Introduction

Precious (red) coral is one of the few organic gemstones, found in tropical and semitropical waters. Coral comes in colours from red to pale pink hues, and can be found in jewellery from thousands of years ago. Usually coral is carved, cut as cabochons and beads, or used as inlays in jewellery, to best show off it’s colour.

Coral is now an endangered species, and while farming of coral continues, at Kojis we only sell coral in antique and vintage pieces.

Coral is often inlaid into jewellery, as in these vintage earrings.

Wear & Care

Coral is a soft gem and should be treated with the utmost care. It reaches 3.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, and is susceptable to heat changes and light. Always keep your coral jewellery in a dry, room temperature place, out of direct sunlight and not touching other jewellery.

To clean coral use a soft cloth and wipe it down. Do not use soap, or a brush. If the coral needs a more thorough clean, dampen the cloth slightly and dry the coral well after.

If in doubt, please feel free to Contact Us, and our gem experts can advise you.

This Pre-Columbian necklace decorated with coral beads dates back to 1400 AD.

History

Coral jewellery has been used decoratively since prehistoric times. Coral jewellery has been found in ancient Egyptian and prehistoric European burials, and the ancient Greeks believed coral had the power to counteract witchcraft and protect against storms, poisons and robbery. Coral was particularly popular in Victorian jewellery, mostly hailing from the Mediterranean with a prized blush colour, known as ‘Angel Skin’.

Metaphysical Beliefs

Coral has always been highly prized as a substance believed to be endowed with mysterious sacred properties. The belief in coral's potency as a charm continued throughout the Middle Ages and early in 20th century. It is often worn as protection from the evil eye, and as a cure for infertility in women.