The tiger's eye cabochon draws out narrow, golden bands from the stone, shifting across the surface with every turn of the head. This is chatoyancy, the silky sheen typical of this quartz variety, seen at its best in a smooth, domed cut. Brown blends here with tones of honey and dark caramel, and the shape set in rhodium silver has a distinctly retro, vintage look. In older cultures tiger's eye was linked to stability and inner balance, a symbolism that sits well with its earthy, calm colour.

A piece like this, with such an even pattern of bands and clear shine, is easy to overlook, yet a second one just like it is hard to find. Prices for silver and quality natural stones keep rising steadily, so this pendant is worth considering as a sensible buy now. The rhodium coating on the silver protects it from tarnishing and keeps the shine longer for longer. The metal is pure, refined sterling silver 925, free of nickel and other harmful additives. The piece bears a stamped maker's mark, registered with the French assay office, which attests to the origin of the metal.

The pendant works well around the neckline and collar, especially with simple knitted sweaters in shades of beige, ecru or charcoal. A monochrome outfit lets the bands of tiger's eye take centre stage. In summer it pairs nicely with a linen shirt open at the neck, in winter with a cool grey turtleneck. At 2.5 g and with a medium-sized cabochon, the pendant wears lightly all day long, from morning through to evening outings.