Spinner Rings vs. The Ratchet Ring
When it comes to wearable fidget rings, there are two main categories; spinner rings, and the Ratchet Ring. Spinner rings, as described in the name, spin. They are made of one ring loosely fitted over another ring, which allows it to move freely in both directions.
The Ratchet Ring is a bit more technical. The Ratchet Ring is fitted with mechanics hidden inside of the ring, which allows it to turn and click in one direction, producing tactile feedback and a pleasant *click* sound.
Comparison
The main difference between the two alternatives is that spinner rings only spin, while the Ratchet Ring both spins and clicks, at the same time.
Spinner rings are activated by applying pressure on the loosely fitted ring and flicking it to get the spinning going.
The Ratchet Ring is activated by applying pressure on the ring and moving it along your fingers, creating audible and tactile feedback to the user.
In terms of feedback, spinner rings do not offer much to the user as the spinning is done freely and quietly - apart from the occasional metal-to-metal screeching noise. The feedback mostly comes from observing the spinning motion.
The Ratchet Ring offers the user both audible feedback, in the form of the light metallic click sounds, and tactile feedback, in the form of just the right amount of resistance leading up to a satisfying click.
Quality
When it comes to spinner rings, they all have a similar construction; one ring loosely fitted over another, both made of some kind of metal. This simple design comes with both strengths and weaknesses.
On the one hand, they are easy and cheap to manufacture. On the other hand, the properties of the metals often make the spinning motion weak due to friction, and the loose parts of spinner rings often create rattling sounds when worn and moved around.
Spinner rings are mostly mass-produced, predominantly in China, and then sold wholesale to other merchants on the market, meaning that everyone is selling pretty much the same thing, except for the occasional boutique selling hand-made sterling silver spinner rings with their own design.
The Ratchet Ring, however, is designed and manufactured with quality in mind. Each part of the ring is made from scratch in a precision CNC machine, and then fitted together in perfect synergy thanks to extremely tight tolerances; minimizing unpleasant rattling sound and maximizing the feeling of sheer quality.
It is made in 316 stainless steel, for two primary reasons; it is corrosion-resistant and durable, and it does not gall. Galling is when two metal surfaces slide against each other, causing friction and wear. Galling is much more prominent in, for example, titanium than stainless steel, meaning that the friction would be higher, which would be both felt and heard.
Focus
One of the main benefits of fidget toys in general is that they can help improve and induce focus. This is primarily due to the mindless and minor stimulation that fidget toys provide that can help the mind concentrate on the primary task at hand.
Unfortunately, spinner rings do not provide much stimulation to the user, as described above; no specific feeling or sound, it is mainly for the eyes to behold the motion of the spin.
The Ratchet Ring is specifically strong in this area due to its tactile and audible clicks, providing stimulation that helps your mind concentrate on the primary task at hand, and steers it away from fleeting thoughts.
Conclusion
When it comes to the world of fidget rings, there are pretty much two extremes. The cheap spinner ring and the more premium Ratchet Ring, with not much to fill the void in between.
They are drastically different in design, quality, effect on focus, and in feedback for the user. At the end of the day it is up to you to choose what you value most - quality and effect, or price.