Corals

Three cheers for the diva of the seas! Corals develop exclusively on the bottom of the seas. Colonies of the smallest polyps create coralline branch-like structures that grow to a size of 5 to 30 centimeters, but only at a pace of 2 to 8 millimeters per year.

Among the many different coral types only a few are apt for jewelry production. One of these few types is the red coral, which has been used for jewelry manufacturing since prehistory and has ever since enchanted its beholders.

Corals convey an indescribably warm feeling of Mediterranean joie de vivre. They shine in different hues of red that resemble a sunset at the seaside, in the soft pink of the angel skin coral, the lush red of the Sardegna and the intensive dark red of the Moro.

 

Not by chance an old legend has it that a coral is born when the setting sun touches the horizon of the sea. The red coral, corallium rubrum, is photophobic and lives in depths of 2 to 280 meters exclusively in the shade, in caves, and beneath overhangs. It feeds on plankton. It is found in the Western and Central Mediterranean sea, the adjacent eastern Atlantic Ocean, Taiwan and Japan. For more than 200 years the main trading center for coral jewelry manufacturing has been Torre del Greco, south of Naples. Here more than three quarters of the global harvest of corals are processed.

 

Coral criteria

– Red corals are non-porous.
– In their natural state they are lackluster, when polished they shine like glass.
– Inferior quality like the foam coral is made of obviously porous material.
– Corals are sensitive to heat, acids, and hot baths.
– The color may fade during wear. Therefore please wipe the corals after wear with a soft cloth and store it in a jewelry box. Thus you will enjoy your coral jewelry for a long time to come.

When water warms up too much, or when the salinity of water changes, algae begin to produce toxins. The algae are repelled and the corals die. The white chalk remains and coral bleaching is the result.

For many decades man has tried to counteract the destruction of coral reefs. Coral exploitation by divers is more suitable for preserving biodiversity and is strictly controlled. Therefore we recommend purchasing corals exclusively in reputable stores that lay emphasis on certification and proof of origin and thus appreciate the beauty and rareness of corals.