This garnet engagement ring plays with deep red as your hand moves. The faceted cut breaks light repeatedly across the small facets, giving the stone depth so it never looks flat even in dimmer light, though it doesn't throw bright flashes - rather a muted, dark glow. The delicate, retro silhouette of the band echoes vintage engagement jewelry forms, and the small size of the stone keeps the whole piece subtle and light on the finger.

The garnet for this ring was chosen so that its colour and clarity hold one consistent tone of red without discoloration. Silver and precious metals are rising in price, and good-quality natural stones are becoming rarer, so buying this ring now makes sense in terms of price. The setting is made of refined European silver 925, and a rhodium layer protects its surface from tarnishing and losing its shine for years to come. The alloy contains no nickel, the metal most often responsible for skin reactions, so the ring can be worn without worrying about irritation. The metal is stamped with the French maker's mark, which confirms its origin.

In the city this ring looks good with plain jeans, a white shirt and a leather jacket - the understated outfit gives the garnet's dark red room to play against the hand. It also works well under a thinner sweater with rolled-up sleeves, when the hand keeps moving and the stone shifts shade with every gesture. Its delicate form and light weight, 2.7 g, make it easy to wear all day, and in the evening it pairs just as well with a simple dark dress.