Sick of the apps? This ring will tell strangers you're single and ready to mingle.
If you've been on dating apps for more than a day, you know that they're exhausting. Swiping to find love isn't fun, but meeting offline isn't easy, either — especially years into a pandemic.
Enter the Pear ring, a $25 turquoise ring that claims to be "the world's biggest social experiment." The ring is for singles who are open to conversation IRL, and meant to signal to others that you want to meet people. It can be worn wherever you go — coffeeshops, bars, vacation, anywhere where you'd be down to chat with fellow singles. Pear's first release sold out, and according to its website the second release is ending soon. Headlines say "millions" of people have the Pear ring, but there's no indication of how many have been sold on Pear's website; in fact, the brand claims millions of singles will be donning it.
At the time of publication, Pear is available in the U.S., UK, Canada, Australia, and Germany. For a one-time fee of $25 you receive three rings — in sizes small, medium, and large — and access to exclusive events and PearFest, "the world's biggest singles festival." There are no other details about it on the site, only that the fest will be only for ring wearers.
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Considering that most couples meet online nowadays, the concept of Pear is ambitious. In addition to claiming millions will be wearing the ring, Pear says that it's designed for every single person. It's unknown if Pear will live up to these claims, but dating app fatigue is real, so it won't be surprising if daters turn to an alternative.
Meeting a partner through dating apps seems tougher than ever. You have to bob and weave ghosters and romance scammers, people who you're not interested in, and people who waste your time. Singles can be looking for any type of relief from the dating app void, so Pear may be coming at just the right time. At the same time, women are already wondering if the ring can pose a safety risk if confronted with men they don't want to speak to.
Mashable has reached out to Pear for comment.
Anna Iovine is the associate editor of features at Mashable. Previously, as the sex and relationships reporter, she covered topics ranging from dating apps to pelvic pain. Before Mashable, Anna was a social editor at VICE and freelanced for publications such as Slate and the Columbia Journalism Review. Follow her on Bluesky.
