Red Coral rough material
A nice intense red material is hard to come by. Nature doesn't often produce the color red. Coral is one material which forms in red.
Red coral is harder to come by than it was years ago. It never came in large sizes because coral grows in 'branches', similar to a plant, and the branches are never very wide. This is why red and pink coral never comes in cabs which are very large.
Red coral has gotten more scarce in the past few years due in part to years of harvesting (the best red coral comes from the Mediteranian) and also from some restrictions due to environmental concerns. Coral is not really a 'gem' material because coral is basically an organic material. It is more of a bone than it is a stone. Coral commonly has 'worm holes' which are caused by the little coral organisms.
Because of the scarcity, red Coral usually goes for several dollars per carat in the nicest shade of red color.
Red Coral is rather soft and scratches easily. Jewelers; you can re-polish Coral yourself with Zam on your rag buff. Don't use too much pressure or you could spot burn the surface.
