A deep, saturated navy blends here with dark blue - that's the shade of lapis lazuli in these stud earrings. The cabochon cut rounds the surface of the stone and gathers light on it, so with every turn of the head small glints of golden flecks embedded in the dark ground catch the eye. The classic, simple form of the stud doesn't pull attention away from the colour - the stone stays close to the face, working well with dark hair and an exposed neckline. In traditional jewellery craft, lapis lazuli was associated with intuition and inner harmony, sometimes also with ideals one aspired to.

For these earrings we chose two stones of closely matched, deep colour with a minimal amount of lighter mottling - it was the purity of colour that decided which stone was paired with which. Good stones of this quality are becoming harder to find today, and silver prices are rising, so buying at the current price makes sense. The setting is refined silver 925 of European quality, coated with a layer of rhodium that protects the surface from tarnishing and scratches, so the shine lasts a long time. The alloy contains no nickel, the metal responsible for most contact allergies, so the earrings can be worn without worrying about irritation. The piece bears the French maker's mark, which attests to the origin of the silver.

For an evening out they work well with a little black silk dress and hair pulled back into a simple bun - that's when the lapis lazuli draws the eye while the rest of the look stays in the background. They also pair well with a dark blazer and a satin blouse, when you want to add a bold colour to an outfit without too many accessories. The medium size makes the earrings noticeable, yet light enough to wear comfortably all evening.