Coral, the "red gold" of the Mediterranean
With its shades ranging from deep red and pink to orange and white, the coral immediately makes you think of summer and the sea, the environment from which it comes. Appreciated since the times of ancient Greece, it has always been attributed almost supernatural virtues: for the ancient Romans it was a talisman to wish a happy life to newborns, for the pagans an instrument to defend themselves from the evil eye and from envy, for the Christians a ornament for sacred reliquaries, because its red color represented the blood of Christ.
It is still widely used in jewelry today, although it is not actually a stone. What exactly is coral and why is it so prized and precious?
What is coral
It is not a mineral, as we have said, but neither is it a vegetable, as it was believed for a long time due to its branched structure, which makes it look like a plant. Corals belong to the animal kingdom: they are in fact small polyps that live in colonies and can create a common skeleton. Coral reefs are real ecosystems, made up of different types of corals, in which thousands of species of fish, molluscs, crustaceans and other animal and plant species live, such as algae.
As underlined by Assocoral, the association of coral producers, it is important to point out that the coral used in jewelry does not come from coral reefs, protected by very strict laws which prohibit the removal of the corals. Furthermore, these species would not be suitable for processing anyway, because they are too brittle.
Where it is: from the Mediterranean to Japan
Only 5 species are used for the manufacturing of the jewels, one originating from the Mediterranean and the other four from the Pacific Ocean, in particular from Japan.
Il Corallium rubrum, with its typical red color, is found throughout the Mediterranean up to 200 meters deep and the typical red color, with different shades depending on the area in which it lives. One of the most valuable varieties is that of Alghero, in Sardinia, so much so that the area is also called the Coral Riviera. The Sardinian city has been the capital of coral fishing since the early 1900s, which is regulated by the Sardinia Region and allowed only to a small number of authorized underwater fishermen. Greek's tower, near Naples, has instead been the world capital of coral processing since the 1700s.
The other four species are said Japanese coral and fish inPacific Ocean, up to 1500 meters deep.
Pendant with pink gold coral and diamonds, signed DAVERIO1933
All shades from red to white
The color of corals depends on where they are collected.
Il red, as we have seen, is typical of the Mediterranean species, which however can take on different shades: in the Sciacca area, in Sicily, there are orange shades which are given by underground volcanoes; elsewhere very small quantities of pink coral have been found.
Even among the Japanese species there are red ones, with different shades compared to the Mediterranean one, while other varieties have orange shades. coral pink and that White they always come from the Pacific Ocean.
How to clean and care for coral jewelry
For cleaning, just use a soft cloth, without detergents or anything else.
The basic rules always apply jewelry care: wear them only after having absorbed and dried creams, cosmetics and perfumes and remove them before bathing or showering, to prevent shower gel or shampoo from damaging them. Most importantly, don't wear coral to the beach or pool, as salt and chlorine could discolor it.
How to recognize real coral
It is not uncommon to find jewelery in fake coral: in most cases the so-called "coral bamboo" is used, a white marine plant which is then colored to imitate the real one. Other materials used are coral paste and roots, created with glass paste, plastic or porcelain.
False corals often have a too intense and artificial colour, but it is not always easy to recognize them. The best solution is always to contact an expert gemologist, who will be able to correctly evaluate the jewels and discover any counterfeits.