This pendant with seven amethysts catches the eye with a play of purple that shifts shade with every turn of the stone. The faceted cut breaks light into fine glints, and the stone's dark violet lightens and deepens as the hand moves. The pendant's form has a vintage character - a delicate, slightly retro silhouette that shows well along the neckline and against a shirt collar.

Only a small share of the sorted raw material makes it into this piece - what matters is clarity and depth of colour, and not every amethyst meets that standard. Silver and good coloured stones get more expensive year after year, so buying at this price makes sense today. For this price you get a carefully chosen stone and solid workmanship, which isn't a given in this segment. The pendant is made of refined European silver, sterling silver 925 - it is the 925 fineness that confirms the purity of the alloy, free of nickel and other additives that irritate the skin. The rhodium layer is hard and scratch-resistant, which keeps the silver's shine lasting and prevents it from tarnishing. The whole piece is stamped with the French maker's mark, which attests the origin of the silver.

It works for the office with a plain shirt and a jacket in a muted shade - the amethyst's purple lifts grey and beige without excess. In the evening it pairs well with a black or navy dress of simple cut. Amethyst has long been associated with calm and clarity of mind, and in jewellery tradition it was sometimes a symbol of balance. That association makes it a good gift idea, whatever the occasion. Its medium size and weight of 1.6 g mean the pendant sits light on the neckline all day.