The cool blue of a faceted-cut topaz catches the light in tiny flickers that shift across the stone's surface with every movement. The vintage-style pendant hangs it low on the neckline, where the cool hue contrasts with the skin and draws the eye without unnecessary flash. The simple, delicate setting doesn't pull attention away from the stone - the stone leads the eye.

Only a small fraction of the reviewed raw material makes it into production, because what matters is clarity and depth of colour, not sheer size. Silver and precious metal prices are rising, and good stones are becoming harder to source, so buying now remains good value. The pendant's core is refined European silver 925, coated with a layer of at least 5 microns of 18-carat gold in line with the vermeil standard - it's the gold, not the silver, that touches the skin, and the stamped V mark attests compliance with this standard. The 925 fineness confirms the purity of the alloy itself, and the French maker's mark on the piece attests the origin of the silver.

A pendant like this brings the coolness of blue nicely into city outfits: a sand-toned trench coat, a thin turtleneck and cool grey trousers make the kind of backdrop against which the topaz stands out most. In summer it works well with a simple thin-strap dress, in winter with a wool coat buttoned up to the neck, where the stone reads as the sole decorative element in an understated look. The vintage form and European craftsmanship mean the pendant wears just as well for everyday use as for more of an evening occasion.