Thorn Cross Pendant Necklace in 925 Sterling Silver

A thorn cross is a textured design rather than a smooth one, and the texture is the reason it works. The raised barbs break up the surface so the piece catches light from several planes at once, which keeps it from going flat in photographs or under indoor lighting. It also means the cross reads as an object with depth rather than as a flat silhouette. The proportions are kept narrow, so it hangs centred and does not swing across the chest.

Two stone options are offered and the choice is a real one. Moissanite is harder at Mohs 9.25 and has a refractive index near 2.65, so it flashes more and keeps its polish on a piece that will rub against shirts every day. Zircon is softer at around 8.5, cooler and less fiery in its return, and it will lose a little brilliance over a few years. It costs much less, which makes it a reasonable gift or second chain piece.

Both versions are built on 925 sterling silver and both ship on a steel rope chain, so there is nothing else to buy. The rope is the right pairing for a textured pendant, because a twisted chain echoes the barbs instead of contrasting with them the way a flat Cuban link would. Steel also handles sweat and daily wear better than a thin silver chain of the same diameter. The decision comes down to stone only, moissanite or zircon, nothing else changes.

• Stone: D colour moissanite or zircon
• Metal: original 925 sterling silver pendant
• Chain: steel rope chain included
• Design: thorn textured cross, raised barbs
• Wear: men and women
• Note: the GRA certificate applies to the moissanite option only