The tiger's eye cabochon plays with bands of gold and brown that shift across the stone's surface like a narrow streak of light - the chatoyancy effect characteristic of this quartz variety. In these two dangle earrings, 3.0 cm long, the stone draws the eye downward, toward the line of the neck, while the enameled silver around it closes the form into a clearly defined, vintage silhouette. In old beliefs, tiger's eye was associated with stability and inner balance - an association that still accompanies this stone in jewelry today.

A piece like this - with a clean, richly saturated band pattern and no discoloration - is easy to overlook, yet a second one of similar character is hard to find. Prices of silver and good natural stones rise year after year, so this set at its current price is a sound decision. Here you get a selected cabochon and solid craftsmanship at a price that does not yet reflect the full extent of this rarity. The setting is refined European silver, sterling silver 925, with hand-applied enamel - the fineness confirms the purity of the alloy, free of nickel and other harmful additives, so the earrings do not irritate the skin. The piece is stamped with the French maker's mark, registered with the assay office, which attests to the origin of the metal.

They come through best against total black - a black turtleneck or a plain, unadorned top make the best backdrop for this colour. With hair tied back or a short bob, the cabochons stay uncovered right by the face, catching the eye before anything else does. Added to a muted outfit, they bring a warm, amber accent that lifts cool greys and blacks without needing any further ornament. At 5.0 g, they wear lightly all day long.