A cool blue flash across the surface of the moonstone is the first thing that draws the eye in this modern solitaire ring. The cabochon cut doesn't scatter light into facets, it lets it glide across the stone's smooth dome, which is what creates that shifting blue glow, appearing and disappearing with every movement of the hand. The simple rhodium silver setting stays in the background, so all the attention goes to the stone. In earlier cultures, moonstone was associated with intuition and inner awareness, and was sometimes kept as a companion for moments of meditation.

Before reaching the jeweller's hands, every moonstone is assessed for colour and depth of shimmer. For this solitaire we chose a stone with a distinct, saturated blue. Good stones of this kind are becoming harder to find, and silver prices are rising, so buying at this price makes sense today. The ring is stamped with the maker's mark struck on the piece and registered with the French assay office, which attests to the origin of the metal. The rhodium on the surface protects the refined European silver 925 fineness beneath it from tarnishing and dulling for a long time, while the nickel-free alloy, nickel being the metal most likely to cause irritation, is gentle on the skin.

A solitaire like this feels right on the hand in spring, when a pastel trench coat, a silk scarf and a light-coloured handbag come into play. The blue flash of the stone then echoes the airiness of the whole look. It also works well with a simple sweater and jeans, where it remains the main focal point on the hand. The medium size of the stone and the light weight of 2.6 grams mean the ring wears comfortably, without weighing down the hand.