The lapis lazuli cabochon plays with a deep navy hue crossed by fine golden veins of pyrite. As the pendant turns in your hand, the dark graphite gives way to a cool grey, and the glittering inclusions alternately hide and surface. The large form and the stone's bold, raw character point to a vintage and boho style, where jewellery is meant to read from a distance rather than whisper subtlety. In old craft traditions, lapis lazuli was linked to intuition and inner harmony, treated as a stone of balance and clarity of thought.

For this piece, a stone was chosen with a rich, even colour and a clean structure, free of the grey discolouration that lowers the value of lesser specimens. Silver and good coloured stones are rising in price, so a piece like this at a sensible price makes sense right now. Refined silver of European quality, sterling silver 925, is an alloy free of nickel and other harmful additives, so contact with skin does not end in irritation. The piece is stamped with the French maker's mark, which attests the origin of the silver, while the metal set around the cabochon stays in the background, never pulling the eye away from the stone's intense blue.

This pendant feels best against the high neckline of a simple chunky-knit sweater, in shades of grey, ecru or deep navy - that's when the navy of the lapis lazuli immediately draws the eye. It also looks good with a boho-style turtleneck, paired with layered necklaces in wood or cool-toned metal. In a total look of beige and grey tones, the stone becomes the natural point the eye keeps returning to. At 7.5 grams and in a large format, the pendant makes its presence felt on the neckline without getting in the way of everyday wear.