The Limitations of the Istari

[Warm]

Saruman was making rings of his own. Of course I do not know what goes into making a ring (one day....) but I know that Sauron imbued his ring with a greater part of his own power. Before I would say that Saruman lost his power to his ring, I would think that the original ring makers wouldn't sacrifice their own power for a ring for someone else, would they? So, on one hand a ring requires power and on the other, no? Of course, this may have little to do with Saruman being able to defend himself, besides, he was still wearing the ring.

Clearly each wizard had different powers, as all Maia do. It had a lot to do with their teachers probably. Saruman was a student of Aule, just as Sauron. Gandalf was a student of Nienna and Manwe and Varda. I'm not quite sure where Gandalf learned fire, but lightning would come from Manwe I think.

What is clear is that Saruman could trap powers just as Gandalf suggested he might try with the nazgul, as he did with Gandalf himself, but as far as brute power, being a pupil of a craftsman, he probably didn't have much in any form. (Don't forget Sauron also had Melkor as a teacher)
Sorry for typos, still trying to get used to this nexus 7

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Warm

Saruman was making rings of his own. Of course I do not know what goes into making a ring (one day....) but I know that Sauron imbued his ring with a greater part of his own power. Before I would say that Saruman lost his power to his ring, I would think that the original ring makers wouldn't sacrifice their own power for a ring for someone else, would they? So, on one hand a ring requires power and on the other, no? Of course, this may have little to do with Saruman being able to defend himself, besides, he was still wearing the ring.

I don't really think the ring worn by Saruman as described by Gandalf to the Council of Elrond was of any note. At best, it may have been one of the "lesser" works of the Mirdain of Eregion which Saruman had come by. At any rate the Council apparently didn't think much of it. It received no further mention. And if it was significant, one would think that either Gandalf would have paid it more attention, or Saruman would have been seen wearing it again after Gandalf's escape from Orthanc.

[William Cloud Hicklin]

At best, it may have been one of the "lesser" works of the Mirdain of Eregion which Saruman had come by.

Well, in that same encounter Saruman names himself "Saruman Ring-maker," which implies I think that the ring was one of his own creation, the fruit of his investigations into the Mirdain's craft. Nonetheless, I doubt it was a ring of much power or significance, except as an expression of Saruman's hubris.

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by William Cloud Hicklin

Well, in that same encounter Saruman names himself "Saruman Ring-maker," which implies I think that the ring was one of his own creation, the fruit of his investigations into the Mirdain's craft.

True that, and you're probably right. Then again, Saruman also called himself Saruman the Wise, and that was a bit of an exaggeration at that point in his history.

It still seems clear that whatever the origin of that ring, it wasn't of much account. Maybe Saruman's failure to craft a Ring of Power of his own led to an easier submission to Sauron.