The facts
What golden Coral actually is
The species behind golden Coral is proteinaceous skeleton of Kulamanamana haumeaae, a zoanthid that overgrows black coral, plus some bleached Antipatharia sold under the same name, Chitin-protein complex; it forms in the amorphous system.
Natural golden scleroprotein; a large share of the market is bleached black coral 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 1.56 (spot) and a specific gravity of about 1.34-1.46, with none cleavage.
Where golden Coral comes from
Commercial material comes from Makapuu and Cross Seamount beds, Hawaii, USA and Emperor Seamounts, Central Pacific.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How golden Coral is treated
CITES Appendix II coverage applies where the material is antipatharian or is taken from an antipatharian substrate; Hawaiian harvest is federally managed with very small quotas and the beds are extremely slow-growing (centuries to millennia). Most 'golden coral' in the trade is chemically bleached black coral, and this is rarely disclosed. Treat any cheap golden coral as bleached.
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 golden Coral is confused with
Watch for Bleached black coral, Amber and copal, Dyed bone and Plastic — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.56 (spot) and specific gravity 1.34-1.46 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What golden Coral is used for
The trades that buy golden Coral are jewellery and mineral collecting. 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 specimen.
Durability and care
Hardness 2.5-3.5; cleavage none. That combination decides what it can safely be set into.
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 golden Coral costs
Expect roughly $20-200 per gram for documented natural Hawaiian material, 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 golden Coral treated, and how?
CITES Appendix II coverage applies where the material is antipatharian or is taken from an antipatharian substrate; Hawaiian harvest is federally managed with very small quotas and the beds are extremely slow-growing (centuries to millennia). Most 'golden coral' in the trade is chemically bleached black coral, and this is rarely disclosed. Treat any cheap golden coral as bleached.
Where does golden Coral come from?
Makapuu and Cross Seamount beds, Hawaii, USA and Emperor Seamounts, Central Pacific. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is golden Coral hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 2.5-3.5 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 golden Coral cost?
Indicatively $20-200 per gram for documented natural Hawaiian material. 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 golden Coral confused with?
Most often Bleached black coral, Amber and copal, Dyed bone and Plastic. A refractive index of 1.56 (spot) and a specific gravity near 1.34-1.46 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for golden 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 golden coral