Moissanite or Zircon Necklace, 1.7ct to 5ct, 925 Silver

This necklace is sold by total carat weight rather than by a single stone size, which is the honest way to describe a piece where the sparkle is spread across the design instead of concentrated in one place. Spreading the weight has a practical benefit at the neckline: several smaller stones catch light from more directions than one large one, so the piece keeps working as you turn rather than only flashing when it faces a lamp head on. The 925 sterling silver body is plated in 18k white gold.

Both a moissanite and a zircon version are offered, and they are not the same stone. Moissanite is harder at 9.25 on the Mohs scale, so it holds its polish through years of contact with collars and seatbelts, and its refractive index of about 2.65 is higher than diamond at 2.42, which is why it returns noticeably more coloured fire. Zircon is softer, calmer in the light and much cheaper. It is a reasonable pick for a gift or an occasional piece.

Three total weights are available. The 1.7ct is the understated one and reads as everyday jewellery under an open collar. The 2.8ct is the middle ground and carries enough weight to be the only piece you wear. The 5ct is the full statement version and is best kept for an open neckline where nothing crowds it. All three share the same metal and plating.

• Stone: moissanite or zircon
• Total carat weights: 1.7ct, 2.8ct or 5ct
• Metal: 925 sterling silver
• Finish: 18k white gold plated
• Supplied with certification documents
• Note: the GRA certificate applies to the moissanite option only