Coral Stone

Coral is among the most ancient of gem materials, used for adornment since prehistoric times. It's the height of fashion today; its bold tones, so flattering against the skin, add a modern shot of strong color that adds drama to everything one wear. Always effective complementing black, white, brown, and khaki shades, coral is unforgettable when worn with other strong colors.

Coral was long thought to be a powerful talisman that could stop bleeding, protect from evil spirits, and ward off hurricanes. The ancient belief in the protective and invigorating powers of coral lives on in the traditional present of red coral necklaces for small children. Coral is one of the seven treasures in Buddhist scriptures and Tibetan Lamas use coral rosaries.

The most valuable colors of coral are red, black, and pale pink, which is known as angel skin coral. Good quality Coral has an even color and has no fissures, spots, bands or cavities. Since genuine untreated Coral is rare, it is valuable. As an organic gem, coral is softer than other gem materials and should be stored away from other gemstones to prevent scratches.