the rich blue of the topaz catches your eye before you even notice the setting. the faceted stone catches light in its tiny facets and breaks it into cool glints - the shade recalls water at dusk, deep and calm. the big vintage-style pendant hangs freely on its chain, so the stone sits right in view at the neckline. the setting's simple, retro silhouette doesn't draw attention away from the colour - that's the true star here.

a topaz like this, with this clarity and depth of colour, is easy to overlook, and a second specimen just as clean is hard to find afterwards. precious metals and good stones keep rising in price, so this level of quality at this price is a sound choice today. the pendant is made using the vermeil technique - a thick layer of 18-carat gold, at least 5 microns thick, has been applied over refined silver 925 from European refining, confirmed by the struck vermeil mark v. it's gold, not silver, that touches your skin, so you can wear it without worrying about irritation - the alloy contains no allergenic metal additives. the piece itself is stamped with the French maker's mark, which attests the origin of the silver.

this pendant suits an urban, relaxed style well. wear it with a white shirt open at the collar and jeans, and in the evening add a leather jacket - the blue of the topaz stands out against simple, muted layers and catches the eye with every turn of the head. it also works well under a loose sweater with an open neckline, where the stone stays centre stage. the retro form of the setting and the striking colour together make a pendant you can wear every day without it losing its character.