Coral Beads Necklace with Bali Silver

I threaded irregular Coral chunks from oxidized Silver wire. The beads are graduated; large chunks in the center and they become smaller ones as you move towards the back. I wanted to make a statement choker. They hang beautifully!

In between every delicious Coral chunk, I added Bali Silver oxidized spacers. They are in the shape of Stars between the largest chunks. Then, I used little Daisies throughout! I love the natural elements: the Sky, the Earth, and the Ocean.

I love Coral! It brings me back to my younger days playing in the sand on the beach in Vieques, Puerto Rico. Very fond memories. As I created this piece, all those wonderful memories just flooded my being and made me smile. Glimpses of my family; cousins, aunts, other extended family members.

You cannot beat semi- precious stones! They simply have a way of manifesting themselves in those who wear them. They bring out energies and feelings, that create connections with times and places. This is very true of Coral.

To me, Coral is a winner when it comes to its benefits and spiritual nature. It is believed that it brings good luck and that wearing Coral on a ring is the best way to maximize this trait. Coral increases energy and activity, boosts financial success; enhances courage, strength and leadership, and aids in the completion of tasks. It also protects against witchcraft, accidents, and lightning.

Coral is filled with many beneficial properties. I will discuss them in detail as I continue expanding my Gem Stones and their Properties page. In the meantime, here's a totally different way to wear your Coral.

About Coral

By Kazvorpal (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Coral is a living, marine invertebrate; an animal. It lives in the ocean in colonies of identical polyps, some secreting calcium to form their skeleton. Using Coral for decorative purposes was very popular but it has declined due to the high possibility of extinction. Laws have been created that limit the harvesting of Coral for decorative uses. It is a protected species since many believe that by the year 2030, Coral could face extinction.

Coral should be harvested once the Coral has died. It leaves its exoskeleton behind; it's no longer alive. Yet, even harvesting this way causes damage to the reef. Coral farms exist to cultivate Coral for commercial purposes or for coral reef restoration. I make sure that the Coral I purchase for my jewelry projects does not come from the reefs. This is a beautiful and stunning gift from our ocean. It must survive so that future generations are able to enjoy it as well.

Protecting Your Coral

Coral needs special care. It is a soft and porous gem and can scratch easily. Many chemicals can easily damage this gemstone: chlorine, alcohol, ammonia, nail polish remover, and others. Do not wash and moisturizing your hands While wearing Coral rings or bracelets. Extreme temperatures may also harm the Coral.

Storing your Coral separately from other gemstones is a good idea since it is softer than others and could scratch easily. To clean your coral, wipe gently with moist, soft cloth.