The deep, saturated purple of the garnet lends this pendant a vintage note reminiscent of French jewelry from decades past. The faceted stone catches the light with every turn of the head - one moment the colour deepens almost to black, the next it brightens into a warm glow. The simple, elongated setting lets the pendant sit easily on the neckline, never heavy despite its size.

A garnet this pure in colour and depth is easy to overlook among stones of average quality - and a second one just as good is hard to find afterwards. Silver and precious metals are steadily rising in price, and good-quality natural stones are becoming harder to source, so buying now makes sense from a price standpoint. The pendant is made using the vermeil technique: the core is refined European silver 925, coated with a thick layer of 18-carat gold confirmed by the stamped V mark. It is the gold, not the silver, that touches the skin, and the alloy is free of nickel and other harmful additives, so it does not cause allergies or irritation. The pendant also bears the maker's mark establishing the piece's origin, registered with the French assay office.

For an evening out, it pairs well with a little black dress with a simple neckline - the faceted garnet draws the eye right where the fabric ends and the neck begins. It works just as well with a silk blouse in deep bottle green or burgundy, where the stone's colour melts into the background while still bringing it to life. With a collared shirt, leave the top button undone so the pendant can fall freely along the collarbone. The stone's big size and the pendant's weight of 2.7 g make its form noticeable, yet still light to wear.