Modest in form, this solitaire ring with a ruby puts all the attention on a single stone. The faceted ruby, deep and richly red, catches the light in its tiny facets, its interior answering with flashes of colour at every turn of the hand. The minimalist setting does not draw the eye away from the colour - a thin band of rhodium silver serves as a backdrop, not a decoration.

Only a small share of the raw material reviewed makes it into a setting like this - the selection of the ruby is strict, with purity of colour and clarity of the stone being what counts. Good rubies rise in price along with precious metals, and nature itself limits the availability of valuable stones, so buying now makes sense in terms of price. The rhodium plating protects the silver against tarnishing and scratches, keeping its shine bright for years. Refined silver of European quality, sterling silver 925, contains no nickel or other harmful additives, so the ring can be worn without worry about skin irritation. The French maker's mark on the inside of the band confirms the origin of the metal.

A solitaire like this feels right in weekend layering - with an oversized sweater in cool grey or a wool shawl draped over the shoulders. Its simple form does not compete with the outfit, and the ruby draws the eye with every movement of the hand. It also works well with a plain shirt and jeans, whenever a single clear accent on the finger is what's needed. Its very small size and weight of 1.8 grams mean it wears lightly, whatever the time of day.