• Closure: Hook

• Chain style: Bead

• Necklace length: 20.5 Inches

Coral is the external skeleton of a tiny, plant-like marine animal called the coral polyp. The structures that result from generations of these creatures growing as colonies on top of each other can be quite massive. Since time immemorial, coral has been used for carvings, cabochons, and other jewelry pieces.

There are two types of coral:
1. Calcareous corals: composed primarily of calcite and come in whites, reds, and pinks.
2. Conchiolin corals: composed of conchiolin, the same substance found in pearls and other shells, and come in black, brown, and gold colors.

The conchiolin type is tougher and less brittle than the calcareous type.

Calcareous corals have wavy, fibrous structures, cavities from polyps, and high spot birefringence.

Conchiolin corals have a concentric, circular growth pattern ("tree rings") and show white crescents in cross sections of branches.
-gemsociety.org

*Gold coral (bleached) tube necklace with gold filled filigree clasp

NO BS CUSTOM JEWELRY