This amber ring pairs a modern, simple band with the warm colour of a cabochon-cut stone. Amber is fossilised resin, so its interior can be uneven - in this stone, flashes of honey and deeper purple settle into layers that shift from pale gold to a deeper brown as the hand turns. In old Baltic craft it was linked with sunny warmth and success; today it works well as an engagement and promise ring.

For the setting we chose amber with even colour and clarity, free of visible cloudiness, which at this size of stone is not a given - hence a quality that is hard to find at a similar price. Silver and good amber get more expensive year on year, so buying a ring like this now makes sense price-wise. The band is made of refined European 925 silver coated with a thick layer of 18-carat gold - it is the gold, not the silver, that touches the skin, and its presence is confirmed by the stamped V mark. The alloy stays free of nickel, the metal responsible for most allergic reactions, so the ring can be worn without worry about irritation. The piece also bears the French maker's mark, attesting to the origin of the metal.

In summer this ring looks good on a hand emerging from the sleeve of a flowing linen dress in ecru or sand - the warm colour of the amber then plays well against the pale, natural linen. It works just as well with a simple white shirt rolled up to the elbow. Weighing 3.2 grams, the ring does not weigh down the hand and stays comfortable in the gesture it is most often shown off in - shaking hands or touching another person's hand.