A cabochon amber opens up this ring like a lump of molten sun set in silver. The colour is dense, honeyed, shifting in places to deep purple at the edges, and deeper inside you can spot tiny glints that the rhodium silver setting brings out even further. The modern, smooth line of the band doesn't draw attention away from the stone - it's the amber that leads the eye whenever the hand moves. The shape is distinctly engagement in character, yet without heavy ornamentation, so the amber remains the main focus.

A shade of resin like this doesn't come along often - someone had to look through many cabochons to find the one where colour and clarity line up so evenly. Amber, as fossilised resin, has been ageing with the ground for millions of years, and good, clean specimens are getting harder to find, much like silver, which keeps getting more expensive on the market - which is why this purchase makes sense right now. The rhodium plating protects the silver from tarnishing and scratches, so the ring's shine doesn't fade over the years. The metal is refined European silver 925, a pure alloy free of nickel and other allergenic additives, so it can be worn without worrying about irritation. The piece is stamped with the French maker's mark establishing its origin, registered with the French assay office.

In old beliefs, amber was associated with the warmth of the sun and with success, which fits well with the spirit of an engagement. On the hand, it looks best surrounded by simple, everyday pieces - jeans, a white shirt, a leather jacket - because the honeyed colour of the stone brings such a understated outfit to life and draws looks with every gesture of the hand. The very big size of the cabochon means the ring is visible from a distance, even with a simple, modern look.