africangold.co.za - titanium, gold, silver and platinum jewellery. |
In Greek mythology, the Titans are a race of godlike giants who were considered to be the personifications of the forces of nature. They are the twelve children (six sons and six daughters) of Gaia and Uranus. This is one of the world's oldest ideograms. It has been found on the walls of the Trois Frθres cave in France. It was probably drawn about 10,000 years ago. In the Nordic runic alphabet it is a sign for a sound that is no longer used. The name of this rune is associated with giants or titans. The Rune "Thurisaz" represents: gateway or wisdom. 4 times harder than stainless steel. 1/5 the weight of gold. Extremely high melting temperature 1800 °c. 85% of the space shuttle's structural components are titanium. The colours on titanium occur when the surface oxide that forms reaches a specific thickness. Colours are not due to colour present in the oxide, but are explained by a phenomenon called "optical interference" . In this phenomenon, two parallel reflecting surfaces exist: the upper surface which is variably transparent depending on oxide thickness, and the lower surface which is the true metal surface. White light rays striking the metal surface enter the oxide film and reach the reflective interface between the metal and the oxide film. Light is broken up and refracted from the surface as multiple reflections. Differences in the oxide thickness causes the film to appear as different colours. The colours observed also appear on soap bubbles or oil floating on water. In nature this magical effect also occurs on shells, feathers, butterfly wings and beetles. Each creation is handcrafted, formed, coloured, and assembled at our workshops. The subtle combination of warm gold and platinum hues, and the wonderful spectrum of colours present in titanium, allow a fascinating exploration into light, form and colour.
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