The facts
What bamboo Coral actually is
The species behind bamboo Coral is calcitic internodes of deep-sea isidid gorgonians, alternating with dark horny nodes - hence the bamboo look, Mg-calcite CaCO3 with gorgonin nodes; it forms in the aggregate (trigonal calcite) system.
Essentially colourless when natural; nearly all commercial colour is dye is responsible for the colour — and the chromophore, not the name, is what decides whether a colour is stable.
On the instruments it reads a refractive index of 1.486-1.658 and a specific gravity of about 2.60-2.70, with none cleavage.
Where bamboo Coral comes from
Commercial material comes from Taiwan Strait grounds, Tasman Sea and New Zealand seamounts and Eastern Pacific and the Gulf of Alaska seamounts.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How bamboo Coral is treated
NOT CITES-listed, which is exactly why it dominates the imitation trade. The overwhelming majority of inexpensive 'red coral' and 'blue coral' beads worldwide are dyed bamboo coral, usually undisclosed and often also resin-impregnated. Dye concentrates in the porous nodes and along drill holes, and a cotton bud with acetone will often lift colour. Deep-sea bamboo coral beds are themselves slow-growing and vulnerable to trawling.
We state the treatment on every stone, including when the honest answer is that it cannot be determined. A treatment disclosed is a fact; a treatment discovered later is a refund.
What bamboo Coral is confused with
Watch for Precious Corallium coral (which it is sold as), Sponge coral and Dyed magnesite — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.486-1.658 and specific gravity 2.60-2.70 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What bamboo Coral is used for
The trades that buy bamboo Coral are jewellery and decorative objects. They do not want the same thing, and they do not pay in the same unit.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the carat or by the piece.
Durability and care
Bamboo Coral is 3-4 on the Mohs scale, with none cleavage.
Below about 5.5 a stone will be scratched by ordinary household dust, which is largely quartz. That does not make it unusable — it makes it a pendant, an earring or an object rather than a ring worn every day.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What bamboo Coral costs
Expect roughly $0.20-5 per gram; sold at Corallium prices when undisclosed, depending on quality.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is bamboo Coral treated, and how?
NOT CITES-listed, which is exactly why it dominates the imitation trade. The overwhelming majority of inexpensive 'red coral' and 'blue coral' beads worldwide are dyed bamboo coral, usually undisclosed and often also resin-impregnated. Dye concentrates in the porous nodes and along drill holes, and a cotton bud with acetone will often lift colour. Deep-sea bamboo coral beds are themselves slow-growing and vulnerable to trawling.
Where does bamboo Coral come from?
Taiwan Strait grounds, Tasman Sea and New Zealand seamounts and Eastern Pacific and the Gulf of Alaska seamounts. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is bamboo Coral hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 3-4 on the Mohs scale it is softer than the quartz dust in ordinary household dirt, so it scratches with wear. It suits pendants, earrings and objects better than a daily ring.
How much does bamboo Coral cost?
Indicatively $0.20-5 per gram; sold at Corallium prices when undisclosed. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is bamboo Coral confused with?
Most often Precious Corallium coral (which it is sold as), Sponge coral and Dyed magnesite. A refractive index of 1.486-1.658 and a specific gravity near 2.60-2.70 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for bamboo coral?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about bamboo coral