A mood ring is a fun jewelry item that changes colors based on the temperature of your skin. The mood ring was a popular trend in the 1970s and has seen a revival in recent years. The different colors displayed on a mood ring are meant to correlate with different moods or emotional states. One of the most common colors seen on mood rings is blue, which can have a variety of meanings depending on the shade and context. In this article, we’ll explore what different shades of blue tend to signify on a mood ring.
How Mood Rings Work
Before diving into blue shades, let’s first understand how mood rings work. A mood ring contains special heat-sensitive crystals inside the band which react to changes in your skin temperature. The crystals are coated with a liquid crystal material that shifts colors when the temperature changes.
Your skin temperature naturally fluctuates a bit throughout the day. Factors like air temperature, blood circulation, and emotional state can all impact the heat levels in your skin. The mood ring detects these subtle shifts in temperature and displays an appropriate color meant to correlate with your mood or emotional state.
So essentially, the color displayed on a mood ring is a rough gauge of your skin temperature at that moment. However, the color meanings are not set in stone and can vary a bit between brands and models. The colors are more so meant to be loose indications of emotional states rather than definitive analyses.
Meanings of Blue on a Mood Ring
Now let’s get into what different shades of blue tend to represent on a mood ring:
Pale or Light Blue
– This is one of the coolest color zones on the mood ring scale.
– Light blue generally signifies a calm, relaxed emotional state.
– Your skin temperature is likely around 82°F/28°C when pale blue shows.
– Being at peace, tranquil, and unworried are associated with light blue.
Medium Blue
– As the blue gets darker, it means your skin is getting warmer.
– Medium blue corresponds to skin temps of around 86°F/30°C.
– At this color, you’re likely feeling normal, stable, and content.
– Medium blue is considered an emotionally balanced color zone.
Royal or Navy Blue
– This is the warmest blue shade on the mood ring spectrum.
– Skin temps are usually around 90°F/32°C when royal blue appears.
– This color reflects high energy, excitement, and engagement.
– It may also indicate being overly animated or hyperactive.
Icy Blue
– An icy, pale blue with silver undertones may emerge if skin temps dip.
– This can signify feeling lonely, anxious, or emotionally distant.
– Icy blue reflects withdrawn emotions and insecure feelings.
– Skin temps are likely quite low, around 70°F/21°C.
So in summary:
– Light blue = calm and peaceful
– Medium blue = balanced and content
– Royal blue = energetic and excited
– Icy blue = anxious and withdrawn
The intensity and shade of the blue gives you clues into your emotional state.
Other Factors That Influence Color
While the above blue shades tend to correlate with certain moods, keep in mind other factors can also impact the color displayed:
– Room Temperature – If ambient temps are cold, your skin will be colder and may show a cooler color. Hot ambient air can make your skin warmer.
– Blood Circulation – Good circulation means warmer skin and bolder blues. Poor circulation may lead to paler blues.
– Skin Pigmentation – Darker skin tones absorb heat more readily so may display warmer colors.
– Skin Location – Areas with many blood vessels, like fingers or wrists, skew warmer.
– Metabolism – A fast metabolism leads to more heat generation and warmer blues.
– Stress Level – Stress causes vasoconstriction, resulting in cooler skin and paler blues.
So consider these factors when interpreting your exact blue shade. Know that the colors give general insights into emotions and are not meant to be perfect representations.
Other Colors on Mood Rings
While this article focuses on blue tones, here’s a quick rundown of what other colors tend to mean on standard mood rings:
– Black – Doesn’t register a skin temperature
– Purple – Very low temperature, around 64°F/18°C
– Blue – Low to medium temperature, around 70-90°F/21-32°C
– Green – Medium balanced temperature, around 82°F/28°C
– Yellow – Warm temperature, around 86°F/30°C
– Orange – Very warm temperature, around 90°F/32°C
– Red – Extremely hot temperature, 96°F/36°C
– Brown or Gray – Temperature fluctuating between hot and cold
As discussed above, blues represent cooler emotional states while yellows, oranges, and reds reflect warmer, more excited moods. Green is considered an emotionally balanced color.
History of the Mood Ring
To better understand the context of color meanings, let’s look back at the origins of the mood ring in the 1970s.
The mood ring first gained popularity in 1975 after two New York inventors, Josh Reynolds and Maris Ambats, patented the technology and started a company called Bonamo Creations to produce the rings. The original rings used liquid crystals sealed in quartz stones to create the color-changing effect.
When it debuted, the mood ring was marketed as a mystical item that allowed wearers to peer into their subconscious emotions. Instructions classified the ring colors into emotional states like “passionate”, “excited”, “normal”, “nervous”, and “anxious.” This established a color-coded mood association system still used today.
By 1976, the rings were selling over one million units as the fad surged mainstream. Celebrity interest and pop culture references further cemented the mood ring’s iconic status in the 70s zeitgeist.
Modern Science on Mood Rings
While mood rings took off more as an amusing novelty, some researchers have actually investigated the scientific accuracy behind them.
A 1982 study by Dr. J.B. Farmer had subjects wear mood rings while viewing a set of films crafted to elicit different emotional states like joy, surprise, sadness, and others. The ring colors generally aligned with the target emotions, lending some validity to the color meanings.
However, Farmer noted mood rings should not be considered precise emotional analyses. Factors like cold weather and circulatory issues threw off some readings. Overall though, the study deemed mood rings a “valid device” for loosely gauging emotions.
Modern researchers concur genuine emotion-related skin temperature changes can occur and be detected by mood rings. However, they caution that readings are imprecise and can vary based on physical factors like outdoor temperature and blood circulation.
Nonetheless, for informal personal amusement, mood rings can provide some loose insight into your shifting emotional states throughout the day. Just keep in mind that color interpretations are not set in stone and should be considered general guidelines.
How to Get Accurate Mood Ring Readings
If you want to get the most accurate readings possible from your mood ring, here are some tips:
– Wear the ring on a finger with lots of blood flow, like your index or middle finger. This gives better heat detection.
– Give your hands time to adjust to ambient temperatures if coming in from cold/hot outdoors.
– Remove gloves, jewelry, etc. that may impede skin contact and temperature sensing.
– Avoid wearing in extremely hot or cold environments that will skew the colors.
– Don’t wear over bandages, tattoos, or skin blemishes that impact heat absorption.
– Compare readings at different times to establish your normal baseline color range.
– Consider your physical and emotional state – are you sick or stressed? This can impact skin temp.
– View the colors as loose insights, not definitive analyses.
With smart use, mood rings can provide some fun perspective into your shifting emotional landscape throughout the day!
Conclusion
In the world of mood rings, blue is a particularly meaningful color to keep an eye on. Light blues signify calmness and relaxation, medium blues indicate emotional balance, and royal blues reflect high energy and excitement. Icy blues can warn of withdrawn anxiety. Many factors like temperature and circulation impact the exact shade you display. Mood rings first rose to popularity in the 70s as mystical emotion detectors, and while the readings aren’t perfect science, they can still offer some loose personal insights when used wisely. So pay attention when blue comes up on your mood ring – it’s likely giving you clues into your emotional state!