Moonstone Drop Earrings in 18kt 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.

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.

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."

TEXTURED: A unique and varying finish with a tactile surface applied through various techniques, both by hand and with machinery.

WIRE: sometimes called "shepherd's hooks" or "fishhooks," earwires are a thin, hook-shaped earring backs. They thread onto the ear and can sometimes be squeezed into place or held on with a rubber clutch.

MOONSTONE: named for the white reflection that mimics the reflection of moonshine. Typically polished and featuring a cabochon cut, moonstone's light-catching shimmer is perfect for fine jewelry. In Europe, moonstone is the birthstone for June.

PEAR: Similar to the outline of a pear fruit, this is a round shape that comes to a point on one side.

ROSE-CUT: An antique gemstone cut dating back to the 1500s, with a flat back and a faceted top.