3D printing in the jewelry market has been happening for a while now, and the technology to print jewelry has been getting better and better. For those of us who don’t have (an industrial-grade) metal 3D printer, we’re limited to printing with plastic-based filaments to make our jewelry for now – that is, unless you go with a 3D printing service, like Craftcloud, that can print designs in a wide range of materials, including metal.
Rings are a popular jewelry item to 3D print because they’re very small, use little material, and print quickly. In this article, we’ll share 20 of our favorite ring designs that you can wear today. Let’s dive in!
From the Heart
These rings are just love-ly.
Heart
This heart-shaped ring by MakerBot is a two-part print that easily fits together. To make the ring look even better, you could try printing the model in ABS and acetone smoothing it.
The designer recommends printing with a 3% infill, but to get a stronger model, we suggest raising this number to 40-100%. The model is split into two parts, and you shouldn’t need supports because the overhangs are very small. The maker states that the print came out great in PLA, and it should only take about 15 minutes if you print the two parts at the same time.
- Who designed it? MakerBot
- How printable/popular is it? This heart-shaped ring has nine recorded makes and one remix.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Valentine's
The Valentine’s ring is a detailed 3D printable ring with a model gemstone. The gemstone is low poly, like one you might see in real life. The model in the picture was printed using a resin 3D printer, but an FDM printer should work just fine.
This design is listed as an easy print by the maker despite the impressive amount of detail throughout the design. You should activate supports, as the base of this print isn’t flat. The creator of this ring recommends using a very small layer height (0.05 mm), so set it as low as you can to get the most detail.
- Who designed it? alvaroefi
- How printable/popular is it? The Valentine’s ring has over 5,500 views and almost 700 downloads.
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
Knotted Hearts
Whether you’re looking for a thoughtful gift or a personal statement piece, this ring design is a beautiful expression of interconnected hearts, forming a unique design for the ring’s head. To ensure a good fit, the designer recommends scaling the ring’s size before printing.
While you can go for any material and finish, some makes went for a shiny metallic look by experimenting with different materials and approaches. One maker printed the ring in nylon, then cast it in pewter metal – a process known as investment casting. Later, they finished the ring with sanding and polishing techniques. Another user chose ABS and enhanced the ring’s aesthetics with coats of silver and copper, resulting in a captivating metallic appearance.
- Who designed it? Protonik
- How printable/popular is it? This romantic ring has nine published makes so far.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Diamond
Diamond rings are extremely expensive, so naturally, we listed this design. At a negligible cost, you can 3D print this ring whose details really make it look like a (fake) diamond. Depending on your partner, you may want to think twice before proposing with this one, but it’s a fun model.
The design can be scaled up or down to get the perfect fit for your finger. Although the maker didn’t leave any printing tips for this model, it shouldn’t be too hard to print. The ring is flat, so as long as you orient it facing up (or down), you won’t need to activate supports. Due to the fine lines in the design, printing with a 0.25-mm or less layer height is recommended.
With a Twist
These next rings feature a bit of pop culture and a bit of fun!
The One Ring
We can hardly have a list of rings without including The One Ring, can we? Good news is, Sauron won’t be able to find you if you’re wearing this one.
While there aren’t that many printing suggestions, the creator does recommend using a brim or raft as well as the smallest layer height possible given the text inscription. Other makers have shared their prints, with both great FDM and resin results, although most mention that they used some kind of post-processing.
- Who designed it? tato_713
- How printable/popular is it? This famous – or infamous – ring has 53 makes as well as 6 remixes.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Green Lantern
Green Lantern has one of the most iconic rings in pop culture. In the words of the designer of this mod, “it’s a power ring that makes green stuff.” In the DC universe, this ring grants the wearer great power and marks you as a Green Lantern Corps.
In this case, it regretfully won’t give you any superpowers, but you can use it for cosplay or just to express your fandom status.
Makers have printed it successfully both with and without supports, so you might have to experiment a bit to find the settings that work best for you.
- Who designed it? itchyd
- How printable/popular is it? This popular ring has 34 makes and 10 remixes.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Dual Color
While dual extruder printing is a well-established printing method, it isn’t that common to find, and it can sometimes be challenging. This design offers the possibility of having a dual-colored ring without any fuss.
The model doesn’t have complicated shapes, doesn’t need supports, and there isn’t an overlay of colors. That said, you can get creative with pausing at height and making it look like a different pattern, as a maker apparently did.
- Who designed it? Patix
- How printable/popular is it? Four makes have been shared so far with around 350 downloads.
- Where to find it? Printables
Inspired by Halo & Tron
If you’re a fan of these games, here’s a ring to match! It’s also the only futuristic model we have on the list. There are 77 thing files, so you’ll be able to find the right size for your finger.
The maker of this ring didn’t list any specific print settings. However, based on the picture, we have a couple of suggestions for printing. Supports won’t be needed, and, like other rings, you should use a very small layer height and high infill percentage. You can try printing it in a metal filament for an even cooler look.
- Who designed it? GirgisDesigns
- How printable/popular is it? This futuristic ring has 12 makes as well as a remix.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Skull
Since resin printing can yield more detailed and precise models than FDM, designs like this skull ring can benefit from such a method.
Some users, however, have still gone ahead and printed it in FDM, with materials such as PLA and ABS. Take into account that the ring has an inner diameter of 25 mm.
- Who designed it? sajiddiaz
- How printable/popular is it? This model has nine community prints. The most popular printing material is resin, but successful prints with PLA have also been shared.
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
Functional
Form meets function in this next batch of rings.
Whistle
The whistle ring would make a fantastic addition to any collection and it’s a great way to put a smile on any child’s face! The ring has a small indentation where the user can align their lower lip, making it easy to produce clear and audible whistling sounds. Designed to accommodate various finger sizes, the design comes in a range of sizes given in both imperial and millimeter diameters.
It’s also essential to note that smaller ring sizes may benefit from the addition of a brim to ensure a stable and reliable printing process. In terms of materials, the designer tested the design in PLA, PETG, and TPU.
- Who designed it? Trainwreckor
- How printable/popular is it? This whistle ring has 121 published makes so far, and one maker has remixed it with personalized initials.
- Where to find it? Printables
Potato Chips
The potato chips ring introduces a fun and practical way to enjoy your favorite snack. Gone are the days of greasy fingers and chip crumbs, as this unique ring takes snacking to a whole new level. This ring design ingeniously combines the comfort of eating chips by hand with a novel clip-type structure that acts as a set of miniature chopsticks. This may come in handy for gamers who want to enjoy a savory snack without leaving greasy fingerprints on their keyboards and controllers.
The ring is available in three different sizes to suit individual preferences. The small size is perfect for kids, the standard size fits most adults comfortably, and the larger size is designed for those with thicker fingers. The creator used a layer height of 0.3 mm and recommends printing with PETG, which is chemical-resistant and considered more waterproof than other common 3D printing materials.
- Who designed it? hectare3D
- How printable/popular is it? 17 makers are enjoying grease-free fingers, thanks to their potato chips ring. There’s even a ring remix for chunkier snacks, such as popcorn and cheese puffs.
- Where to find it? Printables
Slingshot
This ring design blends the worlds of jewelry and playfulness. The entertaining mechanics of a slingshot is incorporated into the ring’s design, offering a truly unique and fun accessory. The designer, Vlad, includes five different versions, four of which are intended to be worn on two fingers, while the other is tailored for single-finger use.
Once 3D printed, the only additional requirement is a rubber band, which provides the necessary tension for launching small objects. It attaches around the ring’s handle. To enhance the user experience, you can insert a pad or pouch between the rubber bands. This feature serves as a handy pocket for placing ammunition, making the slingshot fully operational and ready for enjoyment.
- Who designed it? Vg_St_D
- How printable/popular is it? Only one aspiring David has shared their make of the slingshot ring, but with around 290 downloads, Goliath should be quaking in his boots.
- Where to find it? Printables
Customizable Fidget Spinner
This ring model is amazing, as it’s not only a fidget toy but also a stylish adornment for your fingers. You can make this ring whatever size you want and choose between three different inner-circle patterns, too.
No matter the style or size of the ring, the designer recommends printing with a 0.2-mm layer height or smaller for detail. It’s also advised to print it at 100% infill for strength.
- Who designed it? AmazingSpanoMan
- How printable/popular is it? This customizable fidget spinner ring has 104 posted makes and over 3,000 remixes. Impressively printable!
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Flashlight
It can be annoying to take your phone out to see in the dark. This ring doubles as a flashlight to help you find your scraper to remove a late-night print! Despite being larger and bulkier than some of the other models on this list, the utility of this ring definitely makes it a worthwhile print.
This model comes in five different sizes so you can get the perfect fit. The light is a bright LED, and assembly isn’t too complicated, though you’ll need some non-printed parts. The full parts list can be found on the project page below, and includes a 1-watt battery, 24-gauge wire, two watch batteries, and more.
The designer didn’t provide any printing advice, but you should definitely use multiple shells on this design because you have the space to do so. You might not need as low of a layer height as some of the other models, but we recommend going no higher than 0.25 mm. Make sure to use a high infill percentage and high-strength infill pattern as this ring needs to be strong.
- Who designed it? 3D Central
- How printable/popular is it? Although no one has shared any community prints yet, the original make looks cool, and so far, it has 36 likes with over 200 downloads.
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
Special Designs
There’s more to a ring than a simple band, and these models prove it.
Vines
Showcasing a captivating vine motif, this ring is a testament to nature’s timeless beauty. Crafted with careful attention to detail, the original design was cast in sterling silver, reflecting both elegance and intricacy.
While the sterling silver version has a more traditional appeal, some users took a different approach to get a similar metallic look. One printed the ring with shiny gold PLA, which adds a beautiful metallic glow to the ring. Alternatively, those seeking to capture the vine motif’s intricate details have opted for resin, resulting in exceptional reproduction of the design’s details.
- Who designed it? adithya.acharya
- How printable/popular is it? This design has three posted community prints and over 6,400 downloads.
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
Low-Poly
This ring features a lovely low-poly design. The original model is a 65-mm ring (circumference, not diameter), but you can scale it up or down depending on your finger size.
The maker recommends printing this ring with a 0.06-mm layer height and a 50% infill. The layer height should be that small to achieve the most detail, but if your slicer won’t allow it, use a smaller nozzle if you have one. The designer also suggests printing with a print speed of 50 mm/s. If you follow these printing tips, this ring should end up taking only about 15 minutes to print.
- Who designed it? levenement71
- How printable/popular is it? This popular design has 75 recorded makes and 11 remixes.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Organic
There are many variations of organic rings across many repositories. One important thing to remember is that the model and the print result aren’t the same; a good model may not look so good once printed. This can happen a lot with this type of design.
In the case of this ring, results shared by other makers of the community show that it’s possible to obtain a good quality ring from this model. The easiest way would be to go for resin, but users have also shown successful results with FDM. Since the details are so intricate, the creator recommends using a 0.1-mm layer height.
- Who designed it? Manuel
- How printable/popular is it? This ring has 22 makes and over 2,800 downloads.
- Where to find it? Printables
Hexagonal
This ring is pretty standard, but it has a nice hexagonal pattern that wraps around the entire band. The ring is very slim, with no internal curve; it’s just a straight cylindrical design.
Although no printing advice is provided by the maker, based on the pictures, supports are unnecessary. Similar to the other models, you should also use a small layer height for as much detail as possible. We also suggest printing with a high infill percentage and a high-strength infill pattern to make sure the ring is strong enough.
Antique Pattern
If you take an antique piece of pottery and turn it into a ring, you’ll get this masterpiece. The original maker used bronze ABS, but we also like the way the white really shows off the pattern. You can easily resize it for a perfect fit.
The creator of this model suggests printing with a 20% infill for strength as well as reduced weight. Although not mentioned by the designer, you should set the layer height as small as you can because of how much detail this ring has. No supports will be needed for this print.
- Who designed it? MaeLee
- How printable/popular is it? This antique pattern ring has eight recorded makes as well as a remix.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Maya Pattern
This is another patterned ring to add to the collection. The Maya were a Mesoamerican indigenous civilization located in current-day Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and Belize.
Maya art is characterized by interesting angular patterns, and in this ring, you can see a great example of it. Despite its small details, the result carries over well in print, and the creator recommends a 0.1-mm layer height and using a brim.
While the designer calls it a Celtic ring, we’ll just agree to disagree on this one.
- Who designed it? tazlewouaf
- How printable/popular is it? This ring has two community prints, it’s available in three different diameters, and the design has been downloaded over 3,600 times.
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
License: The text of "3D Printed Ring: The 20 Most Stylish Models of 2023" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.