Mood stones, also known as mood rings, are a popular novelty item that changes colors based on temperature. When worn on the finger, the changing colors are said to reflect the wearer’s mood or emotions. But where exactly do these mystical stones come from?
History of Mood Stones
The origin of mood stones can be traced back to the late 1960s and early 1970s. During this time period, liquid crystal technology was being developed and introduced in items like thermometers and clocks. In 1975, two New York inventors, Josh Reynolds and Maris Ambats, applied this temperature-sensitive liquid crystal technology to create the original mood ring.
Reynolds and Ambats worked with a jeweler to encase the heat-sensitive liquid crystals in rings made of quartz or acrylic glass. They introduced their creation at a trade show, marketing them as mood rings that reflected your emotions through color changes. The rings became an international sensation, gaining popularity first in the US and then spreading to Europe and Asia.
By the late 1970s, mood ring popularity had started to decline. However, in the decades since, mood stones have remained a novelty item on the market. Today you can still find classic mood rings, as well as an expanded selection of mood jewelry like necklaces, bracelets, and beads.
How Mood Stones Work
The color-changing magic of mood stones lies in the special heat-sensitive liquid crystals encased in the jewelry. The original liquid crystals used were made from proprietary formulas, but generally included compounds like cholesteric salts or chiral nematic liquid crystals.
These heat-sensitive crystals change orientation and reflected light spectrum based on temperature. At lower temperatures, the crystals are tightly coiled. As the temperature rises, the coils gradually unwind. This alters the light wavelengths they reflect, causing visible color shifts.
Because the stones react to skin temperature, wearing them on the finger leads to color changes as the skin temperature fluctuates. The premise is that your mood can subtly affect your hand temperature, causing the colors to match your emotional state.
Mood Stone Color Meanings
Part of the appeal of mood stones is the meaning attributed to the ring’s changing colors. Each color is said to correspond with a different mood or emotion.
Here are common mood stone color meanings:
- Black – tense, stressed
- Blue – calm, relaxed
- Green – normal, neutral
- Yellow – anxious, excited
- Brown – happy, romantic
- Grey – sad, depressed
- Amber – lively, playful
- Red – angry, passionate
However, it’s important to note that these color meanings are not scientifically proven. The color changes themselves simply indicate shifts in temperature, not true changes in mood. But the colors and associated meanings are still fun to observe.
Where Natural Mood Stones Are Found
While commercial mood jewelry relies on manufactured liquid crystals, some natural gemstones are believed to have similar color-changing, mood-reflecting properties. These stones are often referenced as “true” or “real” mood stones.
Here are a few examples of natural stones associated with mood rings:
Alexandrite
Alexandrite is a rare gemstone known for displaying dramatic color shifts from blueish-green in daylight to reddish-purple under incandescent light. Natural alexandrite is mainly found in Russia, but also sources like Brazil, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania.
Ametrine
Ametrine is a bicolor variety of quartz that combines golden citrine and purple amethyst. Natural ametrine deposits have been found in Bolivia, Brazil, and India. The colors are thought to balance the energies of citrine and amethyst.
Iolite
Iolite can display an impressive array of blues, from light blue to deep violet. Itâ€TMs pleochroic, meaning it can show different colors when viewed from different angles. Major sources for iolite are India, Madagascar, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Tanzania.
Labradorite
Labradorite is known for its iridescent play-of-color that shifts from blue to green to gold. High-quality labradorite has been found mainly in Finland, Madagascar, Norway and Russia.
Moonstone
Moonstone exhibits a pale, shimmery glow known as adularescence. The sheen can range from white to silver, blue, peach, pink or yellow. Notable moonstone deposits are located in Sri Lanka, India, Australia, Myanmar, and Tanzania.
Opal
Opal is prized for its unique play-of-color. The background colors shift from white, black or grey, combined with flashes of rainbow iridescence. Opals source from Australia, Brazil, Ethiopia, Mexico and the US.
How Natural Mood Stones Are Mined and Processed
Natural mood stones originate from mines around the world. The mining process depends on whether the stones are found in igneous rock, mineral veins or sedimentary deposits.
Here is an overview of how some common mood stones are mined:
| Stone | Mining Method |
|---|---|
| Alexandrite | Mined from feldspar deposits in igneous rocks like granite, pegmatites and mica schists. Methods include conventional open-pit or underground mining. |
| Ametrine | Ametrine is mined from andeliete rock deposits in Bolivia. The andeliete is crushed and ametrine rough is hand-sorted from the rubble. |
| Iolite | Iolite can be mined from large primary deposits in igneous and metamorphic rocks, or alluvial secondary deposits along rivers and streams. Both open-pit surface mining and underground mining methods are used. |
| Labradorite | Mined from anorthosite igneous rock deposits using open-pit mining methods. Major labradorite mining operations exist in Finland, Norway, Madagascar, and Canada. |
| Moonstone | Mined from mineral pegmatites and alluvial deposits. Mining methods include conventional open-pit and underground mining, as well as hand-mining and panning alluvial material. |
| Opal | Opal forms in cavities within sedimentary rock. Mines target opal-bearing deposits, which are extracted using advanced drilling and blasting methods or more basic hand tools. |
Once extracted, mood stone rough goes through cutting, polishing and treatment processes to prepare jewelry-quality finished stones. The specific methods depend on the gem type, but can involve sawing, faceting, cabochon cutting, and polishing with abrasives.
Synthetic Mood Stones
In addition to natural stone, mood effects can be replicated in lab-created gems. These synthetic stones exhibit the same desirable color-changing properties, but are manufactured in a controlled setting.
Common examples of synthetic mood stones include:
Synthetic Alexandrite
Synthetic alexandrite is grown in labs to mimic the rare natural stone. It displays the same color-change from red to green that fetched high prices for natural alexandrite.
Labradorite
While natural labradorite exists, the stone is also readily synthesized in labs. Synthetic labradorite exhibits the bright iridescent schiller labradorite is valued for.
Synthetic Opal
Synthetic opals replicate the play-of-color found in natural opal at more affordable price points. They are created using controlled manufacturing processes.
Producing synthetics allows more affordable access to the mood-reflecting effects of rare natural stones. Synthetics are chemically and visually identical to their natural counterparts, with the same optical effects.
Conclusion
While the emotion-detecting claims of mood stones may be more mystical than scientific, their chameleon-like color shifts have enduring appeal. Natural mood stones form in diverse geologic conditions across the planet and are mined using varied methods. Synthetics also offer affordable simulated versions of these color-changing effects. Whether as playful novelties or adornments believed to reveal the wearer’s true nature, mood stones continue to fascinate.