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Oxytocin ring | sterling silver
Oxytocin has a ring of its own: six of its nine amino acids close into a loop. It is the hormone that lets a mother's milk flow, and in some animals it plays a part in how pairs form. Give this oxytocin ring to a sister or girlfriend who loves science, or wear it yourself.
Who It's For
- a sister, granddaughter or friend who loves science, for her birthday or Christmas
- a girlfriend or partner, for Christmas or an anniversary
- a midwife or labour nurse, when she qualifies or on a birthday
- yourself, as a ring that starts conversations
Marcia M. gave it to her sister: “Gift for my sister and better than pictured and described. Fits perfectly from using the sizing chart.” Helene B. wears her own: “A beautiful piece of jewelry. It is a conversation starter, while also looking gorgeous and modern on my hand.”
The Science Behind Oxytocin
When a baby starts to feed, nerves in the nipple signal the brain, and the pituitary releases oxytocin into the blood. In the breast it makes the muscle-like cells around the milk sacs contract and push milk out. This is the let-down reflex, and the body learns it. In a 1983 study of ten breastfeeding mothers, oxytocin rose in every one of them three to ten minutes before the baby started to feed, in half of them when the baby cried. The womb gets ready in its own way: from weeks 13 to 17 of pregnancy to full term, the density of oxytocin receptors in its muscle rises about twelvefold.
Explore Related Molecules Jewelry
- oxytocin necklace | silver
- oxytocin necklace | gold vermeil
- dopamine - serotonin ring | silver
- oxytocin necklace 3D | silver
FAQ
Which size should I order?
The ring comes in US sizes 5 to 9, about EU 49 to 60. Measure the inside of a ring she wears on the same finger and compare it with a size chart. If she is between two sizes, write to support@sciencejewelry1824.shop before you order and we'll help you choose. If it doesn't fit, return it unworn within 30 days for a refund and order the right size. It is 925 sterling silver, nickel-free and hypoallergenic.
Is there a gold oxytocin ring?
Not as a ring. The oxytocin ring is made in sterling silver only. The oxytocin necklace comes in sterling silver and in 18K gold vermeil, both 62 mm wide, and the 3D oxytocin necklace comes in the same two finishes at 48 mm. Any of them can be worn with the ring.
Is it delicate?
Yes, it needs some care. The band at the back is plain silver, but the molecule on top is fine openwork, and its edges can catch on knitwear, gloves or long hair. A hard snag can bend it. Put it on last when you dress, and take it off for the gym, gardening, washing up and anything that grips the hand. Store it on its own, rinse it under warm water and dry it with a soft cloth.
How fast does it arrive, and can it be returned?
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 do scientists study oxytocin in prairie voles?
In the 1970s Lowell Getz kept catching prairie voles in male-female pairs in Illinois fields, and with Sue Carter he showed that they live as couples. In 1992 Thomas Insel and Lawrence Shapiro found oxytocin receptors in prairie vole brain areas tied to reward, where montane voles, which don't pair, have few. In 1994 a team including Carter found that oxytocin given into a female's brain made her prefer the male beside her. In 2023, voles bred without the receptor still paired. Oxytocin is one part of the story.
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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