C. 1980 Vintage 9.00 ct. t.w. Amethyst Earrings in 14kt Yellow Gold

14KT: Karat (abbreviated kt or K) is a unit that indicates the purity of gold in the metal. 14kt is 58.33% gold. In the United States, 14K yellow gold is most favored and used in jewelry.

YELLOW GOLD: Gold is a precious metal with a natural yellow color. It is quite soft and often alloyed with other metals to increase its strength. The purity of the metal is indicated by a unit called a "karat," with 24kt having the highest percentage of natural gold.

CLIP/POST: An earring with a post insert and a clip mechanism to hold it in place. The post can be removed by a jeweler to convert the earrings to clip-on.

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.

OVAL: An elliptical shape that resembles an egg.

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