style sectionstyle sectionCoral jewelry is made from the dead exoskeletons of sea coral and comes in a variety of bright colors, as well as white. The coral is cut into pendants and gems and then polished to a high shine. Because coral jewelry is essentially made of shells, it is softer than other gems and also porous. For this reason, coral jewelry requires a gentler cleaning method than other types of jewelry.
The coral in real coral rings is made from the skeletal remains of coral, a type of marine animal. It is composed mostly of calcium carbonate. As such, coral is softer than many gems and is easily scratched. When cleaning these rings, you must be careful to avoid using abrasive substances. Acidic cleaners, even mild ones such as vinegar solutions, will start to dissolve coral and must be avoided.
Sponge coral is known scientifically as melithaea ochracea, and despite its name, it is not a sponge at all. Instead, it is a type of coral that has a spongelike appearance. Sponge coral is imported to the United States from Asia, and it is popularly used in jewelry. Sponge coral may be rough or it may be polished smooth into beads or pendents.
An organic gem that hails from the sea, coral is in high demand for jewelry and also an endangered species. Today, much of the coral used in jewelry is dyed red or bleached white. Coral can be set in gold or silver and is used for every type of jewelry, including bracelets, earrings, necklaces, rings and brooches.
Coral is a calcium carbonate that has been built up from the skeletons of marine polyps that live in colonies or reefs. It grows in branch-like structures. Most coral can be found in the Pacific Ocean, off the coasts of Japan and Taiwan, and in the Mediterranean Sea.
Coral jewelry has been found in ancient grave sites from as far back as 10,000 B.C. and was especially popular during Victorian times and in the 1920s. But there are some pretty convincing fakes out there. Plastic, bone, shell, fossil ivory, howlite and onyx are some of the materials used to make imitation coral. Also, low quality corals have been filled with epoxy and polished to hide flaws. Use these tests to determine if that beautiful coral jewelry piece you have is the real thing or a cheap imitation.
Silver and turquoise have long held claim to the stereotypical image of southwestern Native American jewelry. Made famous by the Navajo in the 20th century, these materials have overshadowed some of the other striking elements in the craft. For instance, the intense color of red coral lies front and center in many Native American pieces. A unique gem, red coral was said to hold mythical powers that would help those who wore it.
Coral is not a gemstone like those mined on land, but a gift of calcium carbonate from the ocean that has been prized since ancient times. It consists of the skeletons of millions of tiny sea creatures called polyps that accumulate and form reefs over thousands of years in shallow waters worldwide. Chunks of this opaque substance are cut and polished to resemble gemstones.
Coral jewelry is extremely fragile as it is made of the calcified remains of microscopic animals. It can be polished to a beautiful shine and is often set in a bezel in order to protect the edges of the piece. You must be extremely careful when cleaning coral jewelry so that you do not scratch the surface or actually wear away at the coral itself.
