I was able to make these earring reproductions after the originals owned by Martha Washington - and I must say they are stunning!

Per the Mount Vernon website, "In 1760 George Washington recorded the receipt of an invoice dated December 26th, detailing his latest purchases from London. Therein he listed "A pair 3 dropt Garnet Earings" bought from a jeweler named J. Grymes to grace the ears of his wife, Martha. In the eighteenth century, "dropt" earrings referred to earrings with removable dangling pendants. As garnet jewelry remained popular throughout the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth centuries, few pieces survive in their original state. These drop pendants were later altered into a pair of earrings."

So I have done my best to recreate the front as close to the original as I can as an inspired reproduction piece. I do not know what the back of the originals look like after modification, so decided on an earwire just a bit lower on the back so it sits beautifully on the ear.

The originals were made from 25 beautiful round and oval cut garnets in a gold washed silver setting (vermeil). The overall pieces in a pear or teardrop shape. They may have been pendants that attached to another set.

My reproductions measure the same as Martha's - 1-1/8 inches long by 3/4 inches wide and also have 24 round garnet rhinestones. I have also made these in silver for those who like silver more than gold! The originals were a gold washed silver - or vermeil. They truly are just lovely! I've marked down the silver for a great deal.

Second photo is of Katharine Pittman, Martha Washington in Colonial Williamsburg. The sixth photo is of the original pair (originally a pendant), and last photo I am holding the original earring next to my reproduction.