Salmon Coral Cabochon carved floral basket, natural, untreated. b4-cor480

This vintage salmon colored coral cabochon is intricately carved with fine details and a delicate design. The carving depicts a bouquet of flowers in a woven basket. The coral has some striations, showing off the fact this is genuine untreated and natural coral. The craftsmanship of this piece showcases the skill and artistry of the time period, assuredly pre-1970's. This cabochon measures 37.4 x 29 mm and weighs 8.76 grams. It is natural and untreated. 

Precious corals are light pink, to salmon, and even blood red. Coral has a long history of being used as jewelry, and can be found along any of the ancient trade routes around the world. Precious corals have a hard skeleton which is a fine gem material with a lustrous polish. There are over 7,300 species of corals, including the reef building corals living in shallow warm waters. The 'precious corals' used in jewelry are restricted to approximately 10 species that do not live in the same ecosystem as reef building corals. Reef corals that are currently suffering from climate change are not traditionally used in jewelry at all! The precious coral industry is highly regulated.