Ruby, Diamond & Pearl Butterfly Drop Earrings – 18k Rose Gold

18k Rose Gold Butterfly Drop Earrings with Black Rhodium Accents. 160 Rubies, 1.68 carats. 14 Diamonds, 0.27 carats. 2 Pearls.

Butterflies in 18k rose gold, their wings pavé-set with 160 rubies totaling 1.68 carats and outlined in black rhodium for depth. Fourteen diamonds, 0.27 carats in total, add points of white light, and a pearl hangs beneath each one, so the earrings move gently with you.

Ruby is red corundum — the same mineral as sapphire, colored by chromium — and at 9 on the Mohs scale it is tough enough for regular wear. Set as small stones in pavé, rubies read as a continuous wash of color rather than individual gems, which is what gives the wings their richness. The black rhodium framing makes that red look deeper and the rose gold warmer.

The pearls are the softest element, so put the earrings on after perfume and hairspray, and wipe them with a soft cloth after wearing. Black rhodium is a plated finish that can soften over years of wear, and any jeweler can renew it.