Dragon Banzhi Thumb Rings - Stone Editions

Dragon Banzhi Thumb Rings - Stone Editions

Our carved dragon banzhi thumb rings are a project that was more than a year in the making. The deeply carved artwork depicts a majestic dragon weaving through the clouds, with our logo stamped boldly in chop format. These carved dragon banzhis are the first in what we are planning to be a series of carved items going forward. The manufacturing process of these beautiful rings involves some initial machine work to ensure consistency as our custom artwork is transposed onto the surface of the stone, followed by careful hand carving to produce the deep relief and detailed textures of the finished products.  

For this first release, we've created these elegant items in an incredible, translucent white calcite, as well as a stunning black pyrophillite. These stones show off the artwork beautifully, and very differently. We have these in our standard banzhi sizes, from 19.5mm to 23.5mm inner diameter. Each piece is meticulously carved, and you'll find there are some subtle variations in the carvings, as well as in the stone materials themselves. It is best to view these beauties as art pieces, and to bear in mind that they are carveable stone. This means they are soft enough to be carved with metal tools, and will get scratched up quickly if treated roughly or scuffing around in the pocket next to metal goods. They are thick walled, but could also potentially crack if dropped. If you want an indestructable banzhi, we have other materials for you. These are a different animal, but it's a mythical one. 

Details: 

• Sizes: sizes 19.5mm, 20.5mm, 21.5mm, 22.5mm, and 23.5mm (interior diameters)
• Thickness is ~5mm all the way around, meaning the overall diameter will be ~10mm wider than the interior diameter
• Height is ~18mm, much more than a regular ring
• Weight: ~ 14.5g -16.4g
• Due to the width and overall chunkiness of the banzhi shape, they will feel very prominent on the thumb compared to a normal ring, and if you're unsure whether to size up or down, it's recommended you err on the large side.
• Please do your homework to ensure you purchase the correct size. Exchanges on mint condition items will be allowed, but exchange shipping costs both ways will be the responsibility of the customer.

More general information can be found below, and for anyone interested in the full narrative and some moving visuals of these beauties, have a look at the January 2025 drop preview video:

General Information on the Banzhi Rings

It's rare for an implement of warfare to evolve into an item of jewelry, but this is precisely the history of the banzhi. Otherwise known as Chinese archer's rings, the banzhi in it's modern form is usually a thickened, cylindrically shaped ring, designed to be worn on the thumb. The history of the banzhi dates back several thousand years, when wide thumb rings were commonly used in archery, to protect the thumb from the heavy tension of the bow string. In the 1800s, as archery became less relevant as a military skill, more stylized and ornamental banzhi became a popular. These banzhi were typically made from jade, horn, or other semi-precious materials. As we do, Aroundsquare's banzhi are an attempt to honour and extend this tradition into the present, with a clean, minimalist take on the traditional designs, and using high quality modern materials. 

The banzhi are designed to be worn and appreciated for their inherent characteristics, and are not designed for manipulation. Some basic ring manipulation moves can be performed with them, but they are at their best when handled low key, and they actually work well for breathwork and mindfulness (see this month's drop preview video for details). The substantial size and rounded shape of the rings makes them satisfying in the hand and for those of you who are accustomed to always carrying something for flipping around and doing tricks, you may find it's often enough to have something like this on hand.