The silky sheen of tiger's eye plays across this ring with every movement of the hand - golden-brown bands drift over the stone's surface like a narrow streak of light, the characteristic cat's-eye effect showing best in the cabochon cut. A modern, slender band in the engagement and solitaire style holds the stone low and close to the finger, giving the whole piece a sense of lightness despite the bold colour. In old jewellery tradition tiger's eye was associated with stability and renewal - an association rather than a property, but one that suits a ring with an engagement character well.

For this piece we chose a stone with remarkably even colour - the bands of light line up regularly, with no discoloration, which is rare to find at this price. Silver has risen in price in recent years, and good-quality stones like this one are becoming harder to find, so buying now makes sense price-wise. The setting is refined European 925 silver plated with a layer of rhodium, a hard metal that protects the surface from tarnishing and scratches, so the shine lasts for years without any special care. The pure alloy, free of nickel and other irritating additives, is comfortable even for sensitive skin. The silver bears the French maker's mark, which confirms the origin of the metal.

Styled for the office, this ring pairs well with a smooth shirt and a jacket in muted grey or navy - the warm tone of the stone livens up the cooler shades without breaking the elegant character of the outfit. With a movement of the hand, say when passing documents or fixing your hair, the tiger's eye cabochon naturally draws the eye. It works just as well as an engagement ring as it does an everyday piece with a modern look.