A cabochon-cut amethyst opens this pendant with a deep, saturated purple that shifts shade with every turn of the head - from dark violet to a lighter, cool glow. The smooth, domed surface of the cut doesn't scatter light into sparkle but gathers it into one calm pool of colour. The big form and the loose, irregular silhouette of the setting draw on a vintage and boho aesthetic, while the silver chain lets the stone settle freely on the neckline.

This particular amethyst was chosen for its clarity of colour and the absence of the cloudiness that dulls the violet in lesser stones. Silver and good coloured stones get more expensive year on year, so buying this pendant now makes sense price-wise. In old jewellery craft, amethyst was linked to calm and clarity of mind, and it was sometimes taken as a symbol of inner balance. The setting is made of refined silver of European quality, sterling silver 925, in an alloy free of nickel and other sensitising additions - the skin beneath the pendant stays safe even with long wear. The metal is stamped with the maker's mark, a legally protected mark registered with the French assay office, which attests its origin.

A pendant like this looks good against a plain shirt collar under a muted blazer - the violet of the amethyst lifts the grey, navy or beige of an office outfit without unnecessary ornament. It's just as easy to wear over a plain turtleneck in winter, where the stone remains the only colour in the whole composition. At 3.6 g, the pendant sits lightly on the neckline, and its big form stays visible both close up and from a distance.