Collection: Coral

Fossil coral is a natural stone, formed when coral was replaced by agate. It appears as small flowers in the stone.

Fossil coral comes in different natural colors such as white to pink, brown, gray, black, yellow or red. Coral variations are caused by weathering and oxidation included in the original mineral.

Corals are the most colorful animals in the sea. They are found in warm tropical seas with little depth. They feed on plankton. The oldest fossil corals can be traced back to the Ordovician period, that is to say more than 450 million years ago.

Corals are classified among marine animals with a soft body, a mouth, tentacles and a skeleton. Due to particular geological conditions, prehistoric corals can fossilize being replaced by agate, with water passing through the limestone. Fossil coral has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale and is perfectly used in jewelry.

The origin of fossil coral finds an explanation in Greek mythology, more precisely in the Metamorphoses. The Greeks had this ability to explain phenomena that they did not understand, through legends. In this case, the formation of coral can be explained by the story of Perseus and Andromeda.

Perseus had to fight Medusa, also called Gorgon, in order to save Princess Andromeda. He managed to decapitate the Medusa and the blood which flowed, petrified and transformed into coral. He took care to place the Gorgon's head against the ground in order to divert the crowd's gaze from it. But, the Gorgon is eternal and its gaze acts on the surrounding minerals. So she turned them into stone.

Indeed, Ovid explains the particularity of coral, associated with a plant at that time, to harden in the air. In Greek, coral is called “gorgela” because Medusa was one of the three gorgonians.

In Catholic writings, coral represents the blood of Christ and Redemption. Very often used as a talisman which wards off bad luck. In the Middle Ages, it was customary to slip a piece of fossil coral into your pocket. He was believed to have the power to fight against witchcraft. Fossil coral also had the property of stopping bleeding problems. Homeopathic medicine made an ointment by reducing fossil coral into a powder for homeostatic use. Furthermore, this powder had virtues to promote fertility.

A custom, which lasted until the 20th century, consisted of making necklaces from fossil coral to put around children's necks to protect them from bad luck. A piece of fossil coral was even placed in the coffins. In fact, they represented a given currency, so that the great journey of the dead into the afterlife went well.

In ancient China, corals were symbols of power and wealth. American Indians consider them a sacred stone, protecting against bad luck.

The main deposits are in the United States and Indonesia.

In Lithotherapy, a stone of comfort, fossil coral helps fight against states of intense sadness and provides joy and serenity. It opens up to love and comfort, while offering a certain emotional stability.

Fossil coral calms and soothes people who are too nervous or suffering from great stress. It brings wisdom, facilitates reflection and intuition. This stone is known for helping to relax, overcome and manage inner conflicts.

It is also perfect for gaining self-confidence and self-assurance. It manages feelings such as shyness, anxiety and anxiety. Fossil coral gives a logical and positively critical mind. It also encourages acceptance of one's origins and one's past.

This stone thus facilitates opening up to others. Exchanges with others become quality and communication is improved. This stone opens one to compassion and understanding. It reduces feelings of panic and irrational fears. It is also suitable to help overcome past trauma.

This stone is also said to effectively fight against nightmares and allows you to have quality, restorative and invigorating sleep. Thus, it provides vitality and energy.