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Fossilized polyps form Black Coral. There are about 200 deep-sea species. Precious minerals form the sheer walls of the reefs. The dark skeleton of fossilized organic remains is used in jewelry making. Black coral jewelry is highly valued all over the world. The cost can reach tens of thousands of dollars.
Description of black corals
Description of the stone
In Greek, “coral” means “son of the sea.” Essentially, this is the skeleton of a polyp. Black coral looks like a small bush with fluffy branches. The stone does not transmit light and has a waxy shine. The second name of the mineral is Akkabar.
The stone is shrouded in myths and beliefs:
- When Perseus was able to cut off the head of the gorgon Medusa, the blood flowed in streams into the water, where it turned into coral;
- the Romans used it to treat wounds, as an antidote to snake and insect bites;
- in the Middle Ages it was a symbol of kindness, modesty, protection from evil spirits;
- in Rus' it personified a happy family life and was given as a wedding gift.
Black coral grows very slowly at a depth of more than 100 m or in a cave or grotto - it does not tolerate the light of the sun. It needs a warm underwater current that carries its main food - plankton.
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Colors
Natural coral has a rich color palette - 350 shades. The color of the mineral depends on the level of light during its growth, as well as the composition of the organic matter.
The most popular types in jewelry are:
Red and pink corals
They owe their color to their high iron content. They are found mainly in warm seas at depths from 30 to 500 meters. The best red corals are found off the coast of Algeria.
Blacks, or Akkabars
They do not like sunlight and grow in caves and grottoes at great depths in the waters near Mexico and Australia. The resulting stones have low hardness, so only stones over 50 years old are used in jewelry.
White, or bianco
These corals are considered the cheapest, so they are often painted in more popular colors.
Blue, or Akori
They are highly porous and difficult to polish. The rarest and most valuable are spongy akori of a rich, almost blue color.
Pale pink corals
Received the name “angel skin”. These delicate natural stones are also highly valued.
In addition, multi-colored corals are often found in nature - a fantastic combination of gold, black and red hues.
Coral mining and processing
It is not widely distributed throughout the oceans and seas; the main production points are Cuba, the Red Sea, and India. Fishing is prohibited in many places.
Black coral is mined using 2 long beams with nets attached to the ends. Minerals are lifted, cleaned, and sorted by hand. Then the master cuts the stones into blanks and polishes them. Most often they do:
- beads;
- rose;
- cabochon;
- circle;
- oval.
The final stage is soaking in a special solution for 36 hours to clean the surface and add shine.
How to care
Coral is a fragile mineral, so you need to take care of products made from it very carefully:
- Do not drop or test for strength.
- Rings, rings, and bracelets require special care when wearing.
You need to clean the mineral with a cloth soaked in filtered or spring water.
- It is better to select a separate box for storage, otherwise the stone may be scratched.
- Do not store near heat sources; temperature and humidity levels should be average.
- Protect from sunlight.
- Ensure constant ventilation in the storage area.
How to distinguish from a fake
The quantity of black corals is limited, demand and price are high. On the jewelry market they give out the following for a stone:
- Fake. For imitation, colored glass, colored limestone or plastic are used.
- Artificial mineral. It has been produced since the 20s of the last century by burning calcite. Only a connoisseur can distinguish it from the original.
- Pressed coral. It is obtained by grinding substandard fragments into powder and then shaping them into a ball, oval, etc.
The following features will help you distinguish a real original from a fake:
- glass fakes are heavy and cold;
- limestone is easily scratched with a needle, leaving a white furrow;
- when heated, plastic melts, emits a characteristic odor, and the natural mineral cracks;
- prolonged exposure to water makes the natural mineral brighter;
- the price of a fake is lower, the difference can be 10–30 times.
See what the stone looks like:
Coral analogues
Synthetic Gilson coral and colored bambu coraloid can be classified as coral analogues. And various materials are counterfeited - from plastic to ceramics.
How to distinguish real coral from fake Coral is synthesized in various ways. The main thing is that the synthesized material is as similar as possible to the original. Most often, only a specialist can distinguish synthetic coral from real coral. Upgrading coral usually comes down to impregnation (filling cracks), including with dyes.
The simplest fakes and imitations: plastic, glass, porcelain, bone, polymer clay, synthetic Gilson coral, pressed chips. For example, a glass imitation will give itself away immediately: if you see small bubbles, this is a fake. Real coral can be easily distinguished from plastic using a heated needle: the plastic will begin to melt and a black dot will appear at the heating site; nothing will happen to the natural sample.
How else can you determine authenticity? Natural coral, unlike fake coral, has an amazing pattern reminiscent of growth rings on trees.
The color of synthetic Gilson coral, created from calcite powder with silica, will be very even and evenly distributed over the entire surface. In addition, synthetics are denser and do not have a pattern. Whereas real coral always has color transitions and a characteristic mesh pattern, similar to the texture of a wood cut. It's easy to see under a magnifying glass.
You can identify fake polymer clay and porcelain at home by dropping one drop of a weak vinegar solution onto the sample. A real coral, consisting of calcite with impurities, will begin to react to alkali; a fake of inorganic origin will not react with vinegar.
To determine whether a sample has been colored, you need to immerse it in plain water for 2 hours and see if its color changes. Common and inexpensive white corals are most often used for tinting. Natural coral will never stain water, and painted imitations may even leave marks on the skin in the heat.
If we talk about coral beads and necklaces, then you should pay attention to the holes in the beads: when drilling, microcracks remain in natural coral.
Properties and uses of coral
The formula of Akkabar is Ca(CO)3, based on calcium carbonate with admixtures of magnesium, iron, and manganese. Physicochemical characteristics:
- hardness on the Mohs scale 3.5–4 points;
- opaque;
- density 1.3–2.6 g/cm3;
- after processing it acquires a glass shine;
- there is no crystalline base - the mineral is amorphous;
- contains inclusions, pores;
- decomposes under the influence of acids and high temperatures.
The main use of the stone is jewelry, souvenirs, and less commonly used in lithotherapy and magical practices.
Medicinal properties
Black coral is endowed with healing properties and is used for:
- joint diseases;
- neuroses;
- migraine;
- eye diseases;
- insomnia;
- pharyngitis, laryngitis;
- obesity.
It is not worth treating with black coral alone. It is better to combine it with traditional medicine.
To watch a video review about the healing properties of corals:
Magic properties
Black corals have been used as amulets and amulets since ancient times. It is still believed that he can:
- make men more courageous, women more tender;
- remove danger;
- protect from slander and prying eyes;
- develop logic and intuition;
- give peace and tranquility.
There are different effects on people depending on the zodiac sign:
- Aries will become more patient with others;
- Taurus will be distinguished by wisdom and self-control;
- It will help Gemini to avoid acute situations and dangers;
- Cancer will increase sexual energy;
- Leo should not wear a stone - he will become lazy and selfish;
- for Virgo it will be a symbol of love;
- It will help Libra to make choices faster and avoid lengthy weighing of solutions;
- Scorpio and Sagittarius will become a guide to patience;
- Will make Capricorns more romantic;
- does not affect Aquarius;
- will make Pisces more active and self-confident.
People with the names Arthur, Bogdan, Victor, Victoria, Nikanor, Nonna will feel the positive influence of the stone to the maximum.
Please watch a video review that contains information about the stone:
Medicinal properties
Coral is used to make medicinal powders
Folk and traditional medicine use stone to make various medicinal powders. The mineral is rich in calcium, which is easily absorbed by the human body. It is used to strengthen hair, nails, teeth, and bones.
Used in the treatment of the following diseases:
- endocrine system;
- dermis;
- cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive systems.
Products from Akabar have a beneficial effect on the nervous system. Helps to cope with stress and irritability. In lithotherapy it is used as a means of accelerating metabolism, increasing the elasticity of muscle tissue, and restoring cartilage tissue. Massage with coral stones is effective.
Black coral jewelry
Black coral is used to make jewelry:
- beads;
- earring;
- necklace;
- rings;
- bracelets;
- hair jewelry.
The frame is made of gold, silver, platinum. The mineral is often combined with rubies, garnets, and emerald.
Basic care rules that will help you wear your jewelry for many years:
- store in a case;
- clean when soiled with warm water and soap;
- After washing, dry with a soft towel;
- do not keep in direct sunlight to prevent fading;
- do not wash in hot water;
- don't drop it.
You can wear black mineral jewelry with many shades of clothing. It goes best with white, yellow, gray, beige, blue, black. Successful combinations:
- bright summer dress and bracelet;
- blue jeans, gray sweater and necklace;
- red dress and earrings;
- light-colored office suit and ring.
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Story
The name of this stone comes from the ancient Greek word “collarion”. This is what the Greeks called marine polyps.
The peoples who live on the sea or ocean coast have studied coral stone well.
Ancient world
This mineral from the depths of the oceans or seas has long been valued for its magical properties:
- The Indians of Central America wore coral beads and were confident that they could protect them from disease, crop failure, and the elements.
- The ancient Egyptians considered coral a symbol of innocence and purity, so it was an attribute of unmarried girls. Other residents of Egypt also wore it, since this stone was also a symbol of immortality, and also helped in various situations.
- In Ancient Greece, everyone wore coral jewelry. They were considered the key to a long, happy life and future immortality.
Corals were brought by sailors and mined by divers. But from the sun's rays, air, and wind, these wonderful gifts of the seas became discolored, cracked, and broke. People began to strengthen the mineral with resins and polish it, and it retained its beauty for a long time.
Middle Ages
The ancient people's view of the magical abilities of these stones was adopted by Europeans. The most popular coral products were amulets and rosaries.
Girls from good families were supposed to have earrings or beads made of this stone. Coral was considered a symbol of virtue and modesty.
Stone cost
Black coral is a relatively expensive stone. Earrings and a bracelet will cost from 5,000 rubles, a ring can be found from 2,500 rubles, prices for pendants and necklaces range from 5,000 to 15,000 rubles.
The cost of a product is determined by the components included in it - the most expensive piece of jewelry was sold for $34,000. It was a diamond owl sitting on a branch of black coral.
Black coral is a rare find in the sea. A fragile, amazing stone, wearing which can change the owner for the better, attract attention to him, and help in the fight against disease.
What else do you think black coral jewelry will be combined with? Share the article with your friends on social networks.
How to wear
Corals should be worn taking into account their aesthetic compatibility with clothing and other jewelry, and do not forget about “safety precautions”:
- Do not wear them if you go to the pool, sauna, or the beach.
- Jewelry should be worn on a clean body, when perfumes and cosmetics have already been absorbed into the skin.
- After removing the jewelry, wipe it with a damp cloth, dry it and put it in the box.
Try not to touch the jewelry very often, as traces of sweat from your fingertips remain on the mineral.
- Necklaces and beads should be worn on clothes made of soft fabric (rough fabric can leave scratches on the stone).
- Products made from this mineral are suitable for people of all ages. The younger the owner, the more delicate the color of the stone.
- Coral goes well with opaque stones: onyx, lapis lazuli, pearls, turquoise.
Astrology
In astrology, it rarely happens that one stone can be worn by all zodiac signs. Coral is just such an exception. It is not recommended only for earth signs - Capricorn and Virgo. And the rest can be safely worn. Although it will bring great benefits to the signs of the water element - Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces. Moreover, for the latter, this stone is simply necessary. Jewelry made from red or brown-red corals will relieve fish from such negative character traits as indecisiveness and emotional instability. Thanks to this gem, fish become calmer, bolder, more ready to take some important steps, and their tendency to depressive disorders is much reduced.
In general, coral is perfect for all people who finally want to find ground under their feet. Coral will also be a good helper for people in whose horoscopes the planet Neptune appears, as well as for those born in the year of the Tiger.
