How to identify a real Red Coral?

How to identify a real Red Coral?

Introduction

Red Coral, like all other gems, have been objects of utter fascination for humans since time immemorial. Colorful, shiny, and exotic, the Coral gem is a marine gift that has become an integral part of humanity's history and culture, with various legends speaking of their mystical powers to do good for the wearer. All this makes them highly desired by various seekers around the globe, leading to high market value with limited availability. This has led to the production of fake Red Coral copies, and the counterfeit is often sold to an unassuming seeker for quick, immediate profits. Fortunately, there are tests on how to identify real Red Coral gems, helping to differentiate between authentic samples and their cheap copies.

Fake Red Coral

Red Coral is an organic gemstone made of Calcium Carbonate and complex, insoluble protein secreted by Marine coral reefs as their hard exoskeleton. Owing to their simple organic nature and structure, making imitations of this gem is considerably easy. The usual fake Red Corals are made of plastic, glass, porcelain, wood, clay, or even bone ash! The plastic and glass are cheap imitations and can be detected easily using simple testing methods. High-end fake corals made of porcelain and bone ash, or the "reconstituted corals" made by reconstituting pulverized coral powder, are tough to detect by simple methods. There are various "do-it-yourself" methods listed on the internet that supposedly can let one "identify" natural Red Corals from fake ones at home, and this blog explores the same tests, along with elucidating if the tests work. Additionally, there are ways given actually to check a Red Coral's authenticity.

A Dyed Bone imitation of Red Coral that was submitted to GIA.

Picture credits: GIA

Myths related to Red Coral Testing

Before we actually begin exploring Red Coral authenticity tests, some types of tests aren’t supported by science yet are often advocated in the mainstream media. It’s important to know about these tests and why they don’t work.

1. Doesn’t Work: Red Coral Milk Test

The Red Coral milk test is often advocated to determine the authenticity of a given sample. According to this test, when dipped inside a glass of whole milk, a real Red Coral will color the milk with a slight pinkish/reddish tint. Fake copies of Red Coral won't do so; therefore, one can quickly determine a Red Coral's authentic origin.

The fact is, this test is a myth and doesn't work. The red color of precious Red Corals is due to a class of organic chemicals called "Cartenoids." These chemicals are the reason behind the various colors in plants, and in this case, the coral reefs. Cartenoids are fat-soluble, will not dissolve in water, and are chemically bonded within the Coral's structure. Therefore, these Cartenoids cannot readily dissolve in water, fatty solutions, or even milk, and even original Red Corals will not rosen the glass of milk.

2. Doesn’t Work: Red Coral Turmeric Test

Another frequently mentioned testing method for a Red Coral involves rubbing some turmeric powder on its surface. It's said that real Red Coral will not have any turmeric stains, or the Turmeric powder won't have any red stains. In contrast, fake corals will have a turmeric stain left behind as the turmeric reacts with the artificially colored dye. In reality, this cannot be a reliable way of testing as both real and fake Red Corals may or may not change color or have stains after the test. Additionally, it may damage an actual Red Coral specimen.

How to identify Real Coral stones using Real Methods

There are many tests to determine the authenticity of Red Coral specimens at home. These methods can help differentiate between genuine Coral and imitations, such as plastic, glass, or other dyed materials. However, some of these tests may damage an original Red Coral specimen. Therefore, one should be careful before following these procedures.

1. Visual Inspection

Red Corals, being organic gems, have a matte surface with slight imperfections and variations in color if examined closely. Natural Red Corals, even of the most exotic quality, have some inclusions that ensure authenticity. Samples that have been treated artificially or are entirely fake often have perfect surface characteristics like being completely spotless or having a silky smooth surface. However, one needs to be familiar with Red Corals to spot the difference between high-quality imitations and real corals.

2. The Touch Test

A modification of the Visual inspection test: one can perform this test if they are sensitive enough to figure out the difference by feeling the surface of the given coral bead. Natural Red Corals tend to feel slightly rough or grainy, while their imitations are made of plastic or glass that will feel smooth or slippery. One can run their finger slowly above the surface of the dye coral sample and feel the texture. Fake Corals made of bone or reconstituted corals can be more complex to distinguish with this method. Furthermore, high-quality Red Corals, like the elite specimens from Italy and Japan, have such a smooth surface that one might confuse them with cheap imitations when they actually lie on the absolute opposite end of the originality spectrum!

3. Weight Test

Doing the weight test can be confusing, but it is much more reliable than the simple touch test. Red Corals are denser than some of the fake materials that are used to make their imitations. Therefore, a piece of real Red Coral should be heavier than that of counterfeit corals of a similar size, especially when compared to plastic limitations. This test works excellently when one has reliable Coral Specimens of various sizes. The real astrological benefits of red coral are visible only when a coral is real.

4. Hot Needle Test

Caution alert! This test has the potential to damage the coral sample. To perform this test, heat a needle until it's white-hot, then gently touch it to a less visible part of the given Coral Specimen. Precious Red Corals are primarily made of Calcium Carbonate; sticking the heated needle will cause it to burn a bit, leaving behind a black residue. However, suppose the material is plastic or another type of imitation. In that case, the smell of burning plastic would arise along with signs of melting, with the needle even going straight through the fake Coral like a hot knife through butter.

5. Acid Test

Caution alert! This test has the potential to damage the coral sample. Being primarily composed of Calcium Carbonate, Red Corals are basic in nature. One can understand that an acid would react with the gemstone using the most basic elementary chemistry. Therefore, if one were to apply a small drop of vinegar or lemon juice to a less visible area of the Coral, a Genuine Red Coral will have a faint hissing sound along with slight effervescence (bubbling due to the release of Carbon Dioxide). Fake copies, apart from the ones created by reconstituted, pulverized Coral, will not have the effervescence.

6. Scratch Test

Caution alert! This test has the potential to damage the coral samples. Try scratching the Red Coral specimen on an unglazed ceramic tile. If the sample leaves a red streak on the surface, you have successfully managed to damage a real Red Coral! Authentic Red Coral will get a red steak on the surface, while imitations made of glass or plastic will smoothly rub with the specific sound of plastic glistening against the ceramic.

The real Red Coral surface when observed microscopically. The surface is polished while Gem-cutting.

https://www.gia.edu/doc/Spring-2007-Gems-Gemology-Pink-Red-Coral-Guide-Determining-Origin-Color.pdf

7. Magnification

At times, the quality of the natural Red Coral specimens and fake imitations can be of a high standard. A simple visual inspection may not work in such cases as the naked eye won't detect the fine details of the surface. But under a magnifying glass or a jeweler's loupe, original Red Corals will display various natural irregularities like grooves, pores, etc. The surface of Real Red Corals also has a distinctive visible texture, much like wood grain, when seen under magnification. Elite quality Corals can be identified with this method without hurting the precious coral specimen.

Best Test To Identify Genuine Red Coral Gemstone

Though various tests have been presented to answer the search for “How to identify real Moonga stone?” The authenticity tests of Red Coral done at home do not guarantee precise results. Those tests do have good potential to damage the Red Coral specimen. Additionally, people aren't very acquainted with gemstones like Red Coral to test and ascertain their originality.

That leads us to the only way possible Red Coral authenticity, which also happens to be the best way to guarantee absolute precision- Taking the help of a professional. Gemologists have various procedures that can answer whether the precious coral sample is indeed natural or not. This testing will cost money, but if someone is considering purchasing a precious coral that costs a considerable amount, it's certainly worth spending money to test it in a respectable gemstone laboratory.

Also Read: Properties of Red Coral

Conclusion

Though numerous traditional methods are listed to determine the authenticity of a Red Coral specimen, the best advice is to consult professionals. Most of the traditional tests require one to have considerable experience with the Red Coral gem, and the results may still be divergent. Some standard tests may be unable to differentiate between high-quality corals and their copies. With the added possibility of damaging a costly authentic Red Coral specimen, one should look for gemologists instead or buy this beautiful organic gem from a reputed trader.

FAQs

1. How can I test my Red Coral at home?

One can try to test their Red Corals at home using traditional methods. However, these methods are unreliable, and some may even damage the Red Coral sample, so caution should be observed.

2. How do you know if Coral is real?

Performing Coral authenticity tests can help one determine if their coral is natural. However, most of the tests that can be done at home can give unreliable results and cannot point out if a natural Red Coral has been artificially enhanced.

3. Which Rashi should not wear Red Coral?

Red Coral is the primary gemstone for planet Mars, the army general in the system of nine planets, and the god of strength, war, and courage according to Vedic astrology. People born in the Ascendant signs/lagna rashi of Taurus, Gemini, Virgo, and Aquarius have traditionally refrained from wearing the mentioned gem.

4. Are there any other tests to identify real Red Coral?

There are many tests to identify real Red Corals. Some of these tests can be performed at home, but their results may be incorrect. Through superior methods, gemologists can accurately test and determine the authenticity, origin, and treatments performed on a given Red Coral specimen.

5. What is special about red coral?

Generally Red coral heals and cuts bad skin. It improves mental and physical health and is also helpful in maintaining good relationships. The major part it plays is protecting against black magic. You can read about how to wear a red coral to help you better understand its benefits.