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Red Coral: An Organic Gem With a Life of Its Own
Italian red coral has an appeal that transcends the ordinary love we have for a beautiful gemstone. While Coral shares the same natural roots as other untreated gems, Coral along with Ivory and Pearl have a unique distinction of being organic, part of a living entity, whose vary life and all that it entailed has a dramatic impact on the look and feel of each individual gem.
What we call Coral and what many may think of as just pretty rocks from the bottom of the sea is really what remains of tiny tube shaped sea creatures called Coral polyps. Millions of Coral polyps build their shells each year on the abandoned shells of other polyps creating the lovely Coral branches and beautiful reefs that we are so familiar with, especially those off Australia, Florida and Italy.
Unfortunately, Coral reefs are one of the most endangered ecosystems on the planet today. Threatened by destructive fishing methods, pollution and warming ocean waters, the commercial harvesting of Coral has been regulated for decades by an international treaty signed and enforced by almost 200 nations. In the United States the federal Fish and Wildlife Service requires a permit for the commercial importation of Coral and many endangered species may not be brought into the country for commercial use.
The Coral industry has existed for thousands of years in towns dotted along the Mediterranean shoreline from Naples Italy to Marseille France and the most highly regarded Coral on the market today is the deep red variety harvested in the deep waters off Italy. In ancient times a number of cites surrounding Mt. Vesuvius were know for their Coral work and even today, the town of Torre del Greco, a flourishing city on the Gulf of Naples near the ancient towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum has rebuilt itself, after being nearly destroyed by the 1794 eruption, to become a world center for coral and cameo manufacturing.
Unfortunately, the supply of natural Mediterranean red Coral has been diminishing for years, and divers are going deeper and deeper, often times at great risk to themselves, in at attempt to keep up with demand. While the supply of red Coral is limited, the market for all kinds of Coral in the United States is thriving. Apparently enough material still exists to fuel the current demand for Italian Red Coral and Pacific Pink Coral. However, the supply is being rapidly depleted and many nations including Italy and Japan are placing restrictions on the amount of material that can be harvested each year. In the meantime, dealer stockpiles of premium older material still exist and the looming shortage is driving up the prices of all Coral product very quickly, especially the high end Italian Red.
The increasing value of Coral is driven not only by its scarcity but a growing market demand driven by Coral's return to the fashion spotlight. There has been a strong renewal of interest in Coral as a rough, opaque and organic gemstone that provides a counterpoint to the refined and polished look of faceted gems. Coral can also be worn in many styles ranging from long strands of beads or branches, to carvings, cabochons or cameos and Native American jewelry oftentimes matches Coral with silver, turquoise and opal in truly beautiful statement pieces that can be absolutely breathtaking.
At retail, large strands of Red Coral beads or branches can run into the tens of thousands of dollars but individual specimens are often available for a few hundred dollars. In general, the price of Coral has been increasing by 15 - 20% a year and the price will only increase as the supply continues to shrink.
Red Coral has a timeless appeal, a beautiful talisman know the around the world and to this day, still in high demand as a natural, organic jewel that compliments the latest fashions and one that always looks great with a tan.
What we call Coral and what many may think of as just pretty rocks from the bottom of the sea is really what remains of tiny tube shaped sea creatures called Coral polyps. Millions of Coral polyps build their shells each year on the abandoned shells of other polyps creating the lovely Coral branches and beautiful reefs that we are so familiar with, especially those off Australia, Florida and Italy.
Unfortunately, Coral reefs are one of the most endangered ecosystems on the planet today. Threatened by destructive fishing methods, pollution and warming ocean waters, the commercial harvesting of Coral has been regulated for decades by an international treaty signed and enforced by almost 200 nations. In the United States the federal Fish and Wildlife Service requires a permit for the commercial importation of Coral and many endangered species may not be brought into the country for commercial use.
The Coral industry has existed for thousands of years in towns dotted along the Mediterranean shoreline from Naples Italy to Marseille France and the most highly regarded Coral on the market today is the deep red variety harvested in the deep waters off Italy. In ancient times a number of cites surrounding Mt. Vesuvius were know for their Coral work and even today, the town of Torre del Greco, a flourishing city on the Gulf of Naples near the ancient towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum has rebuilt itself, after being nearly destroyed by the 1794 eruption, to become a world center for coral and cameo manufacturing.
Unfortunately, the supply of natural Mediterranean red Coral has been diminishing for years, and divers are going deeper and deeper, often times at great risk to themselves, in at attempt to keep up with demand. While the supply of red Coral is limited, the market for all kinds of Coral in the United States is thriving. Apparently enough material still exists to fuel the current demand for Italian Red Coral and Pacific Pink Coral. However, the supply is being rapidly depleted and many nations including Italy and Japan are placing restrictions on the amount of material that can be harvested each year. In the meantime, dealer stockpiles of premium older material still exist and the looming shortage is driving up the prices of all Coral product very quickly, especially the high end Italian Red.
The increasing value of Coral is driven not only by its scarcity but a growing market demand driven by Coral's return to the fashion spotlight. There has been a strong renewal of interest in Coral as a rough, opaque and organic gemstone that provides a counterpoint to the refined and polished look of faceted gems. Coral can also be worn in many styles ranging from long strands of beads or branches, to carvings, cabochons or cameos and Native American jewelry oftentimes matches Coral with silver, turquoise and opal in truly beautiful statement pieces that can be absolutely breathtaking.
At retail, large strands of Red Coral beads or branches can run into the tens of thousands of dollars but individual specimens are often available for a few hundred dollars. In general, the price of Coral has been increasing by 15 - 20% a year and the price will only increase as the supply continues to shrink.
Red Coral has a timeless appeal, a beautiful talisman know the around the world and to this day, still in high demand as a natural, organic jewel that compliments the latest fashions and one that always looks great with a tan.
Submitted on: May 29, 2009 @ 9:36am
Tuesday 
