These earrings are amazing. I have never before, in all of my shopping, seen any like this except in the Senior English book from which I taught, and there were photos there from the Sutton Hoo exhibit in the British Museum. Usually when I get something this old, I am told it is "first century." The same dealer who usually says "first century," just said "ancient," so that's what I am saying.They are tighter carat gold than my equipment will measure, so they are probably 22 carat, or at least more than 18, Of course the wires , if you can call the piece that is intended to go through the ear a wire, is still attached, and it is too thick to put in ones ear today. The English dealer from whom I bought these added the high carat gold wires, if someone wishes to wear them. If not, it can easily be removed with no damage to these "ancient" earrings, They are in amazing condition, and I can barely tell the front from the back. There are some little gold enclosures which appear to have held enamel?? Some of them have a black dot buried down in the setting and some are empty, The earring itself, not counting the wire, is one inch long and 1/2 inch wide, and together they weigh 3.33 grams. What a piece of history!