- Color: red, pink, white (black, blue).
- Hardness: 3–4 points.
- Density: 2.6–2.7 g/cm³.
Corals (Greek, original meaning unknown) form reefs, atolls and coral shoals in tropical seas with intricately branching bushes - colonies of polyps. Only the calcareous frames (external skeletons) of these colonies are used as material for jewelry stones - corals. Such a framework (polypnyak) is built by many small polyps, which are located in tiny cells - recesses of the exoskeleton - and secrete lime with their lower ends to form plantar plates. The height of the colonies is 20–40 cm, the thickness of their branches reaches 6 cm.
Pink coral: where it was first discovered
The word “coral” came to us from the ancient Greek language - the ancient Greeks called these polyps “collarions”, which today are of great value.
The stone itself is an opaque mineral, which contains calcium and aragonite. The mineral is very fragile, reacts to high temperatures, from which it can collapse.
Mostly this mineral is found colored red, but in nature there are white, black, brown and some other shades. The most expensive is the coral, which has a pale pink color.
Today, corals can be found in the Caribbean Sea, where they are concentrated in greater numbers. The stone is also found in the Indian and Pacific oceans. Legends and mystical stories about the power of this gem have survived to this day. For the first time, mentions of it were found in the civilization of the ancient Sumerians, who lived on our planet more than five thousand years ago.
It is also known that numerous Indian tribes burned with a special love for this polyp, as they sincerely believed in its miraculous powers. The Mayans made bracelets, beads and other amulets from stone.
Rosaries were also made from the polyp, which were a very important attribute in church rituals. In Europe, this gem was highly valued, so only rich people could wear jewelry made from it.
Today, coral is most often brought from countries such as Taiwan, Australia and Japan. Also, its deposits are hidden in the Caribbean and Mediterranean seas. The most valuable specimens are mined off the coast of Italy.
The modern mineral has retained its original appearance. Red coral is most often used to make jewelry, but sometimes you can see photos of pink and white, which do not appear so often in natural conditions.
In order to insert the stone into the frame, it is ground and shaped into a bead or cabochon. After jewelry processing, the mineral acquires shine, becomes smooth and pleasant to the touch.
How to determine the authenticity of a stone?
In order to determine the naturalness of the material, you should pay attention to the following nuances:
- It must have a radiant structure.
- Doesn't have an overly glossy shine. If the product is heated, it will become matte.
- When treated at high temperatures, the part will begin to darken and crumble, and the fake will emit a plastic smell.
- When in contact with water, the genuine material will become brighter, but the artificial one will not change. Also, the paint may come off from the fake, causing the liquid to turn scarlet.
- A real mineral will never have a too low price.
Varieties of precious pink stone
In nature, there are more than 2000 species of this polyp in terms of color. At the same time, no more than 16 of them are used for the manufacture of jewelry. The following are especially popular:
- Pink with a pearlescent sheen. It is called "pelle d'angelo".
- Pale pink, called "rose pallido".
- Black ones, called "Akkabar".
- Bright pink, called “Rosa Vivo”.
- Dark red - “rosso scuro”.
- White ones, called "bianco".
- Brown ones - “arkisuro carbonetto”.
- Orange-pink - “second color”.
- Bright red - “rosso”.
- Blue. They are extremely rare in nature.
Natural corals are not so cheap, so jewelers often create their imitation. A stone is considered fake when they try to sell it at the price of a real one, but today this is unlikely, since it is quite easy to determine the authenticity of a mineral; you just need to dip it in a glass of milk, and the real gem will immediately turn it red or pink.
What images does it go with?
If you are afraid of spoiling the image with an abundance of brightness, then it is recommended to stick to the classics and choose a color scheme in red, white and black shades. Jewelry with corals in gold or silver can be successfully incorporated into an office outfit. He will skillfully place accents and dilute the strict dress code. Earrings with coral will go perfectly with evening looks, dresses with polka dots, as well as with ethnic details. Another successful combination of red beads will work with black and white striped clothing. This option is suitable for creating a nautical outfit.
Do not be afraid of bright accessories, because if you successfully integrate them into your image, you can achieve a completely discreet and stylish appearance. To make putting together a combination easier, you can combine red jewelry with plain clothes in basic shades.
Magical properties of the gem
For a very long time, people believed in magic and believed that the stone was able to protect travelers from any natural elements, from the evil eye and damage, and also attract good luck. The main magical properties of the gem can be described as follows:
- Products made from it bring success and protect from troubles and misfortunes, which is why ancient warriors, going to the battlefield, often wore weapons decorated with it.
- The stone helps travelers return home safe and sound.
- Jewelry, including earrings and rings with coral, helped women protect themselves from damage and envious glances.
- Sea talismans help inspire creative and romantic people.
Few of the precious and semi-precious gems have only positive characteristics; coral is no exception. Astrologers do not advise wearing jewelry with it all the time, as this can cause a person to become capricious and passive. Products made from this polyp are best worn at a time when the moon is in its waxing phase. At other times, the stone needs to rest and recharge with positive energy.
Other magical abilities are also attributed to pink corals:
- The property of bringing happiness and good luck to the owner;
- The ability to make the owner wiser, more logical and rational;
- For men, the stone is useful because it can help attract female attention;
- For women, the mineral helps to get pregnant and ease the hardships of pregnancy;
- Gems react to changes in the body of their owner, for example, an increase in temperature.
When deciding to wear jewelry made from natural coral in silver, it is important to treat it with care so that all its magical properties are preserved and act for the benefit of its owner.
Which zodiac signs can wear pink coral jewelry?
Astrologers believe that it is very important to select jewelry with exactly those stones that match your zodiac sign, so that no negative influence arises. Coral is considered one of the gems that suits almost everyone. The only exception is the zodiac sign Virgo.
Coral silver earrings would be an ideal decoration for the zodiac sign Pisces, which is not surprising, since polyps originate in the depths of the sea. Also, red and pink gems are suitable for Cancers and Sagittarius, especially if they were born in the year of the Tiger according to the eastern calendar.
Colors
In jewelry, the red Corallicum rubrum, or Corallicum nobile, is most valued among all types of corals. The entire colony has a skeleton of one, usually uniform, color, but from colony to colony its shades vary from soft pink to dark red, the color of ox's blood. Only sometimes corals have white or pale pink spots.
Along with red and pink corals, white, black and blue corals are processed. White corals, like red ones, are composed of carbonated lime, but black and blue ones are made of the organic horny substance conchiolin with a density of 1.34–1.46 g/cm³. Colonies of black corals reach a height of 3 m.
Carmine-red corals are considered especially valuable, giving the color “coral” its name. Bright red specimens of good quality are quite rare. More often it can be warm red shades or salmon color. Pink corals stand somewhat apart. Their delicate color is valued by true connoisseurs on a par with scarlet. The French call these light, almost creamy shades peau d'ange, that is, “angel skin.”
Corals are sensitive to heat, acids and hot baths! When worn, they may fade or become pale.
Deposits and production Corals are distributed along the coast of the Western Mediterranean and the Bay of Biscay, the Canary Islands, the Malay Archipelago, and Japan. Black corals are mined in the Malay Archipelago, Northern Australia, and the Red Sea.
Colonies of coral polyps are located at a depth of 3 to 300 m from the sea surface. They are caught using weighted, large-mesh nets that are dragged along the seabed, tearing off the polypnyaks attached to it with a wide base from the rocky soil. At the same time, a lot of valuable material deteriorates and perishes. The caught corals are cleaned of soft tissue and sorted.
Quality and processing Coral is processed in cabochons or in irregular (natural) shapes. It is sometimes cut into a round shape for use in beads.
High-quality coral beads should be free of chips, cracks and holes. But since coral is a rather soft and porous material, it is often strengthened when making jewelry. The beads are impregnated with colored wax and tinted. When black corals are bleached, they produce sprigs of a beautiful golden color.
Healing properties of the mineral
In addition to the fact that in ancient times people believed in the magical abilities of the polyp, they were also treated with its help. This is no coincidence, since the mineral really has healing powers. Today, these properties of the stone continue to be studied; it is widely used in folk medicine. It is believed that the gem is capable of:
- Have a beneficial effect on human metabolism.
- The mineral also eliminates headaches, improves memory and helps to concentrate.
- Relieve its owner from depression and bad mood.
- Polyp powder is used to heal burns.
- A coral decoration hidden under the pillow normalizes sleep and relieves insomnia.
- Products made from gemstones help improve tone and even treat osteoporosis.
Also, these precious stones are considered a symbol of longevity; they are said to prolong the life of their owner. Products with minerals are suitable for people of any gender.
Origin story
In the ancient world, corals were used by Celtic tribes. Centuries later, these decorations have not lost their value in Rus'. At that time, products served as amulets and talismans. The material was also used to create souvenirs and decorate outfits.
In Polish and Ukrainian clothing, red beads made of natural coral are an element of ethnographic costume for girls. Previously, it was believed that the more such details, the richer the family of a young unmarried lady. They received jewelry from merchants who brought goods from the Red Sea.
Now coral is a real favorite of jewelers. It is easy to work with, which allows you to create unusual shapes of products. Thanks to this feature, you can now see a wide variety of accessories made from this material.
Cost of coral jewelry
Most often, this mineral is framed in silver or gold. Silver earrings with coral inserts can be purchased at a jewelry store for about 2000-3000 rubles, but the stone will be red, not pink, since items with a lighter shade are much more difficult to find.
Coral bracelets with silver inserts costing from 1,500 rubles and more. Rings will cost approximately 2000 rubles or more. The cost of coral beads depends not only on the shade of the organic mineral, but also on their length; the shortest products made from the most common stone will cost approximately 1,500-2,000 rubles.
Products with gem inserts in gold and silver frames look expensive and elegant, attract the attention of others, and therefore look natural on self-confident women.
