What are the best ways to vanish a ring?

To borrow an item from a spectator and perform something impossible with that item is immensely strong. With that knowledge, it would be a shame not to capitalize on it so we have listed below a list of our top 5 ways to vanish a borrowed ring. Just to be kind we have also listed a few pros and cons for each method.

Vanishing Ring  

This is the latest method to vanish a ring. Brought to you by Sans Minds Magic, Vanishing Ring is a very clever utility device. It is for all intents and purposes a ring box, just like you would get in a jewelry shop. However, this is no ordinary ring box! A spectator can place their ring inside the box, by themselves and close the lid by themselves, yet without opening the box and within a second you can steal that ring from the box to reproduce it however you like!

Pros

• Super Clean Handling 
• Super Easy Handling
• 95% Self Working
• Quality Prop Build
• The spectator can do most of the work

Cons

• You must retrieve the ring and then reproduce it magically so there is a little bit of work
• As it is so easy to retrieve the ring care must be taken to prevent you dropping it as you do so
• The box is not 100% examinable so care must be taken not to draw attention to it, you don’t want the spectators suspecting that it is a ‘magic’ trick box.

Ring Flight

Ring Flight has been a standard in magic for decades. It is a self working vanish and magical reproduction of a borrowed ring. Most Ring Flights used to vanish a ring and it would reappear on a clip on a key wallet. Some cheaper versions still use this method. More recently, though versions of Ring Flight consist of the ring appearing on a key ring with your house keys and car key, giving Ring Flight a more modern edge. 

Pros

• Completely self working
• Very magical vanish and very magical reproduction
• Has a truly organic feel, not like a card trick, this feels like magic

Cons

• Some versions can be very expensive
• You are not personally in control of the ring at all times
• Must be wearing a jacket or similar

Any Ring

Any Ring is a vanishing ring handkerchief by our friend Richard Sanders. It is based on the old ring inside hanky effect, but Any Ring has a twist. With Any Ring you can borrow… you got it, any ring! Older versions require you borrow a ring of a certain size, this limited you as a performer. This is not an issue with Any Ring as Richard Sanders very cleverly found a solution to this problem.

Pros

• Very easy to do
• The spectator can feel their ring right up until the moment you vanish it from the hanky
• Any ring can be borrowed as all sizes are catered for
• Great price

Cons

• A handkerchief may not fit your style or character
• Vanish is not so elegant as you must tug the handkerchief from the spectator’s fingers
• Gimmick only vanishes the ring so reproducing it magically is down to you

TKO 2.0

The TKO 2.0 is a vanishing gimmick that is not only very practical but also very magical. It allows you to ditch and retrieve items like rings and coins with ease, in short sleeves with no apparatus attached to the item. It looks like pure magic as you show a ring, turn your hand over to rub it on your other hand and instantly that ring is gone. Easily retrievable the TKO 2.0 is a definite ‘must check out’ if you haven’t already.

Pros

• Can be done in short sleeves
• No extra apparatus to carry in your pockets
• Looks like real magic, it is there and suddenly it just isn’t!

Cons

• There is a clothing requirement, TKO 2.0 won’t work in certain clothing
• It will take practice to get the vanish looking smooth and working 100% of the time
• Gimmick only vanishes the ring so reproducing it magically is down to you

Good Old Sleight of Hand

The old fashioned way! Learn some sleight of hand. There are many ways to use sleight of hand to vanish a ring. From standard sleights, much like coin magic, to using sleight of hand with items like a length of string or standard silk hanky sleight of hand has been used for centuries. Sleight of hand is a skill set that can take years to master but is very rewarding.

Pros

• Sleight of Hand, once learned costs nothing!
• Can be performed at a drop of a hat as all it requires in its basic form is your hands and an item
• The ring is under your full control at all times

Cons

• Can take years to master
• You can be limited, a gimmick can allow you to do something that you simply can’t do with sleight of hand