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Coral is one of the most important gemstones that ιis not a mineral but a product of the sea. Corals are marine organisms that excrete calcium carbonate, forming a hard skeleton that resembles a tree branch. Specific varieties of coral are used in jewellerry, that resembles but are not the same as the corals that create the famous coral reefs in the oceans.
In ancient Greece, there were several myths about corals, as it was quite widespread in the Greek seas. The name of the corals was "gorgonides" from the greek word for mermaids (gorgones). According to the myth, corals were formed from the blood of Medusa, who was one of the three mermaids. In Galicia, warriors decorated their weapons with corals, while Romans hung them on the necks of children to protect them from danger. Also in India, corals were considered strong deterrents to many dangers and were used in sacred ceremonies.
Significant coral deposits, that can be used in jewellery, exist today in the Red Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, Malaysia, Taiwan, Hawaii, Japan and elsewhere. Over time, the Mediterranean Sea and especially Italy had the largest volume of coral production and processing, with the Italian city of Torre del Greco, known as the "Coral City", occupying the prime spot in jewelry making since the 14th century. Nowadays, much of the production and processing is done in China.
In Greece, there are colonies of red coral in Astypalea, Halkidiki, Kalymnos, and other areas, but now coral is a protected species and its collection is forbidden, as is the case in other areas of the Mediterranean and all over the world.
Although red coral is the most famous and popular in jewelry, there are also white, beige, blue, pink (also known as angel skin), and even black corals. Corals are collected carefully by hand from the sea bottom (usually at depths of 3 to 30 meters), and cleaned and because their tint is matte, they are polished before they get the form we encounter in jewelry.
Coral is a soft material, on the Mohs scale it ranges between 3 and 4 and should be kept away from other precious stones that can scratch or otherwise alter its appearance. Due to its sensitivity, it is usually cut en cabochon.
Coral is one of the favorite gemstones of summer (along with turquoise) and impresses with impressive necklaces, necklaces, rings, and earrings. The lively and bright color of the red coral fits with all skin tones and is even more accentuated when combined with bright colors such as khaki, brown, black, and white. Combining your coral jewels with gold you can take off your style.
The Coral Museum is located in Naples, Italy, near the center of coral production and processing in the country. It's a small, private museum created by the Ascione jewelry house where jewelry and carvings mainly made of coral have been gathered. In addition, there are cameos and ivory and tortoise jewelry. Most of the exhibits date from 1800 to 1950. The most famous exhibit is probably the jewellery set of Queen Farida of Egypt manufactured by Ascione in 1938. The set consists of a necklace, a bracelet, and earrings.
