Two labradorite cabochons form dangle earrings with a modern, understated line. Across the stone's dark surface a blue, at times steely flash appears - it shifts across the stone's face as you turn your head, then vanishes, only to return with the next movement. Cutters call this phenomenon labradorescence, and the cabochon cut lets it show to full effect. Craftsmen of old workshops linked this stone with clarity of mind and self-belief - today it is simply a subtle accent close to the face, near the line of the neck and hair.

Every labradorite is examined carefully before it goes into its setting - what matters is the intensity and clarity of the blue flash, so that even on a modest budget you get a stone of genuinely good quality. Silver and good stones rise in price year after year, so buying earrings like these today remains a sound decision. Refined 925 silver of European quality is coated with a layer of rhodium, a hard metal that protects the surface from tarnishing and blackening - less cleaning is needed, and the shine lasts longer. The alloy contains no nickel, the metal responsible for allergic reactions, so the earrings do not irritate the skin. The maker's mark struck on the silver, registered with the French assay office, attests to the metal's origin.

These earrings pair well with a lace blouse in powder pink or a soft sweater in pastel grey - the blue flash of the labradorite brings such muted backdrops to life. Hair gathered into a loose bun or tucked behind the ear reveals the line of the neck and lets the stone catch the light freely with every turn of the head. For evening wear they suit a light, delicate ruffled blouse, where the labradorite itself draws the eye. At 4.0 g, they wear lightly all day long.