The cool blue of two topazes in these stud earrings catches the eye right away, close to the face. The faceted cut breaks the light into small glints that bring out the stone's deep, calm colour and add depth to it with every turn of the head. The form is simple and minimalist, with no unnecessary detail, so the earrings sit lightly on the earlobe and never pull attention away from the stone itself. It was precisely the purity and intensity of the blue topaz that decided the choice of this piece for the collection.

Behind the setting stands vermeil - a layer of 18-carat gold at least 5 microns thick, applied over a core of refined European silver 925. It is the gold, not the silver, that touches the skin, giving a smooth, noble feel against it all day long. Compliance with the vermeil standard is confirmed by the struck V mark, while the 925 fineness attests to the purity of the alloy itself, free of nickel and other additives that could cause irritation. The piece is stamped with a maker's mark registered at the French assay office, confirming the origin of the metal. Silver and precious metals have been steadily rising in price in recent years, and good-quality coloured stones are becoming harder to find, so buying a piece like this today makes sense from a price perspective.

These earrings come into their own in a total-black look. A black turtleneck or a plain black top opens up the neckline and lets the blue of the topaz draw the eye without competition. Hair pulled back into a bun or tucked smoothly behind the ears further shows off the studs by the face. Such a combination works just as well by day, with a simple coat, as it does in the evening, when the black of the outfit becomes the backdrop for the cool blue flash of the stone.