Coral makes jewellery of a very special charming charm: the perfect personification of mankind’s longing for summer, sun and faraway seas.

The name as such, however, is still perplexing to linguists. Some are positive that the Greek word “koraillon“ is the root, as this signifies the hard and calcareous skeleton of the Coral animal. Another probable source is “kura-halos”, meaning “mermaid”, and after all, the fine Coral branches sometimes remind us of the shape of people. Other experts support the theory that the word comes from Hebrew, “goral”, the name for the stones used to cast an oracle, and in fact the Coral branches were used for casting oracles in former times in Palestine, Asia Minor and the around the Mediterranean.

Corals live in depths between three to three thousand metres in the seas around Japan, Taiwan and the Malayan Archipelago, in the Red Sea, the Biscayan Gulf and around the Canary Islands, but also in north-eastern Australia and off the Midway Islands. In the Mediterranean there are Coral reefs all around the Tyrrhenian Sea, along the coastline of Sardinia and also off the shores of Tunisia and Algeria, Yugoslavia and Turkey.

When discussing about Coral, the Coral reefs of the Pacific Ocean or of Australia are the first images which come to mind – reefs, banks, atolls which are some of Nature’s most extraordinary miracles of beauty. But it is not these protected kinds of Coral which we are taking a closer look at here. For jewellery purposes, only Corals of the species e.g. “Corallium rubrum“ or “Corallium japonicum“ are being used.

Like pearls, Corals also belong to the organic jewellery material. It is an interesting occurrence indeed that both are products of the element water, and are in fact chemically related. Both consist of over 90% carbonic lime. It is a practical miracle that Nature manages use the same dull material to create flaming red Coral and to let grow beautiful pearls.

What are Corals?

Corals are shaped by the smallest life forms, which established in the depths of warm seas in immense colonies, long before our time. The Coral cnidarian is covered by a fleshy skin and secretes a calcareous substance, from which there are built the branchlike structures of the of the Coral stems. They can grow up to 40 cm in height, the width of the branches, however, hardly ever amounts to more than four cm. Only at the forks the structures are a little thicker. And from these parts the precious raw material is gained which will then be twisted into pieces of jewellery, large Coral balls or engraved objects.

The delicate Coral trees are conventionally brought to the light of day from the depths of seas by means of dragnets. Since first class Coral, however, has become quite uncommon, today a more environment conscious approach is usually applied and divers will collect the delicate Coral branches. In the next step, the pieces are cleaned, sorted, and treated with saws, files and drills. Coral is scarcely ever cut like other gemstones.

When incomplete, Coral appears dull and tangled. Only after polishing it receives its lustre. Often Coral is absorbent, sometimes with fissures and thus of lower quality. To some degree, such virtues can be improved by a treatment of coloured wax, which enhances the visual imprint. Good quality Coral shows an even colouring and has no fissures, spots, bands or cavities. Since authentic untreated Coral is rare, the price it achieves is quite high. Therefore any bargain should be met with suspect. Highest quality Coral jewellery is best bought in a well-reputed shop.

Colourful and sensitive world of Coral

Corals need not necessarily have be red, although the name “Coral” denotes a pinkish-red colour. Nature createsCoral in a wide range of shades and hues from red and white and blue to brown and black. Most popular are the red shades, ranging from palest petal pink via salmon to deep velvety red. The height of fashion are currently black Coral and golden Coral, and extremely rare the blue variation. Especially precious is also the white Coral with a slight blush of pink, the so-called “Angelskin Coral”. Other famous variety’s are the deeply satisfied red Japanese “Moro Coral”, pale pink “Boke” and the red “Sardena”.

Corals are not too sensitive, but with their hardness of only 3.5 they are significantly softer than any other gemstone material. Their loveliness will undergo unfortunate treatment. Cosmetic products, hot water and bright daylight are damaging to their beauty. Coral jewellery should be cautiously stored and be cleaned from time to time with a soft, wet cloth. Should the surface be scratched in spite of all care, a jeweller will be able to polish it up.

Attractive lightweights: Root and Foam Coral
Lighter in weight and less costly than the Fine Coral are Root and Foam Coral. Root Corals are in fact a elite Coral species – no root as such, but rather a special Coral bush. It is sometimes varied with Foam Coral. The last, however, are those parts of Japanese Moro Coral which are entrenched in sand or mud, and which are that part in-between the Coral foot and the Coral stem. This Foam Coral has been in the market for a long time, has a higher weight than Root Coral and is also somewhat higher priced. Both kinds are complete in large quantities by China and Japan. Because of their size and comparatively low weight they are popular wherever colour and volume are in demand at low prices.

Coral on the bare skin – irresistible

For ages now Coral has been used as jewellery and worshipped as a defensive charm. Nowadays Coral is still used as a talisman in many cultures in order to ward off evil spirits. The modern teachings of healing with gemstones understand Coral for its positive effects. Coral is reported to soothe fears and tensions, and to support positive ways of living together.