Mood rings were a popular novelty item in the 1970s that claimed to reveal a person’s emotional state based on the color the ring turned in response to changes in body temperature. Each color supposedly corresponded to a different mood or emotion.
The Meaning of an Orange Mood Ring
An orange color on a mood ring generally indicates a state of anxiety, stress, or nervousness. This is because orange falls between the more relaxed, happy colors like yellow or green and the more tense, unhappy colors like brown or black on the typical mood ring color spectrum.
Here is a typical guide to mood ring colors and their corresponding emotions:
| Mood Ring Color | Associated Emotion |
|---|---|
| Black | Tense, stressed |
| Brown | Anxious, nervous |
| Orange | Stressed, anxious |
| Yellow | Happy, cheerful |
| Green | Calm, relaxed |
| Blue | Peaceful, meditative |
As you can see, orange falls right between the negative emotions of black and brown and the positive ones of yellow and green. So when your mood ring turns orange, it suggests you are feeling somewhat stressed or anxious.
What Causes Mood Ring Color Changes
Mood rings purport to work by measuring subtle changes in your body temperature. The rings contain special heat-sensitive crystals inside the stone that change color based on temperature changes.
When you’re in a calm, relaxed state, your hands and fingers stay cooler. This causes the crystals to reflect green or blue wavelengths of light. When you become stressed or anxious, your body temperature rises slightly, causing the crystals to reflect orange, brown, or black wavelengths instead.
Of course, the technology is far from an exact science. Many other factors besides emotions influence body temperature, like air temperature, exercise, or drinking hot or cold beverages. So mood ring colors should be taken with a grain of salt rather than assumed to be completely accurate reflections of your inner emotional state.
The History of Mood Rings
Mood rings first became popular in the 1970s after an American jewelry designer named Joshua Reynolds customized rings with heat-sensitive liquid crystals to create color-changing rings. He dubbed his design the “mood ring” and the fad soon took off.
Reynolds worked with a New York company called Aztec Ventures to mass produce and market his mood ring invention. They sold millions of the rings and countless imitations soon followed. By 1975, the mood ring craze was in full swing.
The biggest seller of the 1970s mood ring boom was a model called the Mood-o-Ring. It came with an instruction sheet explaining the meaning behind the ring’s changing colors. This guide helped popularize the idea that mood rings could reveal a person’s emotions.
While the initial mood ring fad faded, the rings have remained popular as novelty items. Modern versions still rely on heat-sensitive liquid crystals to create the color-change effect that reacts to body heat.
How Mood Rings Really Work
The color-changing technology inside mood rings is fairly simple in concept. Many contain a thermotropic liquid crystal sealed underneath the stone in a small cavity. This heat-sensitive liquid crystal reacts to changes in temperature by reflecting different wavelengths of light that correspond to different colors.
One of the most common types of liquid crystals used is called cholesteryl chloride. It can display colors ranging from violet/black around 82°F up to yellow/green at 96°F. Intermediate temperatures result in brown, orange, and red.
Lower temperatures make the crystals arranged in a twisted formation that reflects shorter wavelengths of light. As the temperature rises, the crystals unwind and reflect longer wavelengths instead.
Other types of liquid crystal materials can also produce color-change effects. Some react to UV light rather than heat. More advanced mood rings may contain additional temperature sensors and electronics to improve accuracy.
Do Mood Rings Really Reveal Emotions?
While mood rings rely on a scientific phenomenon to create their color-change effect, they do not necessarily provide an accurate insight into a person’s emotional state. The premise behind mood rings is flawed for several reasons:
- Body temperature is affected by many factors besides emotions, like air temperature and physical activity.
- People experience emotions differently – one person may get hot from anger while another feels clammy from anxiety.
- Mood ring colors are interpreted subjectively, with no universal emotional meanings.
- The technology is limited and imprecise at actually detecting small temperature fluctuations.
So mood rings are generally considered more of a novelty item than a reliable indicator of emotions. However, they can still be fun to wear and observe the color variations throughout the day. Just take any supposed emotional meanings with a grain of salt.
Precautions When Wearing a Mood Ring
While mood rings are harmless jewelry items, there are some precautions to keep in mind when wearing one:
- Avoid wearing your mood ring in very hot or cold environments that may produce extreme color changes not aligned with your mood.
- Remove the ring before washing hands, showering, or engaging in activities that will warm up or cool down your hands excessively.
- Don’t rely on your mood ring as a medical diagnostic tool or let it influence your mood. The colors are not completely accurate.
- Clean the ring regularly and avoid spilling chemicals or oils on it that could damage the heat-sensitive crystals.
Following these simple tips will allow you to safely wear and enjoy your mood ring without taking the changing colors too seriously.
Fun Uses for Mood Rings
While mood rings may not actually detect emotions, they can still be used in fun, creative ways. Here are some suggestions:
- Use it as a conversation starter – ask others what they think your ever-changing ring color means.
- Play guessing games – have friends try to make your ring change colors through touch, conversation topics, or other stimuli.
- Create art – place on paper and trace around the ring to capture color patterns.
- Observe color shifts during activities – see how exercise, hand washing, or drinking affects the ring.
- Photograph the colors – take photos of the ring throughout the day and connect colors to events.
Approaching mood rings with a spirit of fun and experimentation allows you to enjoy their mystique without needing to actually diagnose your inner psyche.
Conclusion
While mood rings have limitations in their ability to accurately reflect emotions, they remain a fun and fascinating novelty item. The rings rely on heat-sensitive liquid crystals that react to small changes in finger temperature by displaying a spectrum of colors. Each color has been ascribed a particular emotional meaning, with orange signifying stress or anxiety. However, many factors besides mood influence skin temperature, so the rings cannot provide definitive insights into your state of mind. Still, mood rings can be an enjoyable jewelry accessory when their color changes are appreciated, but not taken too seriously.