How do I care for natural coral jewellery?

Coral is an organic material that is relatively soft and sensitive to acids, cosmetics, and harsh cleaning agents. Wipe it gently with a soft cloth after wearing and store it separately to avoid scratches. Keep beaded necklaces away from moisture and check silk thread periodically if the pieces are worn regularly.

How can I tell a Georgian piece from a Victorian one?

Georgian coral pieces often feature closed-back settings, foil backs, or specific handcrafted gold work typical of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Victorian items frequently display greater industrial standardisation alongside distinct stylistic revivals. Maker's marks, metal purities, and the specific style of carving or clasp design also offer reliable clues to the exact period of manufacture.

Is all coral jewellery un-dyed?

The listings include specifically noted un-dyed red coral alongside other natural coral varieties showing pink and salmon tones. Natural coral displays organic variations in colour and surface texture rather than uniform artificial saturation. Examining the piece under magnification can reveal natural growth patterns characteristic of genuine marine coral.

What metals were commonly used with coral?

Silver and various purities of gold, including nine carat, fourteen carat, fifteen carat, and eighteen carat, appear across the eras. Georgian and Victorian makers frequently paired coral with yellow gold or silver mounts. Later pieces from the mid-twentieth century continue this tradition with heavier gold mountings and distinct modernist chain links.