Mood necklaces, also known as mood rings, are jewelry pieces that are designed to indicate the emotional state or mood of the wearer based on color changes. The necklaces contain special liquid crystals that are heat-sensitive and react to changes in body temperature by changing colors. As the temperature of the skin underneath the necklace changes, the crystals twist to reflect different wavelengths of light, resulting in an apparent color change.
The idea behind mood necklaces is that certain emotions can trigger subtle physiological changes, like fluctuations in blood flow, heart rate, and skin temperature. So by monitoring the color of the necklace, you can supposedly get an indication of the wearer’s mood. While the accuracy of mood rings in actually detecting emotions has been debated, they remain popular as fun fashion accessories.
So what do the different colors on a mood necklace mean? Here’s a breakdown of the most common color interpretations:
Main Colors and Meanings
| Color | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Black | Stressed, tense, nervous |
| Blue | Calm, relaxed, peaceful |
| Green | Normal, balanced |
| Yellow | Happy, optimistic, excited |
| Brown | Bored, sluggish, dull |
| Grey | Sad, depressed |
| Violet | Passionate, loving |
| Red | Angry, aggressive |
The most common mood necklace contains a color spectrum ranging from black to blue to green to yellow to brown to grey and so on. Here is a more detailed breakdown of some of the main colors you may see and what they indicate:
Black
A black color on a mood necklace generally means the wearer is feeling tense, nervous, or stressed. It indicates high anxiety. As the body reacts to stress, blood vessels constrict, which causes a drop in skin temperature. This makes the thermochromic liquid crystals turn black or dark grey. A black mood color suggests the person may need to calm down and relax.
Blue
The color blue is associated with feeling peaceful, calm, and relaxed. Blue shows up when the skin temperature is relatively cool and blood circulation is slower, which is typical when someone is in a relaxed state. Blue is considered a positive mood color and indicates the person is level-headed and composed. However, an extremely dark blue can sometimes indicate sadness.
Green
Green is typically interpreted as meaning the wearer feels balanced and normal, without any intense emotions in either direction. Green shows up when the skin temperature under the necklace is in the ideal zone, not too hot or cold. It’s the baseline color that indicates a stable mood state without major highs or lows.
Yellow
A bright yellow color is associated with happiness, optimism, and excitement. Yellow shows up when blood flow increases and skin temperature rises, such as when someone feels joyful and energized. The warmer skin under the necklace causes the crystals to reflect yellow light. A yellow mood can indicate the wearer is feeling upbeat, enthusiastic, and positive.
Brown
A brown or murky color suggests the wearer may be feeling down, bored, sluggish, or disinterested. It indicates a low mood state and lack of energy or passion. Brown appears when the skin temperature is fairly cool and blood circulation is slow, which can correspond to emotions like depression and fatigue. It’s the opposite of the warm, excited yellow mood.
Grey
Grey is the color associated with sadness and depression. It indicates melancholy emotions and a dampened mood. Cool skin temperature and minimal blood flow to the necklace area result in a darkening grey color. However, grey can also show up if the wearer is simply feeling tranquil and reserved. Context plays a role in interpreting this color shade.
Violet
Violet or purple on a mood necklace is linked to passion, romance, and love. The violet color appears when blood rushes to the skin’s surface, causing hotter skin and faster blood flow. This flushed skin response can be stimulated by feelings of infatuation, sexual arousal, or falling in love. A violet mood color suggests the wearer is under the influence of intense attraction or passion.
Red
Bright red indicates strong emotions like anger, rage, or aggression. The vibrant red color shows up due to surging blood flow, increased body heat, and skin flushing in the necklace area. Just as red symbolizes anger metaphorically, red on a mood necklace corresponds to fiery emotions and potentially out-of-control feelings. However, red can also indicate excitement, physical exertion, or embarrassment.
Other Factors That Influence Color
While the colors on a mood necklace generally correspond to certain emotions, keep in mind other factors can also influence the colors displayed:
- Room temperature – Cooler ambient temperatures make the necklace turn bluer, while warmer room temperatures make it appear more yellow or brown.
- Skin thickness – Thicker skin mutes the thermal response, while thinner skin leads to faster color changes.
- Blood circulation – Better circulation makes the colors more vivid and reactive.
- Skin moisture – Sweat and moisture speed up the color changes.
- Skin oiliness – Oily skin makes the necklace turn green faster.
- Time of day – Skin temperature varies naturally throughout the day.
- General health – Sickness, fatigue, or medical conditions affect skin temperature.
The necklace can also take some time to adjust to the wearer’s baseline skin temperature when first put on. So the initial color change may not perfectly indicate mood right away. Give it 10-20 minutes to acclimatize and stabilize before making conclusions.
Individual differences in physiology and skin characteristics also impact the accuracy of the color readings. What appears as a happy yellow mood on one person may look more like an angry red on someone else with hotter skin. So don’t rely on the colors as a foolproof mood indicator – use them as a fun rough gauge.
Conclusion
Mood necklaces and mood rings use thermochromic liquid crystals that change colors based on subtle shifts in skin temperature under the jewelry. The main colors and their associated emotional meanings are:
- Black – Stressed
- Blue – Calm
- Green – Balanced
- Yellow – Happy
- Brown – Bored
- Grey – Sad
- Violet – Passionate
- Red – Angry
However, many physiological and environmental factors affect the color changes too. While mood necklaces are fun novelty items, they can’t provide an accurate medical indication of emotion. But they do offer a way to visualize and spark discussion about our ever-changing human mood states.