8-8.5mm Cultured Pearl and .20 ct. t.w. Citrine Bee Drop Earrings with Black Spinel Accents in Two-Tone Sterling Silver

STERLING SILVER: Also known as "Standard Silver," sterling silver is silver alloyed with other metals to increase the hardness and durability. Generally, sterling is 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals. Some sterling silver jewelry is plated with 14kt-18kt gold and referred to as "vermeil," or "gold over sterling."

18KT: Karat (abbreviated kt or K) is a unit that indicates the purity of gold in the metal. 18kt is 75% gold. In Europe, 18K yellow gold is most favored and used in jewelry.

GOLD OVER STERLING: Sometimes referred to as "vermeil," this metal is gold-plated sterling silver. It is one of the most desirable gold-plated metals and can come in 14kt-24kt yellow, white, or rose.

POST/CLUTCH: An earring with a post insert and a slide-on clutch backing to hold it in place.

CULTURED PEARLS: Likened to the moon, pearls have been valued for their luminous glow and natural beauty for thousands of years. Today, high-quality cultured freshwater pearls make pearl jewelry affordable to all. Pearl is the traditional birthstone for the month of June.

BUTTON: A pearl that is circular in shape with a flat bottom and a flattened or domed top.

SPINEL: This rare and durable gemstone, found in a beguiling shade of inky black, catches the eye when set in rings, bracelets, necklaces and earrings. Spinel is also found in captivating tones of pink, purple and green. The red variety is beautiful in its own right and in ages past it was mistaken for a ruby.

CITRINE: A member of the quartz family, citrine symbolizes cheerfulness and prosperity. Its name is derived from the French word citron meaning lemon. This sunny stone comes in colors from lemon yellow to amber brown, with its coloring agent attributed to iron. Citrine is the birthstone for November.