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Oxytocin necklace | 18K gold vermeil
The oxytocin receptor was cloned in 1992 and turned a peptide already in clinical use for forty years into a research target for social cognition, autism, and the pharmacology of attachment. The 18K gold vermeil version of the molecule, at 62 mm, the largest piece in the catalogue, made for someone whose work or family history runs through this molecule.
The Science Behind Oxytocin
Oxytocin is a cyclic nonapeptide synthesised in the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei of the hypothalamus and released into circulation from the posterior pituitary. The peripheral effects (uterine contraction during labour, milk letdown during breastfeeding) have been clinically exploited since 1955, when synthetic oxytocin entered obstetric practice as Pitocin. The 1992 cloning of the oxytocin receptor opened the central nervous system side: oxytocin receptors in the amygdala, hippocampus, and cortex modulate social recognition, pair-bonding, parental behaviour, and stress response. Two decades of intranasal-oxytocin research followed, with mixed clinical results in autism and social-cognition trials but a much sharper picture of the molecule's role in mammalian social biology. The peripheral and central oxytocin systems are largely separate, which is why labour induction has clean clinical effects while social-cognition effects remain harder to translate.
Worn By
- obstetricians and reproductive medicine specialists at career milestones
- neuroendocrinologists and social-neuroscience researchers
- midwives, doulas, and lactation consultants who work with the molecule daily
- partners and family marking a major life event tied to one of oxytocin's biological roles
Most often given at the retirement of an obstetrician or as a 25th-anniversary gift, where the gold version at 62 mm reads as a major statement piece rather than a daily-wear molecule.
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FAQ
Why is this version so much larger than the silver oxytocin?
Because the 62 mm scale is meant for milestone gifts where the molecule reads as a statement piece. The smaller silver oxytocin sits at daily-wear scale on the chest. The gold 62 mm is the version chosen for a retirement, a major anniversary, or the milestone end of an obstetric career, where the size of the piece matches the weight of what it marks.
Why does intranasal oxytocin research keep producing mixed results?
Because the central and peripheral oxytocin systems are largely separate, and the route from a nasal spray to brain receptors is not as direct as early studies hoped. Some intranasal oxytocin reaches the central nervous system, but the dose-response is variable, the behavioural effects are subtle, and the trial designs have not always matched the underlying neurobiology cleanly. The molecule's role in mammalian social biology is real and well-documented from animal work. Translating that into a reliable human therapeutic has been harder than the early enthusiasm suggested.
What size is the pendant and what chain comes with it?
18K gold vermeil over a sterling silver core, 62 mm pendant on a 45 cm gold vermeil chain with a 5 cm extender. Substantially larger than most pieces in the catalogue, with the full peptide structure rendered in detail. Nickel-free and hypoallergenic. Free worldwide DHL Express in 1-5 business days, with all import duties and taxes covered. 30-day “Love It or Return It” returns.
Is there a silver version?
Yes, in a flat rendering. The same molecule is available as a silver oxytocin necklace at a smaller daily-wear scale. The silver and gold versions work as a pair when given between two people who share the molecule's biological or clinical significance.
Molecules
Delve into the hidden elegance of science with our meticulously crafted jewelry, inspired by the intricate structures of chemical molecules. Each piece serves as a tactile tribute to the building blocks of life and matter, capturing the allure of atoms and bonds in precious metals. A harmonious fusion of art and science, these creations are more than mere accessories; they're a celebration of the enigmatic beauty that underpins our universe.
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