What are pearº rings?
Pearº is a silicone ring that shows you’re single and ready to mingle. pearº is a social experiment that aims to take dating off of apps like Tinder, Hinge, Bumble, and Grindr. Wearing the turquoise (or lilac) ring symbolizes that you’re available on the dating market, encouraging others to hit you up IRL. To join, pay a one-time fee in exchange for 3 silicone rings (1 small, 1 medium, and 1 large), a unique membership number, an invitation to PearFest, and access to exclusive events in your area for £30. The turquoise ring is primarily for people who identify as straight, while the lilac ring is for those who identify as LGBTQ+. You can wear your pearº ring on whatever finger you want.
Pros and Cons of Pearº Rings
A one-time pearº ring fee may replace online dating subscriptions. If all 1.2 billion single people around the world wore a pearº ring to show that they’re single, you wouldn’t have to spend money each month on dating app subscriptions—not to mention countless hours scrolling and swiping. Instead, you can just spend the one-time fee to meet people IRL. Plus, pearº gives you access to singles nights and IRL dating events that wouldn’t be available otherwise.
Pearº rings might make people more comfortable to make the first move. One survey found that 53% of single men said that the fear of seeming creepy reduces their likelihood of talking to women. If single people who want to be pursued wear the pearº ring, it may make men and other people more comfortable hitting on them.
However, they may make it harder to reject unwanted advances. If you’re wearing a pearº ring and someone you’re not interested in who knows about the social experiment approaches you, it’s harder to say something that lets them down easily, like “I’m sorry, I have a partner.” This potentially might make the ring a safety risk, especially for women. It also may give some people a “green light” to harass other singles. If you’re uncomfortable being pursued in a certain environment, like at work, try slipping the ring in your pocket until you’re in the mood to mingle.
Pearº rings also don’t eliminate the fear of rejection. Hitting people up (both in person and on an app) takes guts. A fear of rejection may be one of the reasons some people dislike or avoid dating apps. However, this fear doesn’t go away when dating in person. Some pearº users may be afraid of putting themselves out there, even with a green (or purple) flag on their finger. Because the rings are to draw in people interested in dating, they may also take away some of the fun and excitement out of taking a chance and asking out someone you find attractive. One of the best ways to get over the fear of rejection is to figure out the root of it and work on learning to love and value yourself.
Do pearº rings really work?
Pearº rings may work if they become more popular. The social experiment is starting to get its feet off the ground, so it’s not clear whether they work or not yet. However, as sales increase and more people start wearing the rings, there may be more stories about the connections that form because of them. Currently, 3 turquoise pearº ring releases have sold out, and the stock in their 4th release is 96% gone. The brand sells around 1,000 to 2,000 rings per day. The number of people that wear pearº rings might also vary depending on where you live. There may be fewer people wearing them in small towns than in cities, for instance. If you’re single and looking for a real-life connection, the best way to find out if it works is to try it out.
Where did pearº rings come from?
Pearº is part of the company that made the Thursday dating app. Thursday is an app for Android and IOS that only works on Thursdays, encouraging people to set up an in-person date that night. What do pearº and Thursday have in common? They aim to encourage singles to meet in relaxed, pressure-free environments outside of dating apps. Thursday was created and launched in 2021 by George Rawlings, who previously developed the Honeypot dating app. Both Thursday and pearº are part of Honeypot Dating LTD. The UK company also has a Thursday Events app for IOS and Android, which is an event platform for singles to meet and connect.
Pearº rings try to solve frustrations caused by dating apps. 7 out of 10 online daters believe it’s very common for others to lie to look more desirable, and 45% said their online dating experiences made them feel more frustrated than hopeful. Pearº rings try to remedy this disruption that online dating has caused to traditional ways of meeting romantic partners. Online dating might be especially hard for young women. Over 50% of women aged 18 to 34 have experienced harassment or received unwanted sexually explicit messages or photos. Meeting someone in person reduces the chance of getting catfished or ghosted, and you get a more accurate picture of what they look like, what their energy is like, and who they are.
Jewelry for singles isn’t a new thing, but pearº may be more popular. In 2013, MY Single World created a silicone bracelet for singles that tried to eliminate online dating. They’re no longer in business, but because pearº rings are available globally and advertised on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, it may make them more appealing to singles around the world. For LGBTQ+ communities, pearº’s signaling technique may be old news. LGBTQ+ individuals have used symbols like handkerchiefs and flowers to signify their relationship status for decades. Women in Irish communities also used to wear Claddagh rings on their right hand with the heart facing out to show others they’re single and looking for love.
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