This lapis lazuli necklace brings a note of deep, dark blue into an understated look. Three faceted stones catch the light on their small facets, and within them you can spot glimmers of a lighter shade that bring out the rich, navy-purple colour. The minimalist setting doesn't draw attention away from the stone - it's the stone that leads the eye, while the chain stays in the background as a delicate line at the neck. In traditional craft, lapis lazuli was associated with intuition and harmony, and its deep colour was sometimes seen as a symbol of idealism.

We choose each of the three stones for the purity of its colour and the intensity of its blue, since that's what defines the character of the whole piece. Silver and well-chosen stones are getting more expensive, and pieces with this depth of colour are increasingly hard to find, so this purchase makes sense right now. At this price you get a necklace made of refined European silver, where a rhodium layer protects the surface from tarnishing and keeps the shine lasting longer. The sterling silver 925 is stamped with a maker's mark registered at the French assay office, which vouches for the metal's origin. A pure alloy free of nickel and harmful additives means you can wear the necklace without worrying about skin irritation.

The necklace measures 42 centimetres, with an adjustable 4-centimetre extension, so you can easily fit it to the neckline of a shirt or blouse. Day to day, it looks good with a linen shirt open at the neck or a simple cotton blouse - natural fabrics highlight the matte finish of the silver and let the blue of the stone stand out. A loose, relaxed outfit gives this small necklace room to make its presence known without too many other accessories. At 3.1 grams, it's almost weightless, so it wears comfortably all day long.