A faceted tiger's eye stone plays across the hand in bands of gold and deep brownish black, and with every movement of the hand a silky sheen glides over the surface like a narrow streak of light - the chatoyancy characteristic of this variety of quartz. The form of this solitaire ring has been kept deliberately spare: the narrow rhodium silver band doesn't distract, so the whole composition stays clear and modern. Craftsmen of past eras linked tiger's eye with stability and the capacity for renewal; today that symbolism remains an intriguing story, not a promise of effect.

A stone like this one - with its dense, even banding and pure, saturated colour - is easy to overlook, yet a second piece of similar character is hard to find afterwards. Prices for silver and good natural stones rise year after year, so this ring at its current price is a sound decision. The rhodium plating protects the silver from tarnishing and losing its shine, so the band keeps its bright, even lustre through daily wear. Refined European silver of 925 fineness accounts for the purity of this alloy, and the piece itself is stamped with the French maker's mark attesting its origin.

On the hand it works best as part of a total look: a black turtleneck or a plain cotton blouse with no extra ornament lets the ring itself draw the eye with every gesture. Such a pairing works equally well in the office and in the evening, when the cool black of the outfit sets off the warm, golden pattern of the stone. Its very small size and a weight of just 1.8 grams mean the ring wears easily and discreetly, without losing its distinctive character.