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coral, these vibrant semi translucent to opaque gemstones, have been objects for adornment from prehistoric times. A coral unlike most other gemstones is actually the skeletal remains of marine polyps. The polyps are surrounded by a fleshy skin and excrete a carbonic substance from which the coral grows like trees and branches. This happens in the warm waters of the ocean at depths of around 10 to 500 feet where various coral species survive. In some places saltwater corals also exist.
The hard skeleton of red coral branches is naturally matte, but can be polished to a glassy shine. It exhibits a range of warm reddish pink colors from pale pink to deep red; the word coral is also used to name such colors. A coral, therefore, like a pearl, can be categorized as an organic gem material..
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Coral Set of Queen Farida of Egypt
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History &
General
Information
on Coral
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Coral is among the most ancient of gem materials, used for adornment since prehistoric times. Coral inlays and ornaments have been found in Celtic tombs from the Iron Age around 3000 B.C. For almost 2000 years, the Romans used the coral gemstone extensively and made it popular. It's also 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 you wear. Always effective complementing black, white, brown, and khaki shades, coral is unforgettable when worn with other strong colors.
The name coral however comes from the Greek 'korallion', which denotes the hard, calcareous skeleton of the coral animals, or from 'kura-halos', for 'mermaid', as the fine branches of the coral sometimes look like small figures.
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In India, this gem is known by various names like mangal, moonga and pavlam. This gemstone is one of the Navagraha stones (stones that represent the nine planets that have a cosmic influence on all earthlings) and represents Mars (Mangal). It is related to attributes like courage, initiative, vitality, vigor, aggression. Coral has a special significance in Indian astrology and has found mention in ancient Indian Vedic Literature. It is one of the many starts that have an important place in the study of star signs. It is considered a sacred bead to be used in the mangalsutras.
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Coral Harvesting
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Coral Astology Ring
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Fragile Coral trees were once brought to the surface by means of drag nets. But today, the harvesters use more environmentally sound methods: deep-sea divers collect the branches by hand. In the next step, the pieces are cleaned, sorted, and sawed into pieces. Most coral is set into inlays, beads, carvings, or cabochon shapes.
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Coral in Ornaments
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Corals are usually cut into spherical and barrel shaped beads and cabochons. It is also carved into figures and statues. Thin branches of coral are usually polished, pierced and used unaltered in jewelry.
Coral roses (roses carved into corals) are very popular and are often used in gold jewelry too. 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.
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Physical Properties and Chemical Composition
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The basic composition of this gem is calcium carbonate (CaCO3) in the form of fibrous calcite accompanied by around 3 percent magnesium carbonate (MgCO3), organic matter and traces of iron. It is a semi-translucent to opaque material. The specific gravity is 2.65 and refractive index ranges between 1.486 and 1.658. It`s hardness on the Mohs scale is 3.5 to 4.
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How to detect genuiness of coral
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When a drop of hydrochloric acid is put on a coral it shows a strong effervescence (bubbling of acid on the surface) due to the reaction that hydrochloric acid has with calcium carbonate. This is one method that is used to distinguish it from plastic, glass or other non-calcium carbonate material.
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Caring for Coral
Their beauty can easily be impaired by the wrong treatment, for example cosmetics, hot water or bright light. Coral jewelry should be kept in a safe place and from time to timecleaned with a soft, damp towel. If the surface of the coral does get scratched, the jeweler can have it re-polished.
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Trivia
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• Corals are sensitive to heat and acids and may fade with wear.
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• The two biogenic precious gemstones, coral and pearl, although drastically different in appearance, are chemically very similar. Both are mostly calcium carbonate deposited by marine invertebrates
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• In Hindu astrology red coral is associated with the planet Mars or Graha-Mangala and used for pleasing Mars. It should be worn in the ring finger.
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Decorative table tops in white coral
Please share
s.s.venkateshwar
Andaman And Nicobar Islands
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