Coral beads - an ornament created by nature

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Natural coral is an organic compound composed of calcium carbonate, magnesium impurities and iron oxide. It grows very slowly - about seven centimeters per year. Shallow water corals are found at a depth of about three meters, while deep sea corals can be located at a depth of more than three hundred meters. Despite this, they are successfully mined in the required volumes.

The color of corals depends on the amount and composition of organic compounds. The most common are white, pink and red. Porous corals are much cheaper than deep sea corals. Black coral is considered the most valuable.

Researchers and experts say that in nature there are more than 3,500 varieties of corals with 350 shades. But do not think that all of them are used to make jewelry. Most of them serve as raw materials for lime production. Jewelers especially appreciate black coral, which is mined in India and China, mother-of-pearl silver (“angel skin”) and white. most popular andnoble reds and pinks are commonly used.

Unfortunately, the high price of natural corals often leads to counterfeiting. Most often on sale you can find plastic beads “under the coral” or tinted, but inexpensive stone. Be careful when buying! Plastic or colored glass is colder, heavier and harder than coral.

Bracelets and beads made of coral are turned - in this case, the product is carefully selected from small pieces. In addition, they can be pressed. Usually this method is used to make large round products.

Coral beads have been an adornment since ancient times. Pink coral particles are found by archaeologists during excavations of Paleolithic burials. The ancient Greeks were convinced that pink coral brings happiness and longevity, removes misfortune from a person and makes him wiser. In Europe in the Middle Ages, coral beads were considered a symbol of purity. The Indians of Mexico to this day believe that such decoration can ward off evil spirits that cause fever.

Corals are shrouded in many legends, folk beliefs and signs. It has long been believed that coral beads completely relieve headaches and sore throats. And for travelers, such decorations are simply necessary, because they protect their owner from natural disasters and violence.

Jewelers really appreciate corals and love to work with them. Coral beads are a classic of jewelry, although you can often find bracelets, rings, earrings. Often realpieces of jewelry art with coral inserts.

Today the most famous coral center is Torro del Greco, an Italian town near Naples. Here you can buy corals both in their natural form and as original souvenirs - in the form of decoration on intricate boxes and dishes. And, of course, this city has a huge selection of coral jewelry.

Coral beads (photos above) are one of the most popular jewelry. Coral plantations are being destroyed much faster than they can grow. Every year it becomes more and more difficult to buy products from valuable deep-sea coral. There are more and more fakes. And in the mid-70s of the last century, artificially grown corals appeared - the brainchild of the Swiss company Pierre Gilson.