These dangle earrings in rhodium-plated silver draw the eye with a clean, geometric line finished with a black onyx cabochon. The stone shows a deep, even black with no translucence - as the head turns it catches the light in a brief metallic flash before fading back into a matte depth. At three centimetres long, the form moves freely along the neckline and hair without pulling on the ear. In old-world craft, onyx carried associations of strength, endurance and confidence - today it still reads as a bold signal in an outfit.

Only a small share of the sorted raw material makes the cut - what matters is a deep, even colour free of flaws, so both onyx stones in this pair are matched with care for equal intensity. Silver and good-quality stones have been steadily rising in price in recent years, so earrings at this price and this standard of craftsmanship are a sound choice today. The base is sterling silver 925, refined in Europe, coated with a layer of rhodium - a hard metal that protects the surface from tarnishing and scratches, so the shine lasts long without frequent cleaning. The piece is stamped with the French maker's mark, which establishes its origin and is registered with the assay office in France. The alloy contains no nickel, the metal responsible for skin irritation, so the earrings can be worn without worry.

These earrings feel at home in relaxed weekend layering - with an oversized sweater in cool grey, a scarf thrown over it and hair worn loose, the black of the onyx stands out clearly against the face. They also work well with a simple black turtleneck, where the tone matches the metal for a cohesive, modern look. The medium size and weight of 4.8 grams mean they can be worn from morning to evening without swapping them for another pair.