CORALS
Coral isn't a mineral but an animal, or rather a colony of little animals that are the calcareous secretion formed during the increase of polyps and that belong to the Corallium gene.
As concerning the species the subject is very complex: till today there have been discovered more than 27 species shared in the 3 oceans.
Coral is reproduced in 2 following phases: the first one is a sexual reproduction that gives the colony and a second phase, the "bud",that produces the number of little polyps that duplicate going ahead.
During the sexual reproduction, once that fertilization has begun there is a period that lasts 30 days where there is a development of embryos and then of larvae. The larvae are called "Planule": they are covered with vibracula and they have a vermiform aspect that becomes spherical when it rests.
The "Planula" drifts around trying to find a natural layer or a solid base to stick on. Afterwards during a quick and complex morphological change the "planula" becomes a little polyp and so the sexual reproduction ends.
A new polypary comes up and gemmates.
It seems a very simple process but till today human attempts to regulate this process has failed.
The polypary is formed by 3 elements. The Sclerasse, the Cenasarco called even Sarcosoma and polyps.
The Cenasarc is a membrane that is thick about 0,2 - 0,3 mm and covers all the sclerasse.
The sclerasse is the internal part of the polypary and is mainly formed by calcium carbonate with 3% MgCO3.
The hardness of the coral is 3,5 - 4 and density is 2,6 - 2,7.
This is the workable part regarding commerce.
Biology of Coral
History of origin
In the community imaginary this kind of gem recalls magic and legends. It's charm, given by its dark red and by the mistery of how it was formed, and its nature, he left unchanged for centuries.
We know today for sure that coral, that we work, isn't a mineral but an animal but for centuries there have been lots of fantasies on it's origins.
For example, the Greek mythology used to say that coral wasn't nothing else but blood flown out of Medusa's head when it was cut off by Perseo, and left on the shore, so Ovid was sure that it was a kind of soft grass and with the fresh air it would had turned hard and firm.
It is only towards the 17th century that coral is meant to be thought as an animal, yet again the first trances of coral have been found in grave's nearly ten thousand years before Christ and we have proofs that the ancient Egyptian already used to work it with skill and style.
Myths & Legends
Lots are the opinions and beliefs on the ordinary powers and virtues of coral but above all medicinal.
Beyond being an ornament object it would also be an excellent cure towards snake and scorpion wounds, but also to cure eye illnesses, heart problems, bone and blood circulation and remembering the famous doctor Avicenna it should also be an excellent anti-depressive as it provides cheerfulness and joy.
Today coral is very precious gem always more rare because of pollution that dangers its quality and beauty.
The story of Torre del Greco till ancient years ago the sailor's used to go out and fish it inventing the only example in the world, a sort of boat called "Corallina" equiped with a cross where coral branches were held on.
Coral fishing
This sort of activity has always been very important as in 1790 Ferdinando of Borbon promulgated some special laws called "Coral code".
Coral is divided in coral from the Meditterranean (known better as the sardinian coral) and Japanese coral. A part from the morphological differences the first one has it's branches much more smallar towards the second type of coral, the most important difference it's the colour.
The sardinian coral has different kinds of shades but always has an uniform colour that start from dark red, japanese coral, instead, is usually variegated and spotted with shades of colour that turn red to white. Every different type of coral corrisponds a different provenience.
This type of japanese coral also presents, in its inner part, a big white patch that goes through all its red branch and a red patch in the white branches also called "soul of coral".
The boat
The coral fishing in the Mediterranean sea has been executed for years.
In the begining it wasn't considered a good and proper fish, but it was a sort of collection of all kinds of branches left on the shore, but even though we have lots of witnesses that tell us that the ancient Greeks and Romans already knew that there was a kind of coral fishing called "draging".
This kind of fishing hasn't been changed during the centuries, even though there have been new technologies.
Torre del Greco is the village where coral is worked so there is also an old tradition having an equiped boat for this special kind of fishing called "corallina" and the men that form the crew are called "corallini". During the years the "corallina" has evolved so in the begining it was a sort of boat with sails and paddles, now is a big ship with an engine and tools that make navigation more sure but most important thing is the skill of the people who are on it. Even though the type of fishing toal, called "ingegno", invented by Arabs, since the beginning of the 19th century was never changed.
It was used to "snatch" coral from the bottom of the sea.
It is formed by 2 strong beams put toghether in a criss-cross way, with a stone and metal middle, strong rope that helps to lower it in the sea. At the and of the croces there are bunches of nets for the fishing. When the ship arrives where coral is situated, this type of ingenuity is lowed down in sea and thrown in different directions to make it tear off coral remaining all in the nets.
Sometimes this type of fishing is executed by skin-divers because they all able to fish best pieces of coral without breaking or damaging the fragile branches.
The workmanship of coral
The workmanship of coral has and always will stay with the same bases.
Once that the rich fishing has been bought out of the sea it's first step is the laboratory work in Torre del Greco, where the watchfull and expert eyes of the men who work this kind of gem will start to choose the branches and work out how obtain the largest quantity and save the best quality.
The quality and the morphology of all coral branches are very important for the end results.
It is very important don't waste coral ( "sfrido" in Italian speaking) because this will involve the final price. The first step of coral working consists in taking off the natural kind of white layer that branches have at the beginning (cenasarco), this process is called "spalliatura".
The cleaned branches are then cut (see photo aside) and this is one of the most delicate steps of the kind of work because you have to save and cut out the best pieces without wasting.
At this point the working divides in to two separate processes: the "smooth" forms like beads, "barilotti" (it's shape reminds barrels) small canes, bottons, cabochons, "mandorle" (that are pressed drops like almonds) and fringes; and the "engraving" or "artistic" process that are all cut like cameos, flowers, animals, features, and statues.
It seems much more easy to work the smooth coral but it's not true because a simple piece of coral shows up the imperfection that an engraved piece won't show.
If some pieces are to be used as beads, barrels or any other piece that has to be used for necklaces, they have to be pierced (see page before) and than shaped to make them round.
It is important to remember that coral is naturally opaque so to give it its shine it has to go through some special brushes this process is called "lustratura".
In the end there will be the final selection and thread of all of them.
The workmanship of coral
Like other gems, even when you buy coral you have to consider some parameters that make it more or less valuable. In reality there is no generalized and codified method for the evaluation of the coral but the "rules" for a good choice are passed down orally from father to son. However, the four "Cs" (Carat, Clarity, Color and Cut) used in gemology for the classification of precious stones, and diamonds in particular, also apply to coral.
Carat
That is the weight that evaluates the size of the coral. Having a very slow growth every single millimeter of thickness requires a huge commitment from the entire colony of coral polyps.
When evaluating the size of a product, the type of corals must be considered as, for example, the "corallium rubrum" commercially known as "Sardinia" has a smaller trunk (on average a branch is 8 mm thick) compared to "Japonicum" called "Moro" (whose average diameter is around 12 mm.) which is in turn smaller than the "Elatius" - also called "Cerasuolo" - (whose average diameter is around 25 mm.).
Simplifying therefore, it can be stated that, all other characteristics being equal, a necklace of "Sardinia" coral beads of 9 mm. it is rarer and therefore more valuable and expensive than a necklace of the same size from another species of coral.
Purity
It indicates the perfection of the coral that is the presence of all the imperfections (holes, inclusions or fractures) that can be found in the coral. The more perfect the coral structure, the more valuable the finished product will be.
However, it must be emphasized that being absolutely natural products, it is easy to find, even in the most beautiful jewels, some small imperfection that does not detract from the value of the object, indeed it guarantees the consumer that it is coral and not a counterfeit.
Color
It is the most variable parameter as it is subject to fashions and therefore to market demands. Each type of coral has in fact a specific color and numerous shades.
The most beautiful colors come without shades and spots. Commercially, the most popular colors are dark red and intense light pink of "Bokè" coral, better known as "angel skin".
Cut
Fundamental is the skill and art of the "coral maker" who, with careful and accurate work, enhances the beauty of the coral, obtaining precious objects without wasting the raw material.
When observing a beautiful necklace or a necklace, we must never forget that coral is a gift from the sea and its magic is not clouded by what may seem to our eyes very small defects and which actually tell us the story of a colony of small living organisms.
NOTE: Since coral is born opaque and is then polished, to keep its charm unaltered, we advise you to avoid putting it in contact with perfumes, cosmetics, sweat and aggressive substances in general. If treated with care, the polishing will last over time and can be restored to its initial splendor.
The workmanship of coral
There are two types of coral: Mediterranean and Asian, depending on the fishing location.
Furthermore, starting from 1965 new shoals of a particular type of coral have been discovered, precisely referred to as "New Coral".
The workmanship of coral
RUBRUM
Trading name:
Sardinia
Color:
Uniform red
Fishing Seas and Depths:
Mediterranean and in the Atlantic areas of West Africa 30-250 mt.
Features:
Bushy, with an average height of 15 cm., An average weight of 100 gr. and a trunk diameter of about 8 mm.
JAPONICUM
Commercial Name: Moro or Aka
Color:
Dark and very dark red with a white longitudinal "core"
Fishing Seas and Depths:
Islands of Japan - Formosa 80-300 mt.
Characteristics : Fan-shaped, with an average height of 25 cm., The diameter of the trunk about 12 mm. and an average weight of 200 gr.
ELATIUS
Trading name:
Cerasuolo or Momo
Color:
Bright red, salmon, orange and carnacino with white longitudinal "soul"
Fishing Seas and Depths:
Islands of Japan - Formosa 150-300 mt.
Features:
Dimensional values superior to other species: fan-shaped, with an average height of 35 cm., An average trunk diameter of 25 mm. and an average weight of 500 gr
KONOJOI
Trading name:
White or Shiro
Color:
Milky white and white dotted red or pink
Fishing Seas and Depths :
Islands of Japan-Hainan 80-200 mt.
Features:
Fan-shaped, with an average height of 25 cm., The diameter of the trunk of about 12 mm. and an average weight of 200 gr.
SECUNDUM
Trading name:
Cerasuolo or Momo
Color:
Angel skin or Boké
Fishing Seas and Depths :
Islands of Japan Formosa - Hainan current of Honk Kong 150-300 mt.
Features:
Fan-shaped, with an average height of 25 cm. The diameter of the trunk of about 12 mm., And an average weight of 200 gr
The workmanship of coral
ROSATO O MIDWAY
Color:
White or pink dotted or streaked with red; light pink uniforne
Fishing Seas and Depths:
Midway Island 400-600 mt.
Features:
Fan-shaped with an average height of 25 cm., The diameter of the trunk of about 12 mm. and an average weight of 200 gr.
GARNET
Color:
Garnet with pink shades of various intensity
Midway Island
Fishing Seas and Depths:
700-900 mt.
Characteristics :Fan-shaped with an average height of 25 cm. the trunk diameter of about 15 mm. and an average weight of 200 gr .
DEEP SEA
Color:
Vibrant red, light pink, white always veined or mottled in garnet color
Fishing Seas and Depths:
N / O of Midway. 1000-2000 mt.
Features:
Fan-shaped with an average height of 25 cm., The diameter of the trunk of about 15 mm., And an average weight of 200 gr.
The workmanship of coral
It sometimes happens that nature offers us incredible spectacles that no set designer could have imagined. It sometimes happens that nature seems guided by the invisible hand of a graphic designer with great imagination and skilled with a pencil to mold incredible plastic forms. We show you a series of coral twigs that perfectly match this category .
Let's start with the logo of our company which depicts the V of Vincenzo and the P of Piscopo crossing each other. In a game of Sardinian coral, recognizing one's initials was not easy, but our dad's keen coral eye made it out simply by pruning it from the surrounding twigs.
A giraffe
A horse
An anchor
