Solid bronze
The Compass Rose
Thirty-two points, struck deep enough to read with your thumb.
$77.00View piece
The Navigator Series, three pieces
Struck to be kept.
Numbered medallions in solid bronze and silver, struck in deep relief and finished by hand. Editions of 750, 500 and 250, and not one more.
The pieces
Three ways to find your way.
Sterling silver over solid bronze
The Moon Tide
Eight phases, one full moon, and the water that follows them.
$120.00View piece
Fine silver and gold, two-part strike
The Astrolabe
Two metals, two strikes, and a rete that turns.
$134.00View piece
- Free tracked shippingOn every order, to every country we deliver to.
- 30 day returnsSend it back in its box, no reason needed.
- Numbered and certifiedNumber on the edge, certificate in the box.
- Secure checkout in USDEncrypted payment. We never see your card.
How they are made
Two dies, one strike, and a cloth in somebody's hand.
Each piece is struck from engraved steel dies, then darkened in a bath: a patina for the bronze, an oxidising for the silver. After that the high points are relieved by hand so the design stands out of a dark field. It takes a few minutes per medallion and it is why no two are quite the same.
- Struck, not castTwo engraved steel dies, enormous pressure, crisp edges on every point of the relief. A cast piece never reads this sharp.
- Finished by handPatina or oxidising over the whole piece, then the high points relieved with a cloth, one medallion at a time.
- Numbered, small editions750, 500 and 250. The number is struck on the edge and printed on the certificate. When the last goes, the die is retired.
- Ready to hand overLinen pouch, velvet case or walnut box, with the certificate. Nothing to wrap, nothing to explain.
The Navigator Series
Wind, moon, stars. One piece for each.
Before satellites, a navigator had three things to go on: the direction of the wind, the phase of the moon, and the height of the stars. The series is one medallion for each, in bronze, silver, and silver with gold.
Read about the seriesQuestions
Straight answers.
Metals, editions, shipping and returns. The full list is on the FAQ page, and a person answers coton640@gmail.com within 1 business day.
All questionsWhat exactly is a collector medallion?
A struck metal piece made to be kept rather than spent. Ours are the size and weight of a heavy coin, struck in deep relief from engraved steel dies, finished by hand, numbered on the edge and sold in small editions. They have no face value and are not legal tender anywhere.
Are they real silver and bronze?
The Compass Rose is solid bronze all the way through. The Moon Tide and The Astrolabe have a solid bronze core with a heavy layer of sterling or fine silver on top, and the rete of The Astrolabe is gold plated. We say exactly which metal is where on every product page and we do not use zinc or pewter.
How big is the edition?
750 for The Compass Rose, 500 for The Moon Tide, 250 for The Astrolabe. Each piece is numbered on the edge and the product page shows how many are left. When an edition is gone the dies are retired and the piece is not struck again.
Can I choose my number?
No. Numbers are assigned in the order that orders are packed. If you order two, they will be consecutive whenever the run allows it.
Is the certificate signed?
The Compass Rose comes with a numbered card. The Moon Tide comes with a numbered certificate. The Astrolabe comes with a certificate that is numbered and signed by the person who assembled it.
Does the rete on The Astrolabe really turn?
Yes. It sits on a central pin and rotates over the disc. It is meant to be turned, gently, with a fingertip. It is not meant to be pulled off.