When the word coral is mentioned today, many people first think of the colorful and threatened coral reefs off the coasts of various continents. But it is not this protected, fascinating underwater world that is used for jewelry processing, but only the hard, precious coral.
Despite its partly plant-like appearance, coral is a living organism, one of the oldest on our planet. Countless millimeter-sized coral animals, called polyps, form huge colonies. They are the builders of the coral and create the coveted material piece by piece through their metabolism. After a certain period of time, the coral animals leave the home they have built over many decades. Through harvesting, this underwater jewel is preserved and does not crumble back into sand on the seabed.
Why is coral so precious?
They grow very slowly and are very sensitive. Good conditions such as calm, unpolluted sea water with a relatively high salt content and a water temperature between 10 and 29 degrees Celsius are the prerequisites for their growth.
It is estimated that young coral colonies grow between 4 and 8 millimeters in length and increase in diameter by around 1.5 millimeters annually. Even if all factors are perfect, precious coral takes time, a lot of time.
Where do the corals come from?
The precious coral is divided into four different types depending on the country of origin and size. But most precious corals are grown in... Mediterranean and Pacific as well as near Taiwan and Japan found. The color palette ranges from ruby red to orange and, increasingly rarely, soft pink to white.
90 percent of all harvested worldwide Red precious corals come from the coast, the city Torre del Greco on the Gulf of Naples . The red Mediterranean coral (Corralium rubrum) has a particularly beautiful medium to dark red color and is particularly easy to work with because of its hardness. They do not have any white spots, unlike corals from the Pacific. They are found at depths of 3-300 meters.
Protection of coral
Since July 1, 2008, the precious coral and its four subgroups have been included in the Washington Agreement. This agreement controls and protects both mining and trade. On the one hand, this also secures the population and enables ecologically sound mining and trading of corals. On the other hand, illegal overexploitation and smuggling are stopped. This means we can ensure 100 percent of the value of real, untreated corals .
Of course, we also attach great importance to the processing of ecologically harmless raw materials. This is what our bracelets from the Cora collection are like Made with white and red coral from controlled mining.
Caring for corals
Corals are naturally matt , only when polished do they gain their shine and reveal their full splendor of color.
As sensitive as corals are to differences in water temperature and environmental pollution in the sea, they also react sensitively when worn. If possible, you should not expose the jewelry to direct contact with cosmetics, hairspray, perfumes, etc. or to excessive heat . After wearing, the jewelry should be cleaned with a soft cloth and mild soap.
Over time and despite good care, the surface of the coral can become damaged and dull, but it can be polished up again at any time and shines again.
It wasn't just ancient people who were captivated by the fascination of coral. Also We are thrilled with the fresh color nuances and find that it is an indispensable accessory as a summer companion as well as the warm autumn tones.
Author: Nicole Braun