My item is a pair of silver earrings that I bought in Taxco, Mexico. This is a significant detail because the town itself is widely regarded for its silver jewelry production. I can also confirm that they are made out of real silver because I have very sensitive skin, so jewelry made out of cheap materials usually make me itch.
The items themselves are small, measuring at about 1.8″. They are constructed of an ethereally light triangle of silver that is attached through a small circle to a long, thin, semi-circular sliver of silver that is placed through a pierced ear. There is a small spring at the juncture of the circle connection the two pieces of silver together. Because of this juncture, the two pieces of metal are connected but not welded to each other, making it so that the triangle pendant portion of the earring is free to swing back and forth, usually due to the turning of one’s head or the speed and forcefulness of one’s gait.
The design on the triangle is quite abstract, but at the same time not at all. It is a navy blue background painted over a thin layer of quartz. You can tell that the quartz is natural because the material on each earring is distinct, with varying ripples of color running through each. The design contained within the navy blue paint is a crescent moon with three circles, two on the bottom left and right corners and one above and center of the crescent moon. On one earring the crescent moon is facing right, and on the other it is facing left–I don’t think it matters which way the earring in worn, but personally I like so wear them so that the moons are facing each other. The design of the moon itself looks to be made out of moonstone, and is probably constituted of a thin sheet of moonstone and placed within the triangle pendant of the earring much like the sheet of quarts was embedded at the bottom of the earring. The three silver dots on each earring appear to be the same silver that the base of the earring is made of.
The back of the earring is plain compared to the front of it, but it’s lovely all the same. It is only the reflective surface of the silver, with one discrepancy–the earring on the left has a string of numbers etched/pressed into it, numbers that I can’t quite make out. But I do know that these numbers are meant to signify that the silver is indeed authentic. The slightest area around this numerical sequence is ever so slightly concave, only really noticeable when one plays with the earring in the right light.
The Materials of History, Thought, and Art 
Reading your post reveals that you have some knowledge of jewelries, and I can almost sense your enthusiasm in writing about these earrings. Clearly, they mean a great deal to you because of how well you describe them. Your detailed descriptions of all the parts of the earrings reveal a familiarity with them. If I remember correctly, on the first day of class you mentioned that your family is from Mexico. I’m curious to read about why you decided to buy this specific pair of earrings and what they mean to you (and perhaps your heritage).
I love how something (or rather, a pair of things) so simple can have so many layers and details that you describe here. The design is so simple, it could probably be summarized in a single sentence, yet by looking a little more closely, you found so much more. You thoroughly describe each material and the role it plays in making the charming little celestial composition on each earring. Like Khaddija, I remember you mentioning your Mexican heritage at the start of the semester, and I would like to know more about the story behind you acquiring these there!
Also, what are the numbers stamped on the left earring? I was a metalworker/jeweler once upon a time, and I might be able to tell you what they mean.