These amber earrings draw out a warm, honeyed depth from the stone that shifts shade with every movement of the head, from light gold to a deeper, richer hue. Two cabochon-cut ambers are set in a simple, modern setting that doesn't distract from the stone's natural inner pattern. Amber is fossilised resin, long associated in Baltic craft tradition with sunlit warmth and good fortune, here given a shape close to today's minimalist jewellery.for both earrings, ambers of similar colour and inner clarity were chosen, free of cloudy inclusions, which at this stone size is far from a given.

Good ambers are getting more expensive, and finding a matching pair with an even shade is becoming increasingly difficult, which is why this reasonably priced set is worth a look today. The posts are made using the vermeil technique: a layer of 18-carat gold at least five microns thick covers a core of refined sterling silver 925, with compliance to the French standard confirmed by the stamped V mark. It is the gold, not the silver, that touches the skin, and the pure alloy, free of nickel, causes no allergies or irritation. The maker's mark stamped on the piece, registered with the French assay office, attests to the origin of the metal.

Earrings like these look good with simple hairstyles that reveal the line of the neck and ear - a ponytail or hair swept to one side let the amber's colour play freely against the face. In the city they work well with jeans, a white shirt and a leather jacket, the gold tone of the metal warming up this understated, casual look. Against fair skin and dark hair, amber gains extra contrast, and the compact, medium size means the earrings can be worn comfortably from morning to evening.