Your guide to coral
Click here to see some coral Jewellery.
coral
Coral are not really a gemstone like rubies or sapphires; they are in fact the skeletal frame of a living creature which grows up to 300m below sea level at many different locations around the world.
Only certain varieties such as 'corallium rubrum' and 'corallium japonicum' are harvested for use in jewellery, most of these are now harvested by divers to lessen the ecological impact.
Coral starts out matt but is usually polished up to a beautiful shine. Some corals are full of holes, and though these are less desirable you will often find them filled with wax or resin to improve the look and colour. The most desirable coral is of even colour with no holes or cracks, however this type of coral is rare so will be priced accordingly.
The traditional colour for coral is red right through to pink, however it also comes in black, white, gold right through to the very rare blue. Once you have made your choice on which colour you would like, quality will be the most deciding factor on price.
Coral is thought to Protect against evil spirits. However it is also the traditional gemstone for the 35 year wedding anniversary in the USA. (In the UK it is jade.)
