SOURCES AND COLORS
The octocorallia coral that is used for gem purpose is harvested from three main
areas- the Mediterranean Sea; Japan and Taiwan; and Hawaii and Midway. The size,
color, and quality of the raw material vary widely between these sources. Differences
in the natural environment cause each type of coral to have different characteristics. |
| |
 |
Weight:0.99g
Size(mm):L11.8 xW11.6 xD5.23
Bleached
US$40 |
|
 |
Weight:0.72g
Size(mm):L11.9 xW7.9 xD5.27
Untreated
US$300 |
|
| |
Mediterranean Sea
The history of coral begins with coral
from the Mediterranean. Mediterranean
Sea coral is of the type corallium
rubrum, a valuable, crimson-red
coral. While its tone may vary, it
is always red. This coral is easy to
process because of its even color distribution,
but it comes in limited sizes and appears
in the market mostly as beads, cabochons,
and buttons. The Mediterranean Sea
coral pictured here is a deep red coral
that is also called "ox blood." |
|
Japan
Taiwan
This coral provides colors such as peach and angel skin that can be called the
essence of coral. On top of this, raw branches can exceed lengths of one meter
(39inches) and may weigh more than ten kilograms (22lbs), surpassing coral from
other sources
as far as size is concerned. Red and white material covering a wide range of
tone levels also is harvested from Japan and Taiwan. Since the early 20th century,
this coral was exported to Italy in its raw from and used as a component of jewelry,
but its heavily mottled red and pink colors make it a difficult material to process.
Many coral sculptures that take advantage of this material's size were created
in Japan and Taiwan. |
| |
 |
Weight:15.37g
Size(mm):Dia.22
Untreated
US$2,500 |
|
| |
 |
Weight:1.64g
Size(mm):L16.0 xW12.0 xD5.46
Untreated
US$25 |
|
| |
Hawaii Midway
In the 1960s, gem-quality coral was discovered
at depths of 350 to 400 meters (1,150-1,300
feet) in the waters around Midway Island.
While, peach, and mixtures of these colors
were harvested, as well as beautiful
colors similar to angel skin. Some of
the coral in these waters are harvested
from depths of 2,000 meters (6,500 feet).
Small pieces of coral from Hawaii/Midway
have a dark color, but as the pieces
get larger they take on a pink color
and show stripes, eventually assuming
an appearance of many red spots scattered
on a pink background (as shown in the
photograph). Large pieces also tend to
fracture more severely. |
|
 |
JUDGING QUALITY
The main quality considerations for coral
beads and cabochons are shape, the presence
of pits or fractures, and the degree of color
mottling. From the standpoint of shape, the
quality of beads is judged by whether they
are perfectly spherical or not. For cabochons,
on the other hand, the balance of the outline
or silhouette and the height of the cabochone
are important considerations. The presence
of pits and fractures is a fatal flaw, but
no pieces are totally free from color mottling
or spotting. As long as these do not detract
from beauty when viewed with the unaided
eye, quality can be judged according to the
overall balance of the piece.
Beauty grade S on the quality scale represents
material that is truly rare. At best, it
accounts for only ten percent of all gem-quality
material, which in turn represents only one
percent of all coral. Pieces exceeding 10
millimeters (0.39 inch) are especially rare.
Strictly speaking, every piece of coral created
by nature is different, each with its own
unique character. As long as fractures and
color mottling are not serious flaws, they
might even be thought of as evidence of the
uniqueness of each piece. Creating a market
environment where a degree of pitting and
fracturing is permitted is a priority in
the world of coral jewelry.
It is important that the beads in necklaces
match in overall color and size, and that
the drill holes for stringing are precisely
centered. |
