Coral Colours variations, gemstone quality as opposed to non-gemstone quality, range from the palest pink to deep blood red, with every pink, pink to orange, orange, deep orange, reddish to “ox blood” red in between. Gemstone Coral is a more dense organic material than the ordinary sea-garden variety and much more rare. It can be carved and it can take a high polish.
Being one of the organics of the gemstone world (along with, e.g. Pearl, Amber), and not crystalline, it is not as tough as, say, Ruby, or Amethyst, and can be scratched; however, Coral will self-polish with time and wear. It is a very beautiful gemstone, satisfying to the eye, satisfying to wear, satisfying to touch.