Red coral (Red Coral): is an organic gemstone, the color is pleasant, the texture is glittering, grows in the deep sea from 100 to 2000 meters away from human beings. With pearl, amber and listed as the three major organic gemstones, in the oriental buddhist text is also listed as one of the seven treasures, since ancient times that is regarded as rich and auspicious things.
Natural red coral is piled up by coral polyps, the growth is very slow, not renewable, and red coral only grows in a few strait (Taiwan strait, Japan strait, baltic strait, the Mediterranean Sea), by the limit of the sea, so red coral is extremely precious. Red coral made of jewelry, extremely popular collectors love, and fine red coral value is very rapid, is valued by the collection of people.
Role
Coral jewelry physiological role: can prevent menstrual pain and other women's physical disease.
It is said that children wear, there is the effect of protecting the growth of bones, red or pink coral, especially for blood diseases have the function of detecting, if the more you wear the lighter the color of the words, it is likely that there is anemia, poor blood circulation and other problems, heart disease and nervous system diseases from the patient is also very suitable for wear. Basically, coral is helpful for the growth of skin, nails and hair.
Psychological effects of coral jewelry: For love, like the red color of coral, representing enthusiasm and passion. Can strengthen the wearer's sex appeal, help to open the heart, acceptance of feelings.
Make a person to improve the level of mind, with a high degree of sensitivity to the muddy Tun unclear situation has the role of reconciliation The development of modern medicine, confirmed that the coral stone is not only a real gemstone, but it also has a lot of medicinal and medical value. Coral is one of the earliest recognized and used gemstones. Some believe that coral was discovered by the Indians in the fifth century B.C. Others believe that it was first discovered by the Italians about 2,000 years ago. In the Mediterranean Italy coral fisheries the oldest has 2000 years of mining history, and still popular in Italy with coral as a talisman to ward off evil spirits.
Red coral in addition to the jewelry world as a living treasure, is also considered a unique effect of the medicinal treasure, have health care, blood, bright eyes, drive away heat, suppressing epilepsy, sweating diuretic and many other medical effects. 400 years ago, medicine master Mr. Li Shizhen in the classic masterpiece "compendium of materia medica" in the record of coral has: "cataracts and bright eyes, tranquilize the mind It is used to remove cataracts and brighten eyes, tranquilize the mind and calm fright. It is used for cataracts of the eyes, epilepsy, and nasal scarf ugliness." and other effects. According to relevant information, coral stone has to stop vomiting, diarrhea, stop bleeding, treatment of lumbago, pediatric convulsions, clearing heat and detoxification, phlegm, cough, sweating and diuretic effect.
Red coral color is delightful, texture glistening. Red coral is an organic gemstone, grows in the deep sea away from human 100 to 2000 meters. With pearl, amber and listed as the three major organic gemstones, in the oriental buddhist text is also listed as one of the seven jewels, since ancient times that is regarded as rich and auspicious things.
Natural red coral is piled up by coral polyps, the growth is very slow, not renewable, and red coral only grows in the three straits (Taiwan strait, Japan strait, baltic strait), by the limitations of the sea, so red coral is extremely precious. Red coral made of jewelry, extremely popular collector's favorite, and fine red coral value is very rapid, is valued by the collection of people.
In ancient China, red coral is regarded as auspicious and happy things, on behalf of the noble power, so also known as "Rui Bao", is a symbol of happiness and eternity. Famous coral connoisseur weekend said: "coral, the spirit of the sea." Indians think: "precious coral for mother earth." The emperor of Japan also regarded red coral as its national treasure. From the ancient and modern history, red coral has a high status. Qing dynasty second grade officer to wear to the court of the cap and the beads are made of precious red coral; [2] Tibetan lama monk more red coral rosary beads made of red coral. Now the number of precious red coral is scarce, hard to get, especially up to two feet above the coral tree is more rare. At present, the importance of coral is also gradually recognized. Because of the rarity of coral and not renewable, make it very collectible value. Natural red coral jewelry is more popular.
Composition
Red coral by the inorganic and organic matter two parts. Inorganic: high magnesium calcite, a small amount of apatite, calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, a small amount of water, ferrous oxide, calcium hydroxyl phosphate. Organic matter: keratin-based.
Color deep red, fiery red mainly, and peach. Dendritic in shape. Bones dense and tough. Mohs hardness = 3.5-4, opaque - translucent. The raw material has a dull luster, polished to a waxy luster, not resistant to acids, organic solvents and volatile gases.
Structural features
Wave-shaped parallel fiber structure. Along the longitudinal direction of the coral branches, there are color shades or different transparency to form a continuous waveform parallel fiber structure. The cross-section is concentric, like the annual rings of trees. There are many small round pits on the branches, which are the burrowing places of coral worms.
Coral species
Dead coral, has completely stopped growing, heavily infested, many cavities.
Inverted coral, has basically stopped growing, the degree of infestation is still small
Living coral, this kind of coral can continue to grow on the seabed, the surface of the film, polished gloss, exquisite exception, is the most valuable red coral.
Red coral color variety, have deep red, ochre, peach, flesh red, pink, orange, creamy yellow, creamy white and so on. Industry-recognized red coral color range:
AKA (AKA), dark red, deep red, the highest value, mostly from Japan and Taiwan.
Sardine, bright red, common positive red color on the market, mostly from Italy.
Identification points
Red coral precious lead to fishermen fake profit, as late as from the republican period, there are pure chemical products "celluloid", its material ware outside the burning hanging coral glaze, with the surface wrapped in lead, coated with a layer of coral lacquer skin and painted texture, as well as carved into round beads of cow bone or talc, seeping into the red color, it is Fakes and forgeries sold as coral.
Contemporary coral counterfeiting the use of advanced science and technology, such as white coral or coral-like sea bamboo with laser choking color, Gilson "synthetic coral" and so on, very covert, if there is no rich experience or with the help of scientific instruments to detect, it is very easy to be mistaken for a fish eye.
One, look at the texture. Red coral have parallel and coral growth direction of the longitudinal grain, and more closely arranged. In addition to the red coral cross-section has like the tree's annual rings, in the naked eye identification should pay attention to look at these two kinds of texture.
Longitudinal look: coral longitudinal parallel growth lines, the direction of parallel coral column body. If it is a ring, usually on the back, if it is a carved piece, there is on the surface.
Horizontal view: coral cross-section with growth lines like annual rings, from small to large. There are concentric circles of growth pattern, usually coral ornaments can be seen.
Two, look at the color. Red coral color is a kind of vivid vivid red, no matter is shallow is deep, it all live, not dead, not depressed! And red coral with bright wax luster, and stained red coral no luster, color also depressed dead heavy. [4] the color of coral is from the inside out, for example: a coral column, the closer to the surface layer, the darker the color of coral, the more inner layer, the lighter the color. In other words, the color of the coral is not uniform, if the color of the coral inside and outside the same, we must suspect that there is a fake.
Three, listen to the sound. The real coral seems delicate but in mutual collision with the sound of crisp and hard. General plastic or other imitation coral will not appear this hard and crisp sound. This sound is especially obvious in the branch coral.
Four, weighing. Coral has a good sense of weight, generally in the palm of the hand will give people with its delicate sense of inconsistent with the heavy feeling, this weight is also to identify red coral and some inferior imitations of one of the basis.
Fifth, natural coral and stained coral identification: stained coral is usually organic dyes white coral dyed red and other colors, identification features are dyes in the cracks in the enrichment, and the external color dark internal color light, the surface is not the same, dipped in acetone cotton swabs, cotton will be stained.
The identification of dyed coral also depends on the degree of staining. Where the dyeing, the luster is not soft and natural, overly colorful, red without levels, and the real red coral candle red, red with levels, some even red and white, the middle of the vaguely revealed "fingerprints" (calcium coral texture and human fingerprints are similar), compared with the dyeing of imitations of the larger differences.
White coral staining: commonly known as sea bamboo, characterized by a very obvious longitudinal texture.
Filled coral stained: is the loose texture of the shallow sea reef-building coral filled with glue. Characteristics: smooth surface, rough and fragile, easy to molt in color.
Synthetic coral dyeing: all kinds of shellfish and glue coral grinding into powder, molded into the shape of coral, no natural texture.
Various types of jade imitation coral: with dolomite and uncoated stone dyeing. Characteristics: This dyeing will fade very quickly if not handled properly.
Plastic dyed coral: red coral dyed with plastic products. Characteristics: ① very light texture; ② easy to fade; ③ no natural texture, luster.
6, natural coral and imitation of identification: coral imitations are commonly dyed marble, red glass, red plastic, calcite powder with dye to do the "gilson coral". These imitations do not have the internal structure of natural red coral, look carefully at the grain can be identified; dyed marble granular structure, dyes in the mineral particles are enriched, with acetone test can be the answer; red glass type can be made very similar, occasionally see bubbles, from the hardness, the glass is larger than the coral, and with the hydrochloric acid does not react; the density of the red plastic is small generally below 1.55, heated and smell, with the hydrochloric acid does not react; and Gilson coral imitations. Hydrochloric acid does not react; and the density of Gilson's coral is 2.45.
Main uses
For jewelry, decoration.
Medicinal use: It has the function of stabilizing fright and brightening the eyes. Used as medicine for epilepsy and keratitis.
Collection and Maintenance
One, please avoid heavy impact, collision, so as to avoid damage to the gems off;
Two, please avoid contact with chemicals, acids, alkaline liquids, and perfume, etc.;
Three, please use a soft cloth to wipe after each use to keep it in a safe place;
Four, please soak in water often, wiping the oil, so that the again and again forever to keep! "bright shine";
fifth, please often wear coral jewelry, so that it is in harmony with the human spirit;
fourth, please prepare a number of pieces of coral jewelry according to the seasonal exchange, to ensure that the "bright as new" effect;
seven, No inlaid red coral necklaces, bracelets, pendant chain year-round close to wear is the best blood health care.
Cultural significance
Red coral culture in China as well as India, Indian national traditional culture have a long history, especially the Indian indigenous peoples and Chinese Tibetans and other nomadic people on red coral is more favorite, even the red coral as a body and pray for "heaven (emperor)" blessing of the trust thing. According to the historical records, human beings are very fond of red coral. According to the historical records, the utilization of human on red coral can be traced back to the ancient roman era. Ancient Romans believe that coral has to prevent disasters, give people wisdom, have stop bleeding and heat function, some seafarers believe that wearing red coral, can prevent lightning, hurricanes, so that the winds and waves, a safe journey! Therefore, the Romans called it "red gold", make red coral on a layer of mysterious color. Coral jewelry has been found in ancient Egypt and Europe's prehistoric tombs. Modern Westerners coral and pearls and amber and listed as the three major organic gemstones, is the West's "March birthstone" one.