In 17th century jewelry making coral enjoyed great popularity. Undoubtedly it was an easily available material for jewelry making long before that, but it is interesting that by the 1600s it was loved almost as much as diamonds were.

In ancient times it was exported from the Mediterranean as well as from China and India. At that time, and up until the 18th century people believed that it was a sea plant, not an animal.

Red or pink coral was lovely with the color schemes popular in late Renaissance jewelry, all the way through the 19th century. Sometimes it was combined in a piece of jewelry with gold, pearls and other precious and semi-precious stones and metals.