Mood rings first gained popularity in the 1970s as novelty jewelry items that were claimed to change color in response to the wearer’s emotions. The rings have a thermochromic liquid crystal inside the stone that reacts to changes in temperature. When worn on the finger, the ring is supposed to turn different colors based on temperature changes caused by variations in the wearer’s mood or emotional state. While mood rings remain a popular novelty item, there has been much debate over whether they actually work as claimed.
How Mood Rings Work
A mood ring contains a thermochromic liquid crystal inside the stone or setting. Thermochromic liquid crystals change color at different temperatures. The ring is designed to measure subtle changes in the temperature of the skin on the finger in response to variations in the wearer’s mood or emotions. When the ring is cold, the liquid crystal is black. As the ring warms to body temperature, the crystal turns green, then blue, and eventually gray as temperature increases further. The color changes are reversible as the ring cools.
The theory behind mood rings is that fluctuations in emotion can cause subtle changes in the temperature of the skin. Strong emotions like anger or passion are supposed to heat up the fingers, while emotions like fear or sadness cool them down. By measuring these tiny temperature shifts, the mood ring is supposed to indicate the wearer’s emotional state via different colors.
Do They Really Detect Emotions?
Despite the claims surrounding mood rings, scientific research has shown there is little evidence they accurately detect emotions. The problem lies in the assumption that emotions reliably cause measurable temperature changes in the skin of the fingers. While strong emotions can sometimes cause subtle skin temperature shifts, research has shown they are minor and unreliable for indicating mood.
A 1982 study tested the ability of mood rings to detect emotional changes by having subjects submerge a finger wearing a mood ring in water ranging in temperature from 71 to 96 degrees Fahrenheit (F). The experiment found that mood ring samples all transitioned from blue to black at around 82 F regardless of the wearer’s mood. The findings showed mood ring color changes were driven by temperature, not emotions.
Another study in 1975 measured skin temperature in subjects as they experienced happiness, fear, anger and sadness. While emotions produced very slight temperature changes, they were insignificant compared to normal temperature fluctuations throughout the day. The minor shifts could not be reliably linked to specific emotional states.
Most scientists conclude that skin temperature is not a good indicator of mood or emotion because temperature swings with activities like drinking a hot or cold beverage can easily override the subtle effects emotions may produce. Mood rings do react to shifts in skin temperature, but the changes are unrelated to the wearer’s psychological state.
Why Do They Change Color?
If mood rings are not detecting emotions, what causes them to change color on the finger? There are a few key factors that influence a mood ring’s color:
- Ambient temperature – The temperature of the surrounding environment impacts the ring’s baseline color. In a very warm room, the ring will start at a different color than in a cold room.
- Body temperature – The ring is calibrated to change colors between roughly 77 F and 90 F. When worn against skin close to these temperatures, the most vivid color changes will occur.
- Blood flow – More blood flow to the fingers warms the skin and can shift mood ring colors. Anything that affects circulation like exercise or drinking alcohol can change its color.
- Tightness – How tightly the ring sits on the finger impacts heat transfer and can affect its color. Looser rings show greater shifts.
- Thickness – Bulkier ring styles or thicker bands change color more slowly than thin bands since they absorb heat from the finger more slowly.
While mood ring retailers continue to claim the rings detect emotions, it’s clear that ordinary factors like these determine the ring’s changing colors, not changes in mood. Carefully controlled experiments show skin temperature is not reliably linked to emotional states.
Do Mood Rings Eventually Stop Working?
Given that mood rings depend on thermochromic liquid crystals, they can eventually degrade over time and stop working properly. However, mood rings don’t suddenly “expire” after a certain period.
With proper care, most mood rings can remain functioning for years. But certain factors can shorten their lifespan:
- Sunlight exposure – UV rays can damage the liquid crystal over time and fade the pigments that cause color changes.
- Solvents – Perfumes, hand sanitizers, cleaners, and other chemicals can degrade the liquid crystal.
- Scratches – Damage to the stone over repeated wear allows liquid to escape.
- Heat – Excessive heat can disrupt the delicate liquid crystal structure.
Avoiding these conditions can help extend a mood ring’s functional lifespan. With reasonable care, most mood rings will continue changing color as designed for many years. Slow color shifting or fading is a sign the ring may be reaching the end of its life.
Mood rings from the 1970s may degrade simply due to old age after decades of use. For these vintage rings, the liquid crystal eventually breaks down and loses its ability to change color. But well-preserved rings can potentially last 30-40 years or more before stopping entirely.
Restoring Non-Functioning Rings
It is sometimes possible to restore mood rings that have stopped working properly. If the ring has simply dried out, carefully adding a few drops of thermochromic liquid crystal solution to the stone setting can reactivate it. The liquid crystals can be purchased from specialty retailers online.
However, rings with cracked, cloudy or scratched stones may be permanently damaged. The liquid crystal solution will quickly leak out again. In these cases, the only option is to replace the stone entirely.
Take the ring to a jeweler to have the damaged stone removed and replaced with a new glass or plastic stone containing fresh liquid crystals. Choose a dome-shaped smooth stone without decorations or facets to ensure it reacts properly. With a brand new stone and liquid crystal solution inside, the mood ring will function like new again.
The Future of Mood Ring Technology
While classic 1970s style mood rings rely on crude temperature measurements, there has been research into improving mood ring technology to actually detect emotions from changes in the skin. This could eventually lead to “digital” smart mood rings.
One avenue involves incorporating galvanic skin response (GSR) sensors into rings. These measure very subtle electrical changes in the skin that relate to stress, excitement or anxiety. Rings with GSR sensors may be able to detect the wearer’s emotional reactions to various stimuli more accurately.
Other newer mood rings use photoplethysmography (PPG) sensors instead of thermochromic crystals. PPG detects blood volume changes under the skin. More active blood flow can indicate greater excitement or concentration that may correlate with mood. Rings with PPG sensors claim to detect a broader range of emotional signals.
Wireless connectivity allows modern mood rings to pair with smartphones or connect to the cloud to analyze sensor data using artificial intelligence for more sophisticated emotion detection. While still experimental, smart mood rings aim to finally fulfill the promise of revealing emotions through changes in the skin.
Conclusion
Classic 1970s mood rings rely on the idea that emotions cause temperature changes in the skin that can be measured for insight into the wearer’s state of mind. But scientific research shows skin temperature is not a reliable indicator of mood or emotion. Ordinary factors like ambient temperature and blood circulation have a far greater impact on a mood ring’s changing colors.
While the classic rings work by reacting to shifts in skin temperature, they do not actually detect emotions. With reasonable care, traditional liquid crystal mood rings can remain functional for many years before the crystals degrade. Advanced modern versions with sensors may someday provide more meaningful insight into emotions, but true “mood ring” technology remains largely unproven despite decades of cultural fascination.
| Ring Color | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Black | Too cold |
| Blue | Calm, relaxed |
| Green | Normal, neutral |
| Yellow | Anxious, stressed |
| Brown | Excited |
| Grey | Too hot |
