Coral - gem of the ocean

Ornaments with red coral evoked admiration already in ancient times. Coral jewelry was the most appreciated in the 19th century. Necklaces, earrings, and rings adorned with this gemstone became particularly fashionable at that time. Nowadays, corals are also eagerly used for making jewelry. Our September auction features a coral necklace, a pendant, and three rings.

Marine corals take the form of reefs, atolls, and cays with branchy bodies. Their height reaches between 20 and 40 cm, and their branches are around 6 cm thick. Various adornments are created from these skeletons made of tiny polyps. Corals are most often red, but sometimes they can also be found in white, pink, and black. The most valuable coral species of all is the precious coral. Coral deposits are found on the western coast of the Mediterranean Sea, in the Red Sea, the Bay of Biscay, off the coast of the Canary Islands, the Malay Archipelago, Japan, and Hawaii. In Europe, Torre del Greco, off the western Italian coast, is the main center famous for harvesting and producing coral. 

Corals are naturally matte, they achieve their glassy shine only after polishing. Their intense, red color may fade with time. There is a proven way to deal with this. In order to regain coral's deep colors, you just have to soak it in hydrogen peroxide. Coral jewelry enthusiasts should protect their favorite pieces from high temperatures, hot water, and acids, as they can irreversibly damage their items.

Since ancient times, corals served as amulets protecting from all kinds of misfortune. Such use stemmed from its red color, an attribute worthy of rulers. Corals symbolized wealth and power. People credited them with protective properties and believed that they kept negative energy away. Children's pendants and bracelets were particularly popular, as they were supposed to protect the youngest from diseases and hazards.