In 1975, a simple yet captivating piece of jewelry ignited a global craze—the mood ring.
Introduced by Joshua Reynolds and Maris Ambats, this innovative accessory combined the language of fashion with the language of emotion, using liquid crystal technology encased in a quartz-like dome to reflect shifting body temperatures.
Though modest in material, the rings were styled with an aura of mystique and quickly became a cultural symbol.
Marketed as a “biofeedback tool,” the mood ring aligned perfectly with the 1970s’ rising interest in personal wellness and emotional introspection. At a time when self-discovery and holistic living were infiltrating fashion, these rings promised wearers a glimpse into their inner lives—expressed through color.
Sold in luxury department stores such as Bonwit Teller in New York, mood rings gained a fashionable edge, positioning themselves alongside fine jewelry despite their synthetic core.
The trend tapped into a broader design philosophy of the time: that jewelry could be experiential, even psychological. It wasn’t about carats or karats—it was about connection.
The allure, however, was fleeting. As the science behind the mood ring was revealed—its color changes were simply temperature responses, not true mood detection—the novelty wore off.
But not before Reynolds and Ambats amassed millions, and mood rings left their indelible mark on the intersection of emotional wellness and fashion design.
Today, mood rings serve as a nostalgic reference for contemporary designers exploring materials that respond to the body or environment. In a world once again fascinated by wearable tech and self-expression through style, the mood ring reminds us that jewelry has always been about more than adornment—it’s about identity.
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