Coral Beads

Coral beads are not made from a mineral, but rather from a material composed of tiny spineless animals called coral polyps whose sedemented bodies become coral reefs. Coral is calcium carbonate (limestone.)

Coral beads have been used in jewelry making since prehistoric times. Most coral beads on the market today come from either the Mediterranean Sea or the Southern Pacific Ocean. A ban on coral exports from the Philippines, once the leading world coral supplier, caused a shift in the export markets, with Indonesia emerging as the largest supplier in the 1990s. Since 1995, coral exports from Fiji, Mozambique, Taiwan, and Tonga have increased. Sixty four other nations also export live and dead coral. The leading consumers of coral are Japan and the United States, where it is used in jewelry making, aquariam decor, and curios.

Coral is the gem for the 35th marriage anniversary in Western cultures.

Coral colors range from white to pink to red or blue. Almost all coral on the market today is dyed. It is often mated with turquoise or hematite gemstone beads, or with freshwater pearls.

Although most jewelry supplies include some coral, there are some governmental controls to limit its exportation. A special permit, issued by the country of origin, is required to export coral in any form. This is caused by concerns for the environmental impact of coral collection. Sponge coral is not an endangered species of coral, neither is bamboo coral, pink coral, or gold coral.

common treatments: usually dyed

special care: avoid exposure to abrasion and impact or extreme temperature changes

hardness: 3