This vintage-style engagement ring pairs a dark faceted sapphire with rhodium silver set in a delicate, understated silhouette. The stone's facets catch the light with every movement of the hand, its hue shifting from deep navy to cool violet depending on the angle of the light. The small, compact form and fine setting details recall the jewellery-making of past decades, and the sapphire, with no distracting extras around it, remains the centrepiece of the design.

For this piece we chose a sapphire of exceptionally pure, saturated colour, free of inclusions that would break up its depth - that quality was the deciding factor in selecting the stone. Good sapphires are becoming harder to find, and silver prices keep rising, which makes this ring a sensible buy at today's price. It is set in sterling silver 925, extracted and refined in Europe, coated with a layer of rhodium, a hard metal resistant to scratching, so the shine does not fade over time. The alloy contains no nickel, the metal most often responsible for skin reactions, so the ring can be worn without worrying about irritation. The piece is stamped with the French maker's mark, which attests to the silver's origin, and the European quality of workmanship is evident in the precision of the stone setting.

On the hand it looks best paired with soft knitwear - a chunky sweater in shades of grey or navy brings out the depth of the sapphire, and a monochrome outfit keeps the attention on the stone. It also works beautifully under a thin turtleneck or with a simple wool coat. Its small size and lightweight construction mean the ring never feels heavy on the finger and fits naturally into everyday hand movements.