The Tangem Ring is a hardware wallet you wear. The same secure chip that sits inside a Tangem card is sealed inside a ceramic ring, and you sign transactions by tapping the ring on your phone. We stock it at tangem.nz and ship from Auckland.
This post covers what the ring actually is, how it differs from the cards, what it’s like to live with, and what you get in the box in New Zealand.
What the Tangem Ring is
Tangem is a Swiss company best known for its card-shaped cold wallets. The ring uses the same approach: a secure element (certified EAL6+) generates your private key on the device and never lets it out. There is no battery, no screen and no cable. Power comes from your phone’s NFC field during the tap, so there is nothing to charge and nothing to wear out.
You manage everything in the Tangem app on iOS or Android. The app builds the transaction, you tap the ring to sign it, and the signed result goes to the network. The key itself stays on the chip the whole time.
How it compares with the cards
Security-wise there is no difference. Same chip, same firmware, same app, same seedless backup model. The difference is form.
A card lives in a wallet or a drawer. A ring lives on your hand. If you move crypto often, or you want the device with you without thinking about it, the ring makes more sense. If you buy once and hold for years, the cards are cheaper and do the same job.
The NZ set is one ring plus two backup cards, so you get a three-device wallet either way. You can read a longer comparison in Tangem Ring vs Tangem Card.
What it’s like to wear
The ring is zirconia ceramic, which is hard, scratch-resistant and hypoallergenic. It is rated IP69K, so showers, swimming and dishes are fine. There is nothing inside that can leak, corrode or go flat.
Because it has no moving parts, the main thing to get right is size. Ceramic can’t be resized, so measure before you order. Our ring sizing guide walks through it.
Setting it up
- Install the Tangem app from the App Store or Google Play.
- Tap the ring to the back of your phone. The app detects it and checks that it is genuine.
- Create the wallet. The key is generated on the chip. You can skip the seed phrase entirely.
- Add the two backup cards when prompted. Each one receives a copy of the same key, so any of the three devices can open the wallet.
- Set an access code. This is what stops a found ring being used by someone else.
The whole thing takes a few minutes. The backup cards are the part people skip, and it is the part that matters. Put them somewhere separate from the ring.
What you can hold on it
The app supports more than 90 networks and over 16,000 tokens, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, BNB Chain, Polygon, Avalanche, the main stablecoins (USDT, USDC) and NFTs on supported chains. You can also swap, stake and connect to dApps through WalletConnect from inside the app. See Tangem Ring supported coins for how to check a specific asset.
If you lose it
Your crypto isn’t on the ring. It’s on the blockchain, and the ring holds the key. Lose the ring and you open the wallet with one of the backup cards, then move funds to a fresh set if you want to be thorough. Whoever finds the ring also needs your access code, and the chip wipes after too many wrong attempts.
Lose all three devices with no seed phrase written down and there is no recovery. That’s the trade for not having a seed phrase to begin with. More detail in What happens if you lose your Tangem Ring.
Tangem Ring versus other wallets
| Feature | Tangem Ring | Ledger / Trezor | Software wallets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Key storage | Secure element (EAL6+) | Secure element or MCU | Phone or computer |
| Connection | NFC | USB or Bluetooth | Internet |
| Form | Ceramic ring | Handheld device | App only |
| Power | None needed | Battery or USB | Phone battery |
| Seed phrase | Optional | Required | Required |
| Backup | Two matching cards | Written seed phrase | Written seed phrase |
Ledger and Trezor devices are good hardware. The honest difference is the screen: they show you the transaction on the device, Tangem shows it on your phone. In exchange Tangem has far fewer parts, nothing to update and no seed phrase to protect. Which trade-off suits you depends on how you use crypto. We compare them properly in Tangem vs Ledger vs Trezor.
Buying the ring in New Zealand
The Tangem Ring with two backup cards is NZ$320 including GST at Tangem NZ. Stock is in Auckland, so there is no import duty, no waiting on an overseas courier, and the Consumer Guarantees Act applies. The chip carries Tangem’s 25-year warranty, and if you have a problem you deal with us rather than an offshore help desk.
Common questions
Is it fine for everyday wear?
Yes. Ceramic, waterproof, no battery. Treat it like any other ring.
What if I lose it?
Open the wallet with one of the two backup cards from the set.
Can I hold NFTs?
Yes, on supported networks, viewable in the app.
Does it support everything?
Not everything, but 90+ networks and 16,000+ tokens covers most portfolios. Check the app’s supported list for anything unusual.
Where do I buy one in NZ?
From tangem.nz, Tangem’s authorised New Zealand seller. If you need a hand with sizing before you order, get in touch and we’ll sort it.
