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.

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

AMETHYST: A natural variety of quartz, amethyst ranges in color from deep purple to pale lavender, and even to warm greens. Amethyst has been used during meditation to provide a sense of spiritual balance. Amethyst is the birthstone of February.

SQUARE: A symmetrical shape with four equal sides.

CABOCHON: A style of cutting gemstones to achieve a smooth, domed surface with an absence of facets.

EMERALD: the birthstone of May, and from the beryl mineral family, the emerald has been a prized possession of royalty since ancient times and a good quality emerald can be as or even more expensive than a fine diamond of the same carat. Emeralds are considered the traditional gift for the 55th wedding anniversary.

Diamond: The hardest and most brilliant of all gemstones, a diamond can make the heart race with its pure and fiery spark. An ancient symbol of love, a diamond is the preferred gemstone for tokens of affection, such as rings, earrings, necklaces and bracelets. Diamond is the birthstone for April.

BRILLIANT: A gemstone cut to enhance brilliance without sacrificing much carat weight. Typically has 58 facets.

Color Grade H-I: Near-colorless

CLARITY SI2: Slightly Included. Inclusions are noticeable under 10x magnification.