The tiger's eye cabochon lays across the hand in bands of gold and brown that shift into one bright streak as the hand turns - this is the cat's eye effect characteristic of this quartz variety. The plain, minimalist band doesn't pull attention away from the stone, so the solitaire ring keeps a calm, striking line. In old beliefs, tiger's eye was associated with stability and renewal, which fits well with its solid, earthy colour.

The stone for this ring was hand-selected, examined under light for the alignment of its bands and the intensity of its sheen, so that only the single most legible specimen was chosen. Silver and good natural stones get more expensive year after year, so a ring of this quality at this price is worth considering now. This level of craftsmanship paired with such a striking stone rarely comes at a reasonable price. The setting is rhodium-plated sterling silver 925 from European refining - the rhodium layer protects the surface against tarnishing and scratches, keeping the shine clear for years to come. The alloy contains no nickel or other harmful metal additives, which eliminates the risk of skin irritation. The silver also bears the French maker's mark establishing the piece's origin, registered with the assay office.

The stone's large size works well for a day out in the city - the ring pairs with a beige trench coat and a plain turtleneck, where the muted palette lets the stone stay the centre of attention. At 4.6 grams, it has a noticeable but not tiring presence on the finger. For looks in grey and camel tones, a small handbag in a similar shade helps keep the whole outfit cohesive. The gesture of a hand wearing this ring then takes on a distinctly confident character.