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Ursa Major necklace | 18k gold vermeil
An Ursa Major necklace for astronomers, sky watchers, and anyone who learned to find north by the two pointer stars on the bowl of the Big Dipper. The seven-star asterism that anchors the northern sky, in 18k gold vermeil.
The Astronomy of Ursa Major
Ursa Major is the third largest of the 88 modern constellations, occupying roughly 1280 square degrees of the northern sky. Its most familiar feature is the asterism known as the Big Dipper in North America and the Plough in the British Isles: seven bright stars (Dubhe, Merak, Phecda, Megrez, Alioth, Mizar, and Alkaid) that form the bear's hindquarters and tail. Five of those seven (everything except Dubhe and Alkaid) belong to the Ursa Major moving group, a loose stellar association sharing a common origin and motion through the galaxy. Mizar, the second star from the end of the handle, is itself a sextuple star system, one of the first telescopic binaries ever recorded by Galileo and his contemporaries in the early 1600s. The two stars on the bowl's outer edge, Dubhe and Merak, point directly to Polaris, which is how generations of navigators found true north.
A Meaningful Gift for Science Lovers
For the people who can find Polaris in any clear northern sky.
- amateur and professional astronomers
- astrophysicists and observational researchers
- people whose home, hometown, or first telescope sits under a northern sky
- anyone with a personal connection to the constellation, including northern hemisphere navigators, sailors, hikers, and wilderness guides
For someone who first found north using the two pointer stars and never quite stopped looking up.
Explore Related Astronomy Jewelry
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FAQ
Is this Ursa Major the constellation, or just the Big Dipper?
The pendant shows the seven-star asterism known as the Big Dipper or the Plough, which is the most recognisable part of the Ursa Major constellation. Strictly speaking, Ursa Major is the larger constellation outline (the Great Bear) and the Big Dipper is the asterism within it. In practice the seven bright stars are what almost everyone recognises, including most working astronomers, and they are what the pendant captures.
Who would actually wear this?
Astronomers, both professional and amateur. Anyone whose first encounter with stargazing was finding north using the pointer stars. People with a home or hometown under a northern sky who feel that particular shape as part of where they grew up. It also tends to land well as a gift between sailors, hikers, or anyone who has used the constellation to find their way.
What size is the pendant and what does it ship with?
The pendant is 30 mm wide, sized so the seven stars and their relative positions are clearly readable. The 18k gold vermeil is a 2.5 micron gold layer over a sterling silver core, nickel-free and hypoallergenic. It ships on a 45 cm gold-plated chain (1.8 mm width, lobster clasp) with a 5 cm extender. Free worldwide DHL Express shipping in 1-5 business days, all import duties covered, in a ready-to-gift jewelry box.
How accurate is the star arrangement?
The seven stars are placed in their relative positions as seen from Earth, with Mizar at the bend of the handle. The proportions are a faithful rendering of how the Big Dipper looks on a clear night, which is the main thing astronomy gift-buyers care about. The pendant is meant to be recognisable, not a precision astrometric chart, and the Mizar-Alcor pair is rendered as a single point rather than two.
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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