Fob Ring – Seamless Access Control

A handcrafted, glow-in-the-dark access ring that replaces traditional HID key fobs with a simple tap of the hand.

RFID & Access Tech

HID iCLASS • Proxmark3 • RFID • NFC • Access Control Systems

Reverse Engineering

Card Decryption • Fob Cloning • Chip Extraction • Antenna Design

Materials & Fabrication

Ebony Wood • Resin Casting • Silicone Molding • Hand Polishing

Design Elements

Custom Antennas • Crushed Gemstones • Glow Powder • Natural Wood and Copper Textures

Highlights

This project transforms a standard HID access fob into a wearable object that feels natural, durable, and personal. The result is a ring that works effortlessly through gloves and cold weather, eliminating the friction of pockets, bags, and keychains while turning access control into something elegant and tactile.

Cloned and decrypted HID iCLASS fob using Proxmark3

RFID chip extracted via acetone dissolution

Custom antenna designs tested and tuned for ring form factor

Hand-carved ebony wood ring with precision grooves

Embedded gemstones mixed with glow powder

Silicone molding, resin coating, and final hand polish

The idea behind this project came from a simple, everyday frustration. When carrying groceries, walking the dog, or dealing with winter gloves, accessing a building or elevator meant fumbling through pockets for a plastic fob. It was a small problem, but one repeated often enough to demand a better solution.

Using a Proxmark3, an existing HID iCLASS fob was cloned and decrypted, then transferred onto an iCLASS card. The card itself was dissolved in acetone to extract the RFID chip, freeing it from its original form. From there, multiple antenna designs were prototyped and tested to find a geometry that would reliably function within the tight constraints of a ring.

The ring body was carved from ebony wood, chosen for its density, durability, and deep natural tone. A groove was cut to house the antenna, chip, and decorative inlay. Gemstones were crushed and blended with glow powder, creating a subtle luminescent effect that comes alive in the dark while remaining understated in daylight.

Once assembled, the ring was molded in silicone, coated in resin, and carefully polished by hand. The finished piece is not just functional but expressive. It glows softly at night, works effortlessly through gloves, and turns a mundane access action into something instinctive and elegant.

This project blends reverse engineering, RF experimentation, and hands-on craftsmanship. It reimagines access control as something wearable, personal, and frictionless. Beyond solving a practical problem, the ring often becomes a conversation starter, quietly demonstrating how everyday technology can be reshaped into something both beautiful and useful.