Red coral is an organic gem that is formed from the calcareous skeletons of marine corals, specifically *Corallium*. These corals grow in deep, cold waters, and the material extracted from them is mainly used for making jewelry. Their color ranges from deep red to softer shades of pink, with red being the most valued.
Coral faces threats due to overexploitation and ocean pollution, which has led to regulations on its harvesting and marketing. For this reason, responsible sourcing and the use of cultivated coral instead of that extracted from the sea are promoted today.
