Two tiger's eye cabochons sit in stud earrings with a clean, minimalist silhouette. The stone reveals a silky sheen known as the cat's eye effect - as the head moves, a narrow, golden flash travels across the surface, then fades and reappears elsewhere. The simple stud form doesn't distract from this play of light, and the small size makes the earrings suitable for everyday wear close to the face as well as for special occasions.

Both stones were chosen so their colour and pattern stay aligned, which gives the composition a calm, polished look, even though the price has been kept within a reasonable range. Silver rises in price year on year, and good natural stones are becoming harder to source, which makes this purchase a sensible one right now. Refined European silver, sterling silver 925, has been coated with a layer of rhodium, so the metal keeps its shine longer and needs cleaning less often. The alloy contains no nickel or other harmful additives, so it doesn't irritate the skin even with long wear. The piece is stamped with the French maker's mark, which attests to the origin of the silver. In old jewellery craft, tiger's eye was associated with stability and inner balance.

These earrings work well for an evening out - with the little black dress, a silk blouse or a satin shirt, when the rest of the jewellery is kept to a minimum. The stone's golden glint pairs well with hair worn loose, revealing the line of the neck, while with hair pinned up it highlights the oval of the face. In cooler, muted outfits - greys, navy, black - it's the warm colour of the tiger's eye that draws the eye. At 2.0 grams, they can be worn from morning to evening without discomfort.