A mood ring is a ring that contains special liquid crystals that change colors based on the temperature of your skin. The color changes are said to indicate your mood or emotions. Mood rings first became popular in the 1970s and have gone in and out of fashion over the decades. They remain popular today as a fun jewelry accessory and conversation piece. But how exactly does a mood ring work? And can the colors really tell you anything meaningful about your mood? Here’s a look at the science behind mood rings and how to interpret the colors.
What are mood rings and how do they work?
A mood ring has a clear quartz stone in a setting that contains thermotropic liquid crystals. These liquid crystals are temperature sensitive. As the temperature of your skin changes, the crystals twist and reflect light differently, causing the color to shift.
When you wear a mood ring, the metal against your skin heats up to your body temperature. This heat is transferred to the thermotropic crystals in the ring. As your body temperature fluctuates throughout the day, so does the temperature of the ring. This in turn causes the color of the crystals to change.
The mood ring color chart typically has 6-8 colors that range from violet to black. Violet or blue is said to represent calmness or a relaxed state. As your mood intensifies, the color is supposed to progress through greens, yellows, and oranges. Red is said to indicate excitement or anxiety. Black is thought to mean stress or tension.
What causes the color changes?
The color changes in a mood ring are caused entirely by temperature changes. Your skin temperature naturally fluctuates by several degrees throughout the day. It’s generally lowest in the morning and increases as you become active. Things like exercise, taking a bath or shower, stress, or drinking alcohol or hot beverages can all raise your skin temperature temporarily.
When you first put on a mood ring, it will quickly change to match the temperature of your skin. As your body temperature rises and falls, the thermotropic crystals react by twisting and untwisting to reflect different wavelengths of light.
For example, at 82°F the crystals may reflect blue light. At 88°F they may reflect green light. Even a difference of just a few degrees can cause a noticeable color change in the ring.
Can mood rings accurately detect emotions?
While mood rings rely entirely on skin temperature, there is some validity to the color-emotion connection. Increased blood flow to the extremities is one physical indicator of emotions like stress, excitement, and anxiety. Activities that raise skin temperature may also be linked to shifts in mood.
However, mood ring colors alone cannot give a complete or necessarily accurate picture of someone’s emotional state. Many other physical and environmental factors also affect skin temperature, like air temperature and exercise level. The same person may have different color readings at different times of day or after activities like drinking coffee or taking a warm bath.
Research suggests mood rings can detect basic arousal levels, but cannot distinguish specific moods or emotions. The colors provide general clues to emotional intensity, but cannot diagnose your inner feelings better than you can yourself.
Tips for reading your mood ring
While mood rings have limits, they can still be a fun way to tune into your physical state throughout the day. Here are some tips for getting to know your own mood ring signals:
– Wear it on your dominant hand. This will come into more contact with your skin for the most accurate reading.
– Start by learning your baseline color when relaxed. This is likely a blue or blue-green color.
– Note color changes after activities like exercising, showering, or drinking coffee that alter skin temperature.
– Track any color shifts when you notice feeling stressed or agitated. See if intense emotions consistently cause your ring to darken or change.
– Consider other factors too like room temperature and clothing. For example, a long sleeve shirt may make your ring appear darker or more intense.
– Don’t rely solely on your mood ring thinking it knows your feelings better than yourself. Use it as a prompt for self-reflection when you notice color changes.
The meaning behind mood ring colors
While everyone’s mood ring readings are slightly different, here is a general guide to the most common mood ring color meanings:
| Color | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Violet or Blue | Calm, relaxed |
| Blue-Green | Normal, average mood |
| Green | Low-level stress |
| Yellow-Orange | Elevated stress, anxiety, excitement |
| Red | High stress, intensity, passion |
| Brown or Black | Nervous, tense |
Remember these are just generalizations. Only you know your own precise mood at any given time. But checking your ring throughout the day can give you useful clues about your physical state.
The history of mood rings
Mood rings first emerged in 1975 and rapidly became a huge fad. They were invented by Joshua Reynolds and Maris Ambats, who bonded liquid crystals onto quartz stones set into rings. Reynolds then started the company Mood Ring Inc. to mass produce and sell the rings.
By late 1975, mood rings were selling at a rate of over a million rings per month! Retail prices usually ranged from $3 for inexpensive versions to $45 for gold band mood rings. Celebrity interest and clever marketing campaigns built up the mythos around the rings’ supposed emotional divination powers.
After the initial craze, mood ring popularity started to wane by the late 70s. But they never fully died out. Interest would resurge every decade or so with new generations and improved mood ring technology.
Today, inexpensive mood rings can be found in toy stores and mall kiosks. High-end designers also sometimes incorporate liquid crystals into jewelry for a modern take on the classic mood ring.
Conclusion
Mood rings remain a staple jewelry item and pop culture icon decades after first hitting the scene. While they can’t truly detect your exact emotions, they do respond to shifts in skin temperature. Noticing your own mood ring color patterns throughout the day can promote self-awareness. With a bit of personal insight, your mood ring can become a helpful gauge of your physical and mental state.
So next time you change colors, ask yourself – how am I really feeling? Your mood ring may reveal more than you think.