Cultured freshwater pearls set alongside cubic zirconia in 18K yellow gold over bronze hoop earrings is a contemporary pearl jewelry combination: the pearl's organic warmth and the CZ's precise sparkle create two distinct light qualities within the same earring, the contrast between organic and brilliant making each more interesting by proximity. In warm Italian bronze-base gold, the combination has a richness that rhodium-over-sterling would not provide. The hoop format brings the current earring moment to the pearl jewelry category - pearls in the hoop form rather than the traditional drop setting that pearl earrings typically occupy. A pearl earring for the customer wearing their jewelry on contemporary terms.