The facts
What momo Coral actually is
Momo Coral is classified as calcareous skeleton of the octocoral Pleurocorallium (Corallium) elatius, with the composition Mg-calcite CaCO3 with conchiolin. It crystallises in the aggregate (trigonal calcite) system.
Colour comes from carotenoid pigments, which is also what a laboratory looks at when it is asked whether a colour is natural.
Refractive index 1.486-1.658. Specific gravity around 2.60-2.70. Cleavage: none. Those three numbers separate it from most of what imitates it.
Where momo Coral comes from
Momo Coral is produced at Taiwan Strait and the Penghu grounds, Tosa Bay and the Ryukyu grounds, Japan and Emperor Seamounts, Central Pacific.
The locality is part of the description, not a footnote — two stones of the same weight from two of these places are not the same stone.
How momo Coral is treated
Frequently dyed to deepen the pink or to imitate aka; bleaching of the outer skin is normal. CITES Appendix III (China). Genuine undyed momo shows a subtle colour gradient and a visible growth-ring structure in cross-section.
Treatment changes value, sometimes by a multiple, so it belongs in the description before the price and not after the sale.
What momo Coral is confused with
In the trade momo Coral is most often mistaken for, or substituted by, Dyed bamboo coral, Dyed sponge coral, Conch shell or Pink dyed howlite.
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 momo Coral is used for
Demand for momo Coral comes from jewellery, carving and sculpture and decorative objects, which is why one price per carat never covers it.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the carat, by the block or by the piece.
Durability and care
Momo 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 momo Coral costs
As a guide, momo Coral trades around $50-600 per gram finished depending on saturation and size.
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 momo Coral treated, and how?
Frequently dyed to deepen the pink or to imitate aka; bleaching of the outer skin is normal. CITES Appendix III (China). Genuine undyed momo shows a subtle colour gradient and a visible growth-ring structure in cross-section.
Where does momo Coral come from?
Taiwan Strait and the Penghu grounds, Tosa Bay and the Ryukyu grounds, Japan and Emperor Seamounts, Central Pacific. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is momo 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 momo Coral cost?
Indicatively $50-600 per gram finished depending on saturation and size. 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 momo Coral confused with?
Most often Dyed bamboo coral, Dyed sponge coral, Conch shell and Pink dyed howlite. A refractive index of 1.486-1.658 and a specific gravity near 2.60-2.70 separate it quickly.
What is momo Coral used for besides jewellery?
carving and sculpture and decorative objects. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for momo 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 momo coral