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Coral Beads
Coral beads are made from calcium carbonate built up by the skeletal material left by dead members of coral colonies in the sea. Coral comes in a wide range of natural colors, but can also be dyed, providing even more options for jewelry applications. These semiprecious beads appears dull and matte when unfinished, but gain a beautiful gloss when polished. Coral is softer, more fragile and more porous than other gemstone materials, so store it carefully to avoid scratches and blows. Cosmetics, chemicals, hot water and bright sunlight can damage coral jewelry components. To clean coral beads, wipe them gently with a moist soft cloth.
Although some research shows that jewelry coral does not come from endangered reefs, we find this research dubious due to the fact that many types of formerly plentiful coral, are no longer seen on the market. We do not actively purchase new coral beads, but occasionally run across old stock that we buy and add to our website.
Apple coral beads (Limited Stock / not always available) are cut from stabilized red sponge coral. Like all sponge corals, apple coral features visible pores (like a sponge) when polished. While apple sponge coral is naturally a dark brick red, red dye is sometimes added to the stabilizing resin when these semiprecious beads are made. These coral jewelry components might lighten with exposure to heat or extended direct sunlight. Coral is among the most ancient of gemstone materials, used for adornment since prehistoric times. Coral inlays and ornaments have been found in Celtic tombs from the Iron Age (500 B.C.-400 A.D.). In ancient China, red coral was a symbol of wealth, favor and high social status. Coral is one of the seven treasures in Buddhist scriptures, and Tibetan lamas make rosaries with coral beads. Peach bamboo coral beads (Limited Stock / not always available) most likely achieve their quintessentially pleasant and peachy coral hue from an oil dye applied to natural bamboo coral. Bamboo coral grows in segmented branches that resemble bamboo stalks, with beige or light brown sections covering a black underlayer. Be sure to check these dyed semiprecious beads for colorfastness. We recommend washing the beads in warm soapy water, then blotting them dry with paper towels. Repeat until no dye transfers from the gemstone beads to the paper towels. Coral is among the most ancient gemstone materials used for adornment, and coral beads are an important component in Tibetan rosaries.
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