HOW ARE CORAL BEADS SOURCED?

Unlike other stones that are formed by minerals, corals are sourced deep in the sea and grow in a colony. Basically coral beads are the hard skeletal remains of marine creatures called coral polyps. Corals are naturally dull in appearance but get their
gloss and lustre when polished. When obtained from these coral polyps, they are used as beads, sculptures and carvings like flies and on brooches.

Although the orange corals are the most fond and sought after, corals are available in various colours such as white, grey, pink, orange, purple, scarlet and vermilion. It’s also in black and rarely in blue. The red colour corals are found in the Mediterranean Sea and it is the most valuable of all coral stones. At the heydays of the first Millenium coral beads was highly prized because it was believed to be endowed with mysterious sacred properties.

The Red corals, also called precious corals, are
found only in tropical and subtropical
saltwater environments.