Each race has 8 "major" equipment slots that can have 5 properties.
humans/elves have 6 armor (head, neck, arms, body, gloves, leggings) and 2 jewelry (ring, bracelet)
gargoyles have 4 armor (arms, body, kilt, legging) and 4 jewelry (ring, bracelet, neck, earring). Since they have fewer armor slots, the base resists are higher to compensate.
earrings are a decorative slot on humans/elves (with rare, weak single-property items use it) and have to remain that way for total properties available to each race to add up properly.