The Three Elven Rings

[Nukapei]

This has confused me as well, and the explanation I came up with was similar. But, important is the fact that Sauron taught the Elves how to make their Rings! Maybe he knew they'd try to make their own, maybe he didn't. I haven't read that many passages on this subject -- most of my knowledge is second-hand. However, it seems to me that, even while he was teaching the Elves this craft, he would know that there was at least the possibilty one of them would do something like this. And, call Sauron a lot of things, but dumb he ain't. If this thougth had crossed his mind, he probably would've done something about it. So, it's possible that he might, might, have taught the Elves to make Rings of Power a specific way, with a fall-safe installed that anything they made using his methods would automatically be tied into any Master Ring(s) he might make in the future. Just a thought!

[Fingolfin II]

Originally posted by Nukapei.
But, important is the fact that Sauron taught the Elves how to make their Rings! Maybe he knew they'd try to make their own, maybe he didn't. I haven't read that many passages on this subject -- most of my knowledge is second-hand. However, it seems to me that, even while he was teaching the Elves this craft, he would know that there was at least the possibilty one of them would do something like this.

The thing is, Sauron forged the One Ring after the Three were forged. And after the Nine and the Seven, for that matter. He had already ideas for domination through instructing the Elves in this craft and his plans came to fulfilment when he made the One Ring in Orodruin.

The whole reason for Sauron instructing Celebrimbor and the other Elven-smiths was so that he could betray them and rule all the Free Peoples of Middle-Earth through the One Ring; he didn't teach the Elves out of the kindness of his heart.

So, it's possible that he might, might, have taught the Elves to make Rings of Power a specific way, with a fall-safe installed that anything they made using his methods would automatically be tied into any Master Ring(s) he might make in the future.

An interesting idea, but I don't think it matters in which particular way he taught the Elves to make the Rings, because either way he would rule them all through the Great Ring- that was his fail-safe. The One Ring is how he bound all the Great Rings to his power. Sauron had a hand in actually forging the Nine and the Seven Rings, yet he didn't ever touch the Three, but they were still bound to the One. This brings up the question; what if the Elves made more Rings to govern their race after the One was forged?

However, I'm straying off topic here, so I'll repeat my answer to the original question posed by Alchiesel that once the power of the One Ring was destroyed, the power that the Three Rings possessed through their domination by the One would also be lost.

[Nukapei]

Originally Posted by Fingolfin II

An interesting idea, but I don't think it matters in which particular way he taught the Elves to make the Rings, because either way he would rule them all through the Great Ring- that was his fail-safe. The One Ring is how he bound all the Great Rings to his power. Sauron had a hand in actually forging the Nine and the Seven Rings, yet he didn't ever touch the Three, but they were still bound to the One. This brings up the question; what if the Elves made more Rings to govern their race after the One was forged?

Yeah, good point. I wonder if the One Ring controlled all Rings of Power in general, or just the ones he and the Elves made? Moot point, because no one else made any, I know, but an interesting thought nonetheless.

What I'm wondering, though, is what would happen if the Elves made another Three after Sauron's complete destruction. Would they be able to regain what was lost when the Three lost their power? They probably wouldn't have done that, though, even if they thought of it, and even if any Elf still lived that knew how, afraid that another Sauron would come along and just make another One.

[Alchisiel]

I understand it as this, Sauron taught the elves to make the rings in a certain way to ensure that the One ring would have domination over all the rings that were made. That makes sense to me. I didn't think of that before.

[luthien-elvenprincess]

I think that any ring made after the crafting of the One Ring would still be under the dominion of the One Ring. Sauron had a rightful claim on all the elven-rings because his craft-lore was used in their making.

But (Sauron), finding that he was betrayed and that the Elves were not deceived, was filled with wrath; and he came against them with open war, demanding that all the rings should be delivered to him, since the Elven-smiths could not have attained to their making without his lore and counsel

I can't find any 'defense' against Sauron for their full ownership of the rings except for hiding them and not openly using them when Sauron held the One Ring. Apparently, the elves understood the concept of copyright laws and patents. So as long as Sauron existed, any ring made would fall under his dominion.

Now, any rings made after Sauron's destruction...I don't think that any of the elves left in ME held the knowledge of ring-making. An interesting thought!

[Neithan]

Now the Elves made many rings; but secretly Sauron made One Ring to rule all the others, and their power was bound up with it, to be subject wholly to it and to last only so long as it too should last.--The Sil

When Sauron created the One Ring, its power became tied together with the rings it controlled, regardless of who created them.

Moot point, because no one else made any, I know, but an interesting thought nonetheless.

Actually I think Saruman made a ring of his own.

He wore a ring on his finger ... Saruman, the wise, Saruman Ring-maker ...--FotR

So the question is, was Saruman's ring under the power of the One? I don't think so, I think that Sauron bound all the rings to his when he created it rather than giving the Ring the power to bind all rings made by the methods that he taught the Elves.

[Boromir88]

Also, Saruman's ring didn't appear to have any power, seemed as if it was a failed attempt of creating what Sauron created. So, even if the One Ring did have control over Sarumans, it wouldn't have really mattered.