You're standing in a shop or digging through an old jewelry box and there it is. That liquid crystal stone is staring back at you with a deep, royal hue. You wonder, what does the color purple mean on a mood necklace, and if it actually knows you’re feeling a bit "main character" today.
Mood rings and necklaces aren't magic. Honestly, they’re science kits you wear around your neck. Developed in the 1970s by Joshua Reynolds and Maris Ambats, these trinkets rely on thermotropic liquid crystals. When your body temperature shifts, those crystals twist. As they twist, they reflect different wavelengths of light.
Purple is usually the "peak" color. It’s the highest temperature setting on the standard scale.
The Core Meaning of Purple: Bliss or Just a Fever?
If you see purple, the general consensus in the world of retro jewelry is that you are feeling relaxed, romantic, or perhaps a bit passionate. It’s the "happy place" color. Most charts will tell you it represents a state of calm mixed with a bit of excitement. Think of it as the emotional equivalent of a warm bath or a first date that’s actually going well.
But here’s the thing.
The stone isn't reading your soul. It’s reading your skin. When you are happy or excited, your blood flow increases to your extremities. Your skin gets warmer. The liquid crystals react to that heat by shifting into the violet/purple spectrum.
However, if you're standing in a 100-degree room in the middle of July, that necklace is going to turn purple whether you're blissfully happy or incredibly annoyed. Temperature is the driver. Context is everything.
Purple vs. Violet: Is There a Difference?
Sometimes you’ll see a reddish-purple, and other times it’s a deep, dark indigo.
On a standard mood scale, a reddish-purple often suggests you’re transitioning from "cool" to "warm." It might mean you’re feeling a bit edgy or flicking between emotions. A deep purple, on the other hand, is the "zen" zone.
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According to various manufacturers like BestMoodRings, the darker the purple, the more "in tune" you supposedly are with your surroundings. It’s often labeled as "Very Happy" or "Love."
Why Your Necklace Might Be Lying to You
Let's get real for a second. These things are notoriously finicky.
I remember wearing one in high school. I was stressed out of my mind before a chemistry final, but my necklace was a beautiful, calm purple. Why? Because I had a slight fever. The crystals didn't care about my anxiety; they just felt the 101-degree heat coming off my neck.
Moisture is the enemy. If you get a mood necklace wet, water can seep into the seal. This ruins the liquid crystals. Instead of a vibrant purple, you’ll get a dull, brownish-black smudge that never changes. It’s "dead." If your "purple" looks more like a bruised banana, it might just be water damage.
The Science of Thermochromism
If we want to get technical, we're talking about cholesteric liquid crystals.
These molecules are shaped like spirals. As the temperature rises, the spirals tighten or loosen. Imagine a spring being compressed. When the spring is at a certain tension, it reflects blue and violet light—the shortest wavelengths on the visible spectrum. When you're cold, the molecules spread out, reflecting longer wavelengths like red or yellow.
So, what does the color purple mean on a mood necklace in scientific terms? It means the crystals have reached a high-frequency state of reflection. Your body temperature is likely hovering around 91 to 94 degrees Fahrenheit at the skin's surface.
How the 70s Defined Your "Mood"
The 1970s were obsessed with New Age philosophy and the idea that our bodies radiated energy.
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When Reynolds launched the mood ring, he tapped into the zeitgeist of self-actualization. People wanted to believe their jewelry could act as a biofeedback device. While the medical community was a bit skeptical—rightfully so—the idea stuck.
Purple became the gold standard. It was the color everyone wanted their jewelry to stay.
If you were "stuck" in gray or black, people would ask if you were okay. It became a social signal. Even today, seeing that purple glow brings back a sense of nostalgia for a time when we thought a piece of glass could tell us how to feel.
Real-World Factors That Change the Color
It isn't just your emotions. A dozen things can flip that necklace from green to purple in seconds:
- Sunlight: Direct UV rays can heat the stone quickly.
- Exercise: A quick jog will turn that stone purple faster than a romantic movie will.
- Drinking cold water: Believe it or not, holding a cold glass or drinking ice water can drop your peripheral temperature, turning the stone amber or green.
- Air Conditioning: If you're under a vent, don't expect to see purple. You'll likely see the "stressed" black or gray, even if you're eating a taco in total peace.
The material of the necklace matters too. A sterling silver backing conducts heat much better than a cheap plastic or "pot metal" base. This means a high-quality mood necklace will be more sensitive to your actual skin temperature than a carnival prize.
Misconceptions About the "Love" Color
People love to say purple means you're in love.
While it’s true that being around someone you’re attracted to can raise your heart rate and skin temperature (leading to the purple hue), it’s not a "love detector." You could just be having an allergic reaction or a hot flash.
Nuance is important. If you’re looking at your necklace to decide if you should marry someone, maybe put the jewelry down and talk to a therapist instead.
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Beyond the Basics: Caring for the Glow
If you want to keep seeing that purple hue, you have to treat the necklace with some respect.
Most mood jewelry is made of a thin layer of liquid crystals covered by a glass or quartz cabochon. They are delicate.
- Keep it dry. No showers. No swimming. No sweating heavily while wearing it.
- Avoid extreme heat. Leaving it on a car dashboard in the sun will "bake" the crystals, often turning them permanently black.
- Clean with a soft cloth. Never use harsh chemicals or jewelry cleaners that could eat through the glue holding the stone in place.
Actionable Takeaways for the Mood-Curious
If you’re wearing a mood necklace right now and it’s glowing a vibrant violet, here’s how to actually use that information.
Check your environment. Are you actually calm and happy, or is the heater just turned up too high? If you feel stressed but the necklace says purple, use it as a prompt to breathe. Sometimes the "wrong" color can be a reminder to check in with your body.
Use it for mindfulness. Treat the necklace as a physical "check-in" point. Every time you look down and see that color, ask yourself: How do I actually feel? Even if the science is just about heat, the psychological effect of checking your mood is real.
Don't overthink the "bad" colors. Just because it isn't purple doesn't mean you're a mess. Black or gray often just means your hands are cold. Rub your hands together, warm up the stone, and watch the transition. It’s a great way to visualize how your body responds to physical touch and warmth.
Ultimately, the color purple on a mood necklace is a sign of high energy and warmth. Whether that warmth comes from a deep sense of inner peace or just a really cozy sweater is entirely up to you to figure out. Enjoy the glow for what it is—a fun, retro reminder that our bodies are constantly reacting to the world around us.