It's all about having the right tool for the job..... For that small earring the AT Gold would be my choice. On low conductors it is in NO WAY comparable to the AT pro. For $200 more than the coil you were using on the Deus you can have a complete second machine that will excel in small gold hunting but also work great in iron, is waterproof and has proved (to me) to be one of the best machines to hold its depth in terrible ground like the red clay of Culpeper, Va. Not trying to hi jack your thread here, just don't like to see people post videos of the AT pro and throw the AT Gold in there with it "performance wise". I have tested in on small buttons, coins, lead of various sizes and jewelry, and in BAD ground running in ALL METAL it will out do anything costing less money and a big majority of those costing more. I have seen it slam a small coin with stock 5x8 coil that an Explorer SE or Etrac couldn't see....using 15x12 SEF coil! Would love to see it do the earring test!