Mood rings are a fun and popular 70s-inspired jewelry item that has fascinated people for years, in large part because of what the colors are believed to represent. Mood rings respond to changes in body temperature, so many people believe that this type of jewelry can offer clues about a person's state of mind. Learn what the colors mean to help decode your moods.
Mood Ring Color Chart
If you're wondering what your mood ring is saying about you, decode its messages with this chart:
How Mood Rings Change Color
Liquid crystals are the secret to the mood ring's changing array of colors. The clear glass stone in the ring is either filled with the liquid crystals or sits directly on top of a thin layer of the substance that has been adhered to a sterling setting.
Liquid crystals are extremely sensitive to heat, and will twist their position in response to a rise or drop in temperature. Light comes in many different wavelengths, and each wavelength is reflected to our eyes as a different color. The position of the crystals determines which wavelengths of light are absorbed and which are reflected back to us, and this is what makes the stone appear to change color.
Body Temperature
Your mood affects your body temperature, which is what causes the ring to change colors. When you feel happy or content, your body gets slightly warmer because the capillaries move a little closer to the skin surface and release more warmth, which causes that well-known blush that creeps into the cheeks from time to time. This extra warmth causes the crystals in a mood ring to alter their position, which results in shades of blue. An extremely warm reaction might even cause the color to deepen to purple, which is considered the color of passion.
When you're nervous or anxious, extra moisture on the surface of your skin works like an evaporative cooling machine and lowers your surface temperature. Some people describe the feeling as clammy, but your mood ring picks up this change in your body temperature, and the liquid crystals rearrange themselves in ways that reflect the lighter colors in their spectrum, which produces shades ranging from amber to green.
An absence of heat will turn the stone black, and this is how the ring will normally appear when no one is wearing it unless it is left in the sun or close to another heat source.
Where to Buy
You can usually purchase mood rings at your local Claire's Boutique, or shop online at:
- HippieShop.com - This oval-shaped mood ring is adjustable to fit all sized. It's priced at just under $4.00, and the customer reviews at the bottom of the page are all very positive.
- WeAreCrimsonClover - If you're looking for a different style mood ring than the standard oval, this Etsy store sells a variety of novelty motifs. Just be aware this store has a no return policy.
- Amazon.com - This sweet heart mood ring is shaped like a heart.. Priced under $10.00, it can be adjust to nearly any size. Customer reviews are mixed about the quality of this ring, but give it an overall rating of nearly 4 out of 5 stars.
Just for Fun
While mood rings are worn primarily for fun, wearing one just might help you become more in tune with yourself. Now that you know what the colors of a mood ring mean, have some fun with this fascinating piece of jewelry.
