What color is natural coral?

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.

Colours

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 and 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.

Jewelry with coral: where to buy

Coral jewelry is periodically available on the website and in MIUZ Diamonds branded stores. For example, you can order a necklace with this interesting material. Follow the updates on our website so as not to miss new jewelry items.

Coral analogues

Synthetic Gilson coral and colored bambu coraloid can be classified as coral analogues. And various materials are counterfeited – from plastic to ceramics.

How to distinguish real coral from fake

Coral is synthesized in various ways. The main thing is that the synthesized material is as similar as possible to the original. Most often, only a specialist can distinguish synthetic coral from real coral. Upgrading coral usually comes down to impregnation (filling cracks), including with dyes. The simplest fakes and imitations: plastic, glass, porcelain, bone, polymer clay, synthetic Gilson coral, pressed chips. For example, a glass imitation will give itself away immediately: if you see small bubbles, this is a fake. Real coral can be easily distinguished from plastic using a heated needle: the plastic will begin to melt and a black dot will appear at the heating site; nothing will happen to the natural sample. How else can you determine authenticity? Natural coral, unlike fake coral, has an amazing pattern reminiscent of growth rings on trees. The color of synthetic Gilson coral, created from calcite powder with silica, will be very even and evenly distributed over the entire surface. In addition, synthetics are denser and do not have a pattern. Whereas real coral always has color transitions and a characteristic mesh pattern, similar to the texture of a wood cut. It’s easy to see under a magnifying glass. You can identify fake polymer clay and porcelain at home by dropping one drop of a weak vinegar solution onto the sample. A real coral, consisting of calcite with impurities, will begin to react to alkali; a fake of inorganic origin will not react with vinegar. To determine whether a sample has been colored, you need to immerse it in plain water for 2 hours and see if its color changes. Common and inexpensive white corals are most often used for tinting. Natural coral will never stain water, and painted imitations may even leave marks on the skin in the heat. If we talk about coral beads and necklaces, then you should pay attention to the holes in the beads: when drilling, microcracks remain in natural coral.

Coral in astrology and its magical properties

Coral is considered a talisman for travelers. This stone is suitable for passionate and emotional natures. They believe that jewelry with coral makes its owner more attractive to the opposite sex and fills it with confidence. He is able to revive cooled feelings and rekindle love. Earrings or beads with red corals awaken energy in a person, relieve lethargy and apathy. Pink coral brings happiness, helps to build a new life, makes the owner softer and more feminine, while white coral harmonizes. It is recommended to wear such jewelry for zodiac signs such as Pisces, Capricorn and Scorpio. But coral is not contraindicated for other signs either. https://miuz.ru/guide/stones/jewelrystones/korall/ Coral in jewelry 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 a bizarre appearance. Corals are considered one of the popular “stones” among jewelers. As popularity increases, so does the number of fakes. There are a lot of imitations of coral:
1. Howlite – a gray mineral with dark veins. The natural shade of the stone is not very attractive, but it is easy to paint. When colored red, it looks a bit like coral. Imitations from howlite are found in Russia, but are not common abroad. 2. Neolithic is a mixture of aluminum hydroxide and copper phosphate. The result is uneven rounded blocks with veins. When painted red, it imitates red coral. It can be impregnated with wax to hide polishing defects. Massive colored beads very vaguely resemble coral. 3. Plastic dyeing – crude fakes of coral. It is quite easy to distinguish from natural coral – plastic imitations are immediately noticeable. 4. Pressed coral shavings with added plastics, painted. Sold in kiosks and jewelry stores. Does not last long and fades quickly. 5. The most successful imitation of coral was developed in France by P. Gilson. When creating, natural calcite and dye are used. Artificial coral is created under high pressure. This method can produce corals of the following colors: light pink, red, white, pale yellow, oxblood, champagne, pink-orange. Externally, the imitation is similar to natural stone, but has a lower density, is more porous, and contains impurities and artificial additives. The price of artificial coral is much cheaper than natural coral.

How to spot fake coral

Natural coral can be distinguished from imitation coral by its appearance: natural coral should have visible stripes, a little like annual rings on a tree cut. rice. Parallel growth lines on the surface of a white coral bead A fake Neolithic or howlite can be easily recognized by its high specific gravity when picked up. They are both cold stones, coral is warm.
You can recognize pressed coral if you look at it carefully: it is made up of many pieces.
It is very easy to distinguish a fake made of plastic by its appearance. In addition, you can touch it with a hot needle, and you will smell the smell of burnt plastic.
Synthetic Gilson coral does not have the subtle striped pattern seen on natural coral. Synthetics are smooth and homogeneous.
You can carefully examine the place where the hole for the thread is located: here the coral should have the same tone as the outside, and a fake stone may have a gray surface. rice. Dyed Bamboo coralloid beads with lighter center One of the easiest ways to distinguish the calcite that coral is made from from another stone is to drop a drop of hydrochloric or acetic acid. Calcite will fizz upon contact with acid. However, both natural coral, pressed coral, and Gilson coral are composed of calcite, and their reaction to acid will be the same.
To determine whether the color of the coral is of high quality, you need to immerse the jewelry in hot water. The water will be colored if it is a poor-quality imitation. It also leaves marks on the skin, especially if worn on hot days. If the fake is very cheap, the paint in water may come off completely.
If the imitation is done well, it will not be painted; jewelry with synthetic corals also looks impressive and is very inexpensive. But the quality of natural coral is many times superior to any imitations.
Most often, natural coral will have a noticeable texture on the surface that is not removed by staining and polishing. Carefully inspect the coral before purchasing. This way you can distinguish natural samples from synthetic and pressed fakes. It is worth noting that at the moment almost all natural corals on the market for jewelry materials are colored red, pinkish, orange and more exotic shades of blue, yellow, green or bleached to a milky white hue.