Hermes Chaine d’ancre Chaos Earrings Rose Gold H222516B 00

Three and a third inches of rose gold and seventy diamonds is not a shy earring, and I say that with affection: the larger Chaos is the piece I put on when the outfit is deliberately plain. It is also the most complimented thing I have ever worn, which surprised me at first, since it is not the biggest pair I own.

The chain tumbles from the lobe to well past the jawline, so the movement never stops. With seventy small stones there is nearly always one catching the light, and the whole piece swings to a rhythm of its own when you turn your head. The rose gold is 750/1000, warm against most skin, and the half carat total is spread thickly enough that the metal itself looks bright.

I wear mine with slicked-back hair and a simple column dress, or with a white shirt and the collar open. Anything more detailed and the earring starts competing rather than finishing the look, which is the mistake I made the first time I styled them with a patterned blouse.

Practical honesty: these are heavy enough that I notice them on the lobe after a few hours, and long chains brush against collars and scarves. I take mine off before changing clothes, keep them in their box rather than loose in a drawer, and clean them more often than you would think, because hand cream collects in the settings.

If you are building a small collection of real jewellery, this is the pair that makes everything else you own look considered. Made in France.