Two faceted amethysts come together in a pendant with a clean, modern line that sits naturally on the neckline. The colour of the stones shifts from cool violet to a deeper, darker purple closer to the setting, and the facets catch the light with every turn of the head. In old jewellery traditions, amethyst was regarded as a symbol of calm and clarity of mind; today it is simply prized for the purity of its colour and the clarity of its structure. The simple, geometric form doesn't draw attention away from the stone, it lets the stone take the leading role.

Each amethyst is graded before it's set, checked for depth of colour and freedom from cloudiness - only a stone that passes goes into the pendant, which, with good stones rising in price, makes this purchase a sensible one today. Silver is also getting more expensive, so choosing a finished piece of this quality makes sense now. The core of the pendant is refined sterling silver 925 of high alloy purity, coated with a thick layer of 18-carat gold to vermeil standard, confirmed by the stamped V mark. It's the gold, not the silver, that touches the skin, and the alloy, free of nickel and other harmful additions, doesn't cause allergies or irritation. The piece bears the French maker's mark, which guarantees the origin of the metal, something that carries real weight given the European quality of the workmanship.

A pendant like this works well for a meeting in town - worn under a trench coat with a thin turtleneck in neutral beige or charcoal, the stone catches the eye without shouting in colour. The violet of the amethysts brings life to an understated outfit, and the simple chain line highlights the neckline without excess. It works just as well with a shirt buttoned to the neck as with a loose sweater that leaves the collarbones bare.