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Circle of Willis necklace | sterling silver
Stroke teams know the circle of Willis by heart, and medical students meet it early in neuroanatomy. This circle of Willis necklace is a gift for the women who work with the brain's blood supply, from a neurology resident to a stroke nurse, or a piece to keep for yourself.
Who It's For
- a girlfriend or partner who has just matched into neurosurgery
- a wife or mother in neuroscience, for her birthday or Mother's Day
- the neurologist, surgeon or nurse who looked after you, as a thank-you
- a medical student who has passed her neuroanatomy exam
- a student starting a graduate programme in neuroscience or speech and hearing science
- yourself, to wear at work among the surgeons and neurologists
And if the circle of Willis is part of your own story, it is a quiet way to carry it.
Jeremy E. bought it for his wife: “I ordered this as a present for my wife, 3 weeks before her birthday. It arrived by mail, at least a week early, and had ample time to wrap it up.” Nicole V. bought her own: “The Circle of Willis has always reminded me that when one path is blocked, another will open up.”
The Science Behind the Circle of Willis
Four large arteries carry blood to the brain: the two internal carotids at the front of the neck and the two vertebral arteries at the back, which join into the basilar artery. At the base of the brain, their branches and short communicating arteries join into a ring. If one supply narrows slowly, blood can sometimes reach the same territory by another route around the ring. The ring varies a great deal from person to person, though. Often one of the links in the ring is thin or missing, and depending on the study, the complete textbook circle turns up in somewhere between a third and three fifths of people.
Explore Related Neuroscience Jewelry
- circle of Willis necklace | gold vermeil
- brain necklace | silver
- sagittal brain necklace | silver
- neuron necklace | silver
FAQ
How big is it, and how does it sit?
The pendant measures 43 mm (about 1.7 inches), more than one and a half times the width of a 2-euro coin, so it is a statement piece rather than a small charm. It hangs from a small loop at the top on a 45 cm (17.7 inch) sterling silver chain with a 5 cm (2 inch) extender and sits on the upper chest. It is 925 sterling silver, nickel-free and hypoallergenic. Silver darkens with time in the air, and a polishing cloth brings back the shine.
Is there a gold version, or something smaller?
Yes. The same circle of Willis comes in 18K gold vermeil, also 43 mm, on a gold vermeil chain. Choose the finish the recipient already wears: the design is the same in both. If she would prefer a smaller piece, the brain necklace measures 18 mm, in silver and gold vermeil. For a different length, an extra chain is offered on this page, from 40 to 80 cm.
Will it arrive in time, and what if it isn't right?
DHL Express delivers free in 1-5 business days worldwide, and we pay the import duties and taxes, so nothing is due at the door. It arrives in a ready-to-gift jewelry box and festive envelope. If it isn't right, our 30-day “Love It or Return It” policy applies.
Why is it called the circle of Willis, and who drew it?
It is named after Thomas Willis, an Oxford physician whose book Cerebri Anatome, published in London in 1664, gave the ring its best-known early description. Others had described parts of it before him, but the name that stuck was his. To follow the blood, Willis injected coloured dye into the vessels. Many of the figures in the book were drawn by Christopher Wren, then an Oxford professor of astronomy and later the architect of St Paul's Cathedral.
Human Anatomy
Anatomical wonders have never been so elegantly articulated. Our anatomical collection embodies the intricate and awe-inspiring structures that make us who we are. From DNA double helices to neuronal networks, our pieces don't merely imitate—they interpret. The collection serves as a tangible tribute to the hidden beauty within us all, elevating the realms of biology and medicine into wearable art. With exquisite attention to detail, each piece is a dialogue between form and function, revealing the enigmatic eloquence of the human body.
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