Sterling Silver and Mother of Pearl Star Button Earrings

Inspired by the Coat Button on display in the collections of the Mount Vernon Ladies Association, these sterling silver earrings are the perfect gift for the Holidays or any special occasion.

The Coat Button in the Mount Vernon collection is made of pink conch shell, set in gold with a silver-plated boss and a gilt ten-pointed star at its center, is one of many believed to have been owned by George Washington (circa 1789-1797). Washington purportedly gave this button to Colonel Richard Kidder Meade, his aide-de-camp during the Revolutionary War, who in turn had it mounted as a pin and presented to his wife.

Each earring displays a mother of pearl and spinel gemstone on the front and center.

Spinel has a characteristic crystal shape, which looks like two back-to-back pyramids. Like ruby, spinel is found in alluvial deposits; it ranks 8 on the Mohs scale of hardness, making it a tough, durable and hard to scratch gem perfect for jewelry that one might wear every day. The spinel is valued for its beauty and rarity and is commonly mistaken for black diamonds with its opaque, jet-black appearance.

• Mother of Pear Star button is approximately ½ in. in diameter
• With a ½ in. lever back
• Sterling silver
• Spinel gemstone