Badali Ring of Barahir Review: Aragorn and Arwen Engagement Ring

The ring in brief

Badali Jewelry sells its Ring of Barahir under the name Engagement Ring of Aragorn and Arwen. It starts at $269 in sterling silver, with an optional solid 14K gold crown, and is made under a licence from Middle-earth Enterprises. The older Badali page for the Aragorn ring now redirects to this product.

In the story, the Ring of Barahir is an Elven ring from the First Age that passes down to Aragorn, who gives it to Arwen when they pledge themselves to each other. Tolkien describes two serpents with emerald eyes, their heads meeting beneath a crown of golden flowers. It is not one of the Rings of Power, which is why it often surprises people in our how many Rings of Power? article.

What we know

From the Badali Jewelry product page:

• Design. Two snakes with green cubic zirconia eyes, holding a crown of flowers in their mouths. Designed by Paul Badali.
• Metal. 92.5% sterling silver band. The crown is sterling silver as standard, or solid 14K yellow gold, which Badali calls book accurate.
• Dimensions. 15.1 mm wide at the front, sits 7 mm tall on the finger, crown about 10 mm across.
• Weight. About 17.6 grams with the silver crown and 17.9 grams with the gold crown, varying with size.
• Sizes. US 6 to 16 in whole, half and quarter sizes. Larger sizes cost a little more.
• Production. Made to order in Utah. Badali asks you to allow 5 to 10 business days.
• Box. Badali Jewelry box with a card of authenticity.

What we haven't verified

We have not held this ring. We cannot tell you how comfortable a ring this wide and heavy is for daily wear, how well the cubic zirconia eyes hold up, or how the gold crown looks next to the silver band in person. The weight and dimensions above are Badali's figures, not our measurements.

Who it suits

This ring makes sense as an engagement or promise ring for a couple who know the story, and the gold crown option gets closer to Tolkien's description. It is a statement piece, though, not a slim everyday band. Our engagement rings guide puts it next to the other options, including Nenya.

How it compares

Wētā Workshop sells a very different Ring of Aragorn: a limited edition of 25, handmade in sterling silver, 22K gold and tourmaline by jeweller Jasmine Watson, at $13,999. It is a collector's piece rather than a ring for most budgets. For the bigger picture on licensing, including why Badali's licence differs from the film licence behind the One Ring replicas, see is this the real One Ring? and the comparison of One Ring replicas. The other rings of Middle-earth are on our Lord of the Rings rings page.