People believed that coral was a good luck charm and protected the wearer from misfortune. They believed that wearing a coral necklace prevented and cured diseases of the skin. Others believed that when a sick person dreamed about coral, it was a sign that he or she had turned the corner and was on the road to recovery. Coral also has ties to historical Greek mythology. Legend has it that Perseus challenged and killed the sea living monster. As the blood of the creature ran into the water, it turned to coral. Ancient Romans believed that coral was a protective stone and was often worn by soldiers into battle. They also believed that coral could save a person from the harm caused by snake and scorpion bites. Others believed that a change in color of the stone suggested a change in the medical condition of the wearer.

     While many of the ancient myths related to coral are just that – myths – the story of the origin of coral is quite interesting in its own right. Coral and pearls are the only gems that have an “organic” origin in that they are created by living creatures. In contrast, the other gemstones known to man are inorganic nature and were predominant created by geologic forces of pressure, temperature, and in some cases, erosion. Tiny sea creatures called polyps are responsible for the creation of coral reefs. The skeletal remains of these creatures bond together and form calcified formations that we call coral. Corals can grow over a period of several decades and polyps continuing to add to the reef during these years. In some cases, the stems of the reef can reach nearly two inches in diameter. Coral specimens of this size however is quite rare. There are dozens of species of polyps in the oceans and seas that can form coral. Read the rest of this entry »