One of the few precious gemstones with an organic base, coral is actually calcium carbonate exuded by huge colonies of tiny marine animals called coral polyps. Coral comes in many colors and varieties, white coral being the most common. Other colors include pink, orange, orange-pink, blue, and black. Coral formations occur in reefs throughout Earth's oceans, most typically in shallow waters.
Coral of gemstone quality must be of uniform color and dense enough to be polished. While color value varies by source location, deep red and pink corals tend to be the most expensive.
Supposedly, red coral changes color depending on the state of its wearer's health, and that variety is further believed to hold curative powers. The coral's magical properties are supposed to be effective as long as it has not been carved by man.
