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Coral silver jewelry Designs a Rainbow of Red Rose Pink white Blue and Black Gemstones   by Pushpinder Marjarap

Corals make very interesting pieces of jewellery. After being extracted from the sea, corals are processed until they become suitable for different silver jewelry designs in the form of rings, necklaces, bangles, broaches and other accessories. The processing first starts with polishing, which is when corals obtain their distinctive gloss. At this point, quality coral jewellery is inspected to make sure that the surface is not scratched or pocked with cavities. Smaller pieces are shaped into oval, round or egg shaped beads that are used in rosaries, necklaces and bracelets. Coral is also perfect for carving and is also made into striking earrings, pillboxes, brooches, inlaid jewellery boxes, pendants and even cuff links.

Corals are the skeletal remains of a marine animal and are mainly composed of calcium carbonate. Throughout history, coral jewellery was prized as it was long thought to be a powerful talisman that could stop bleeding, protect from evil spirits, and ward off hurricanes. Its use in jewellery even predates the later use of pearls.

Coral is found in still waters that are clear and at depth ranging from three to three hundred meters. It is usually found along the shores of the western Mediterranean, Japan, the Red Sea, Hawaii, Australia, the Bay of Biscay, the Canary Islands and the Malaysian Archipelago. However, Italy is regarded as the center of coral jewellery making and the traditional center for the most fashionable coral jewelry designs is Torre del Greco, near Naples.

The concentration and quality of the color of a coral enhances with the depth. In fact, the color of coral ranges from white to red. Each coral gemstone color has its own distinct quality. The red coral is the costliest. It is usually found in the sandy bed of the Mediterranean, as well as the Gulf of Naples. Precious or Noble Coral is a variety of red coral known as Corallium Nobile or Corallium Rubrum. Black Coral is prone to carving and shaping, owing to the fact that it becomes malleable when it is warmed. Blue Coral, also called Akori or Allopora Subviolacea is found off the coast of Cameroon whereas Golden coral is found off the coast of Maui, in Hawaii and is famous for its resinous or glossy surface.

In fashion, a growing fad is to pair coral with turquoise. To bring out the color of your coral jewellery, you might want to try turquoise with black matrix as well. The brown-yellowish color of the golden coral found in Hawaii is a perfect complement to any earth tone outfit. Red coral beads are also quite popular in necklace designs.

Since corals are delicate gems, they should be taken care of properly. To clean coral jewellery, wipe it gently with a moist soft cloth. Don't clean any type of coral jewellery with gloss as it will take away its gloss. When storing coral necklaces, rings, pendants, brooches or any other type of coral accessories, make sure you wrap it in a piece of cloth to protect it from scratches. Coral is also porous so you should avoid the use of any chemicals when cleaning it. It should also be mentioned that coral jewels cannot withstand heat and direct sunlight.

About the Author

Pushpinder Marjara is a gemstone jewellery dealer. With more than 30 years of experience in fine handcrafted sterling silver jewellery manufacturing and repairing. For more information about the latest trends in handcrafted gemstone jewellery, visit Gemguru jewelry collections which consist of over 5,000 impressive gemstone jewelry pieces including coral sterling silver jewellery with a large assortment of necklaces, earrings, pendants, bracelets and rings.