Deep navy lapis lazuli opens this engagement and wedding ring with a note of modern character. The faceted cut breaks the surface of the stone into small planes that lighten and darken in turn as your hand turns, revealing golden flashes of inclusions deep within. The simple, rhodium-plated band doesn't draw attention away from that colour - the line of the metal has been deliberately kept quiet so that all the play of light stays with the stone. It's a shape close to contemporary wedding trends: clean, balanced, without unnecessary detail.

The stone for this ring was chosen so that the colour and clarity of the lapis lazuli remain even across the whole surface, without lighter patches or discolouration. Good stones of this quality are becoming rarer, and silver prices have been rising for some time, so buying now makes sense price-wise. The rhodium coating on the silver is hard and scratch-resistant, so the shine of the band doesn't fade after months of wear. The refined silver, of European quality and sterling silver 925 fineness, contains no nickel or other allergenic metal additives, so the band can be worn without worrying about skin irritation. The metal bears a maker's mark registered with the French assay office, which attests its origin. Lapis lazuli has long been associated with idealism, intuition and inner harmony - in jewellery tradition it has been a symbol of these values, giving the ring added meaning as an engagement or wedding gift.

For a meeting in town it pairs well with a trench coat and a thin turtleneck in cool grey or ecru - the navy of the stone stands out against the muted outfit and catches the eye with every gesture of the hand. It also works with a simple white shirt and dark trousers when you want an elegant but effortless look. In a medium size and weighing 2.2 grams, the ring sits lightly on the finger, without weighing down the hand throughout the day.