ring.”
Some say it was designed by a rich Turkish businessman who was away from home a great deal of the time and was worried about his wife staying faithful to him while he was away. Since married women always wore their wedding rings and men avoided them, the idea was that if his wife ever dared take it off and it came apart, she would not be able to reassemble it and he would know of her infidelity to him.
Another story has it that some very bright Turk with a lot of time on his hands, came up with the design and started making them by hand to sell to U.S. Navy sailors based in Turkey. Such unique items would be very special gifts for a sailor to take home to a girlfriend.
Regardless of how it all started, we know that in modern day Turkey it has become something of a custom for the father of a girl to be married, on the wedding day, to give the waiting groom a disassembled puzzle ring. Since the bride had many religious and traditional tasks to do before the wedding could start, the groom could pass this time learning the secret to the puzzle ring assembly. Whenever he finally mastered its secret, he could then give this unusual gift to his bride.
In other cultures, these intriguing ring designs are today commonly given by either sex to the other, as expressions of friendship, love, purity or faithfulness. With many variations and styles to choose, this type of ring is an attractive addition to anyone’s jewelry wardrobe and fashion
