Banzhi Thumb Rings

Banzhi Thumb 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. They'll be available at launch in stainless steel, brass, copper, titanium, and both mint and fuchsia acrylic, and come in four sizes (interior diameter 19.5mm, 20.5mm, 21.5, 22.5, and 23.5). The acrylics are missing some larger sizes this round, with our apologies to the professional hitch-hikers in the audience. 

Titanium - Shinobi Edition

The black PVD finish on our new Shinobi edition is flawless, with a slick glossy feel that grips the fingers in just the right way. This batch of banzhis is completely clean, with no word mark or branding. The interior has a slight machined feel to it, which is a welcome complement to the glossy exterior, allowing the rings to slide easily onto and off of the thumb or fingers. The PVD coating is durable and can withstand scratching quite well, but it will wear over time, and if dropped on hard surfaces, it can get dinged up. If treated well, the coating will age gracefully.

Details: 

• Sizes: sizes 19.5mm, 20.5mm, 21.5mm, 22.5mm, and 23,5mm (interior diameters)
• Thickness is ~4mm all the way around, meaning the overall diameter will be ~8mm wider than the interior diameter
• Height is ~18mm, much more than a regular ring
• 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 air 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.
• All models feature a polished surface and are etched on the exterior surface with an Aroundsquare wordmark
• Available in:
  
  • Ultem: very light, machine finish (size 22.5 weight is ~7g)
  • Ebony: very light, wax coat, scratched are less noticeable (size 22.5 weight is ~7g)
  • Walnut: very light, wax coat, scratched are less noticeable  (size 22.5 weight is ~4g)
  • Stainless steel: midweight, reasonably scratch resistant (size 22.5 weight is ~45.8g)
    
  • Brass: relatively heavy, relatively soft and prone to scratching, slight smell (size 22.5 weight is ~48.4g)
  • Copper: relatively heavy, soft and most prone to scratching and oxidation, smells like copper (size 22.5 weight is ~50.9g)
  • Titanium: ligthweight; strong but still prone to scratching (size 22.5 weight is ~26.2g)
    
    • colour: Natty and Shinobi (black pvd)
  • Acrylic: very light, will scratch but due to colours and material, scratches are less noticeable (size 22.5 weight is ~6.9g)
  • Delrin: Precision machined and lightly polished Delrin (POM) material (size 22.5 weight is ~8.5g)

Our October 2022 Launch Preview video below dives deep on these guys, and provides some ideas for the types of usage and manipulations possible with them.