Mood rings: Do they really work? What to know about the popular retro jewelry item

Mood rings were one of the biggest fashion fads during the 1970s — touted as having the ability to “identify” the mood of the ring wearer by a corresponding color.

During that decade, as people were exploring self-expression and fashion statements, mood rings were super popular.

“Mood-changing jewelry first became popular in New York City and quickly spread throughout the United States,” notes Encyclopedia.com.

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A mood ring contains a temperature-sensitive liquid crystal encased in quartz, the same source indicated.

As the ring wearer’s body temperature changes, the ring’s crystal also change colors.

Each color corresponds with a different mood, according to Encyclopedia.com.

As the ring wearer’s body temperature changes, the ring’s crystal also change colors. Each color supposedly corresponds with a different mood. (iStock)

Below are the colors that a mood ring reveals, as pointed out by sciencenotes.org.

(While there are a variety of styles, these colors are often matched to the mood below.)

Amber or orange: unsettled or anxious
Green: Alert, awake
Blue: Calm, comfortable
Violet or Purple: Passionate, excited and energetic
Pink: Nervous
Red: Agitated, anxious, angry
Black: Usually, the “cold” color of a mood ring is black or brown; this is also the color of a broken mood ring

Since mood rings are sold as novelty items, it’s important to note that a jewelry company can put whatever it wants on the color chart that comes with the mood ring, according to ThoughtCo.

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Since there’s no universal distinction for which color corresponds with a particular mood, it’s a subjective decision by the manufacturer or the mood ring.

It’s likely the jewelry company “will just go with whatever chart looks pretty,” the same source noted.

‘Can never be 100% accurate’

Various types of mood jewelry are available, including necklaces and earrings.

Beauty luxury blonde woman with and mirror. Attractive young woman in beautiful dress sitting in front of a large mirror, to primp (iStock)

Since these ornaments aren’t always touching the skin, they may change color in response to temperature but can’t reliably indicate the wearer’s mood, according to ThoughtCo.

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Tara Emrani, a psychologist at NYU Langone Health, said she believes mood rings shouldn’t be taken too seriously.

“Because they don’t account for all psychological factors, they can never be 100% accurate and they are ‘never going to tell you something about your emotions that you don’t already know,’” Emrani told Refinery 29.

History of mood rings

Mood rings reportedly were invented in 1975 by two New York inventors, Josh Reynolds and Maris Ambats.

However, Marvin Wernick claimed to have developed the mood rings a decade earlier than that, noted The College of Staten Island.

Almost 50 years since the items were invented, mood rings, as well as other emotion-related accessories, have found a following again. (iStock)

Although the controversy exists, mood rings are still in high demand and a part of pop culture, the same source noted.

How are mood rings designed to work?

A person’s normal body temperature is 98.6°F; mood is correlated with body temperature, according to multiple sources.

“When you are stressed, cold blood is directed to the internal organs and away from the skin and the mood ring will turn a darker color,” according to The College of Staten Island.

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“Therefore, there is a correlation with your mood and body temperature, so to some degree a mood ring can show your emotion.”