COPPER – ANCIENT AND ESSENTIAL

With a history of use that is at least 10,000 years old, copper, with it’s distinctive reddish orange hues, was known to some of the of the oldest civilizations on record. Pure copper lumps were used as currency by the Romans, valued at first for their weight alone, until Julius Caeser introduced shape and stamp as significant. It’s lustrous beauty produced ancient mirrors, and by reflecting beauty became associated with the goddesses of love from both Greek and Roman cultures, Aphrodite and Venus.

Copper is one of the most important components of silver and gold alloys, improving strength and hardness without dulling their shine. In purer form, copper eventually corrodes to acquire the characteristic green patina we see in aged architecture and statuary.

Antibacterial and germicidal, copper has long been used in medical science, perhaps beginning with the Egyptians as long ago as 2400BC. They employed copper as jars to purify water for drinking and sterilizing wounds, curing headaches, healing burns and relieving itching. The holistic medical science of India, Ayurveda, used this highly malleable metal to form surgical instruments and other medical equipment as long ago as 1000BC and Hippocrates, the ancient Greek physician, is known to have used copper solutions to dress leg wounds.

The copper ion is an essential trace nutrient to all higher plant and animal life. In all animals it is found in liver, muscle and bone tissue.

Ebony and copper ring from the Nagicia 'Namu' Collection

Silver

A bolt of lightning… The glowing orb we call the moon… Light reflecting on the surface of water.

Silver.

The white, metallic luster of silver is brilliant. Matching extremely high optical reflectivity with total receptivity to polishing, the dazzling shine of silver has been the choice of jewelry makers and jewelry wearers for centuries.

Two and a half thousand years ago, Socrates, the Classical Greek Philosopher, credited as one of the founders of Western Philosophy, and often named the “father of medicine” asserted that that silver had beneficial healing and anti-disease properties. Before this, the Phoenicians are said to have stored water, wine, and vinegar in silver bottles to prevent spoiling. Naturally aseptic, evidence of silver and/or silver-alloy surgical and medical instruments has been found in early Roman and Egyptian civilizations. Contemporary use of silver medically includes wound dressings containing silver, increasing in importance due to the increase of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Nagicia uses highest quality sterling silver, the industry standard, an alloy containing a small percentage of copper to increase it’s durability. Anyone can wear silver, and for many it is the preferred precious metal.