CORAL

Organic gemstones derived from marine invertebrate skeletons, primarily composed of calcium carbonate found in various coral species, are highly valued in jewelry despite not being minerals. These coral varieties include: Precious Corals like Red, Pink, and Orange (Corallium deep-sea-coral), known for their dense, fine-grained texture and glossy finish when polished; Black Coral, which features a proteinaceous skeleton ranging from jet-black to dark brown, ideal for durable carvings and beads; Blue Coral (Heliopora coerulea), recognized for its blue-gray aragonite often stabilized for jewelry making; White Coral, available in milky to creamy hues with “angel skin” variants, commonly bleached or dyed; and Tube or Bamboo Coral, characterized by segmented tubular structures from both deep and shallow marine coral species.