A matched pair of gold hoops or drops, wired thin so that a third of an ounce goes a long way. Gold at the ear is worn where wealth is meant to be seen rather than counted — at court, at a wedding, or by a captain who wants a crew to know what they are dealing with. The wire is soft enough to bend open by hand, which is how they are put on and how they are stolen.
Earrings, gold
A pair of gold hoops or drops; worn where wealth must be seen, not counted.