The cool blue of the topaz pairs with the vintage silhouette of the ring to create a composition with a distinctly engagement character. The faceted cut breaks light into fine flashes - as the hand moves, the blue topaz shifts in intensity, revealing successive layers of blue. Seven cubic zirconia set around the mount reinforce this effect without taking precedence away from the topaz.

This particular blue topaz is hard to replace - such depth of colour and clarity rarely come together in one stone, and prices for quality blue topaz are steadily rising, so the current price represents a sensible purchase. Refined sterling silver 925 of European quality forms a clean alloy free from allergenic metal additives - the ring can be worn without concern about irritation or sensitivity. The rhodium layer maintains a bright, even shine for years. The piece is stamped with the French maker's mark, which attests the origin of the silver.

For everyday wear, the ring works beautifully with weekend layering: an oversized chunky knit in off-white, a loose scarf in ivory tones or the muted grey of wool - the cool blue of the topaz brings life to calm colours without dominating the overall look. With such combinations, every movement of the hand draws out another flash from the stone, and the vintage setting lends the whole outfit a touch of timeless elegance.