The deep, matte black of the two black onyx stones catches the eye at once, though the shape of these earrings stays simple and calm. The cabochon cut smooths the surface of the stone into an almost velvety plane that catches the light with a cool, gentle sheen as the head moves. The dangle line just brushes the neck and pairs well with a shorter cut or hair pulled back, since nothing covers it near the face. These are earrings with a distinctly modern, minimalist look - no unnecessary detail, all focus on the stone itself. Onyx has long been linked to strength of character and self-assurance, which suits the simplicity of this form well.

Such pure, deeply black onyx, free of streaks or discolouration, is rare, and finding a second stone just as uniform to match it can be difficult. Prices for silver and good natural stones keep rising, so buying at this price today looks like a sound choice. The earrings are made of pure, refined sterling silver 925 - it is this fineness that attests the purity of the alloy, free of nickel and additives that could irritate the skin. A layer of rhodium protects the surface from tarnishing and losing its shine, so the silver keeps its bright, cool tone for longer. The piece is stamped with the French maker's mark, which indicates the silver's origin.

At 3 centimetres long, these earrings make their presence clearly felt without being heavy or flashy - 2.2 grams is a weight you can wear comfortably all day. They work well in weekend, layered looks: under an oversized loose sweater, with a cool grey scarf thrown over, or with a simple linen shirt. Onyx pairs nicely with a calm, muted palette - beige, charcoal, deep navy - and in that setting it's the stone that draws the eye. Just pull your hair back into a loose bun to let the earrings show off their black to the full.