Deep navy lapis lazuli catches the eye the moment this pendant settles at the neckline. The cabochon's smooth, domed surface gathers the light, while fine golden flecks of pyrite scattered through the dark background reveal themselves with every movement. In ancient Egypt this stone was linked to intuition and inner harmony, and its colour was taken as a symbol of idealism. A simple, slightly archaic vintage-style setting doesn't pull attention from the colour - it's the colour that leads the eye and gives the piece its character.

For this piece we chose a stone with an exceptionally even, saturated colour and a clean structure, free of discolouration that would otherwise lower its visual value. Silver and fine stones are steadily rising in price, and lapis lazuli with this depth of colour is getting harder to find, which makes this purchase good value right now. The pendant is made from refined sterling silver 925 of high alloy purity, free of nickel and other additives that could irritate the skin - it stays comfortable for sensitive skin even with extended wear. A rhodium layer protects the surface from tarnishing and scratches, so the shine stays bright for years. The metal bears a maker's mark registered with the French assay office, which attests its origin.

A pendant like this brings colour into an everyday city look nicely - a white shirt, plain jeans and a leather jacket, where the stone's navy blue livens up a neutral palette right at the neckline. It also works well under a loose sweater with an open neckline, when the cool tone of the metal and the deep blue of the stone stand as the outfit's whole adornment. The medium size and weight of 3.4 grams mean the pendant wears lightly, without weighing down the neckline. This is a piece of jewellery that suits a casual day just as well as an evening out in the city.