The rich blue of turquoise in these earrings catches the eye the moment it meets your face. Two cabochon-cut turquoise stones show an even, calm colour free of streaks or discolouration - it's precisely this purity of colour that determined the choice of these particular stones. The simple form of the stud in a classic style keeps the focus on the stone, letting the turquoise play freely along the neckline and hair, whether you wear it pulled back or loose.

This turquoise comes from the Sleeping Beauty mine in Arizona, source of some of the world's most prized stones of this kind. Good turquoise is becoming harder to find today, as deposits like this one are naturally being depleted, while silver and precious metal prices climb month by month. That makes buying at today's price worth considering now. The stone is set in refined sterling silver 925 of high alloy purity, additionally coated with a layer of rhodium - a hard metal resistant to scratching, which protects the surface from tarnishing and dulling for years to come. The alloy contains no nickel, the metal responsible for skin irritation, so the earrings can be worn without worry. The piece is finished with the French maker's mark, which attests to the silver's origin and confirms its quality.

For an evening out, these earrings pair well with the little black dress and hair swept into a simple bun that reveals the neckline. They also look good with a silk blouse in a cool shade of navy or bottle green, where the blue of the turquoise gains extra depth. In that case, it's worth skipping other jewelry at the neckline and letting the turquoise cabochons draw the eye to the face.