Red Coral as a Gemstone

Coral may be fashioned into beads for jewelry

Precious coral, with its deep red-pink color, is often used in jewelry. Coral is not a stone; it is the shell of an aquatic organism that forms massive colonies undersea. Coral's brilliant hues and soft, easily carved nature make it increasingly popular in jewelry.

Living Coral

Coral in the sea

Coral are tiny, hard shelled invertebrates. Found mostly in tropical waters, coral form giant colonies called coral reefs. These reefs may grow up to over a thousand feet in length, as in Australia's Great Barrier Reef system. Coral are carnivorous and have tiny tentacles allowing them to grab plankton that floats by. Some species of coral have poisonous barbs on the end of the tentacles, providing them with an active defense along with the hard shell that all coral possess.

Harvesting

Pieces of harvested coral

Historically, coral was brought up by fishermen's nets. Coral became particularly valuable in eastern Asia and India, often being used to make both religious and secular sculptures. Today, as coral has become rarer due to over-harvesting, coral is often collected by divers to make sure that the largest pieces of undamaged coral can be safely taken. Due to the small size of most pieces of coral harvested, coral jewelry most often takes the form of beads.

Processing

In its natural state, coral is often dull-colored. To gain the brilliant color and shine that coral is known for, it must be rigorously polished. Although coral comes in different colors, red and pink are the most well-known. Although rarer, coral can also be white, blue and even gold. However, coral on the market is often dyed to brighten its color.

Durability

Coral, although durable enough to be worn as jewelry, is not as hard as most gemstones. This means that it is particularly sensitive to scratching. For this reason, coral jewelry must be treated with more care than jewelry made from actual gemstones. Coral can also lose its bright color if left in direct sunlight or hot water for too long.

Conservation

Coral reefs are vanishing in ever-increasing numbers due to human activity. While the harvesting of coral for jewelry only comprises a small part of the destruction of coral reefs, it is worth keeping in mind for anyone who wishes to buy coral jewelry. Governments around the world are signing legislation with the goal of protecting coral from wanton destruction and making coral harvesting practices more sustainable. For this reason, coral jewelry should always be bought from a reputable dealer.

References

• Gem by Gem: Coral
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: What Are Coral Reefs
• Coral Reef Alliance: Coral Reef Harvesting