Red Coral stone (Pavalam stone) is an organic gem that comes with some rich flaming hues. These naturally vibrant, underwater beauties take over thousands of years to form thanks to coral polyps that leave a hard skeleton or sclera that is transformed into a gemstone. Symbolizing happiness and boosting love, these calcium carbonates pinkish-red statement gems improve energy, blood flow, and bone formation.
| Color: | Light pinks; oranges and deep reds are the colors of coral. |
|---|---|
| Finger: | Worn on the ring finger of the dominant hand, with the gemstone touching the body |
| Neck: | Worn as a pendant with the gemstone touching the body |
| Metal: | Yellow gold is the best choice for a powerful gemstone like Coral. |
| Zodiac Sign: | Aries and Scorpio (Vedic) Aries (Western) |
Offering liberation from fear and courage to deal with complex situations, it is believed these stunning reds offer “Manglik doshi” (bringing forward a compatible partner). Just like the gem's rich reds, the natural Red Coral represents the fiery planet Mars.
Found in warmer waters like France, Italy, Africa, Japan, and the Mediterranean coast, original red coral has been used in jewelry from the Roman and Victorian empires.
Red coral is considered the keeper of the planet mars creating the bridge between the wearer and the ill effects of the planet.
A good quality natural Coral has become an incredibly rare gemstone these days due to weather conditions, urbanization, treatments and synthetics available on the market. Certification is always suggested when buying a gemstone from beads, cameos and even cabochons as it often offers a clear visual on the quality and origin of the gemstone.
Color: The presence of carotenoids and proteins combine to form an array of colors that we find attractive, from pinks to reds being the most valuable and highly demanded colors, some natural corals also come in deep blackish browns, whites and blues.
Clarity: Being a natural and organic gemstone, inclusions are inevitable. Although gems with a smooth finish paired with no visible black inclusions are valuable.
Cut: Commonly corals are fashioned into cabochons to offer an opaque but smooth and glistening gem for rings, pendants and even brooches available in sizes from 3 to 12 carats. Unique pieces of jewelry also tend to use the natural coral dendritic formation to add dimension and character to jewelry.
Treatments: Pinkish orange, pinks and red corals are often dyed or treated with colored polymers to enhance the intensity of the color. Gemological testing makes it easy to detect this and must be mentioned on the certificate. Natural untreated corals have a different appearance and tend to show portions of uneven color in pits or cavities on the surface. Certification is key to understanding the gemstone you are investing in.
DID YOU KNOW:
Skilled artisans from Italy often carve red corals with natural bands present within, into unique Cameos for jewelry masterpieces.
Naturally a sofer gemstone, coral is a porous, organic gem that forms underwater and is a good choice for jewelry. Falling between 3-4 on Moh’s scale of hardness, these gems are soft indeed. However, when used in jewelry they are often impregnated with a wax, that makes them more resistant to wear and tear. Natural corals should not be exposed to harsh chemicals or scrubbers as it can wear away the wax that might eat into the gemstone.
The original Red coral stone price can be anywhere between INR 250($3) and INR 2500($31) per carat, depending on the nature of the treatment and the color of the gemstone.
Red coral is a popular choice for jewelry, one with minimal to no visible internal features, boasting a hue from pinks to oranges or a beautiful scarlet red. Smooth cabochon cut with minimal pits are also considered increasingly valuable and well-fashioned.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
The scarlet-colored gems are becoming incredibly scarce because of environmental factors from global warming, pollution, and leakages from chemical plants into the ocean, often leading to discoloration and bleaching of the earth’s natural coral reefs. It is imperative that we as a community step up to protect our environment and the oceans for both us and the animals that consider it home.
Caring for your Red Coral is imperative. Gemstones over time tend to attract dirt and grime and need an occasion bath.
A safe way to clean your Red Coral jewelry is:
Bowl is to catch gemstones that might come out of their setting but can be returned to the jeweler to be reset.
We do not recommend brushing, as it might create pits if the gemstone has been waxed.
Do not use any harsh chemicals or even soap.
Jewelry pieces set with enamel and kundan work should never be washed or put into an ultrasonic machine.
Offering Courage and freedom from fear, Coral is linked to the planet Mars.
