This is a Japanese deep sea precious pink coral necklace.
Natural pink color, untreated not dyed.
This necklace had been sitting as an inventory of old jewelry shop in Okinawa for long time. Old but new necklace, never worn.
The size of beads is largest in the middle and gets gradually smaller toward each end.
Japanese precious coral is getting very difficult to find these days and the price is rising every year.
The beads of this necklace have natural imperfection such as small holes and cracks, but they don’t stand out if you wear it.
45cm Necklace
Size of coral beads of the necklace:8.5- 14.3mm
Necklace length: 45cm (17.7 in)
Weight:67.4g
Material of the clasp:unknown (no stamps) 4x6mm coral cabochon
New
50cm Necklace
Size of coral beads of the necklace:6.7-14.1mm
Necklace length: 50cm (19.7 in)
Weight: 66.2g
Material of the clasp:unknown (no stamps) 4x6mm coral cabochon
New
Earrings (optional)
size of coral:10mm
material of the hook: K14 gold filled brass
New
Please keep in mind that Japanese coral almost always has a few cracks and dimples that usually don’t stand out. Since coral is formed by organisms in a natural environment, it also sometimes includes bits of matter from the environment that appear as tiny black specks.
Most Japanese deep sea coral has cracks, which come from the change in water pressure when the deep sea coral is harvested and pulled to the surface.
However it does not break easily, and it’s no problem for wearing it.
My column series “Beads Around the World” has been published.
This time I wrote about Japanese deep sea coral, which is used for jewelry. Japanese deep sea coral has been famous around the world and has been exported, similarly to Japanese cultured pearls. But its history started only about two hundred years ago, when a fisherman found coral in his net. Until then we did not know there was jewel coral around us.
Jewel coral has been highly admired throughout history. It was carried by merchants through the Silk Road from the Mediterranean sea for thousands ofyears.
Now Japanese deep sea corals are endangered species and need protection from illegal fishing and over-harvesting.
All my coral products are recycled from old jewelry made around 1960-1980, when coral was not endangered. I always intend to deal with coral only in ways that are environment-friendly and sustainable.
I especially love my coral bracelet made from Haori-himo.
A Haori-himo is a string that holds the front of a kimono jacket together.
I use the original set of natural colors, untreated coral beads and silk thread and adding new thread and untreated coral beads.
