What could be the world’s rarest coral has been discovered in the remote North Pacific Ocean. The Pacific elkhorn coral (Acropora rotumana) — with branches like an elk’s antlers — was found during an underwater survey of the Arno atoll in the Marshall Islands. Coral geneticist David Miller echoes the incredible nature of the find. He notes that it just as much reminds us what we don’t know as adds to what we do know. The colonies look just like the critically endangered Caribbean species (A. palmata), one of the most distinctive of all corals. With so few colonies found, the Pacific elkhorn would easily place among the world’s rarest types of corals.
Genuine, untreated coral is the rarest and generally most valuable. White is the most common shade but a variety of other shades can be found. The rarest hue is a deep red. Most coral is set into inlays, beads, carvings, or cabochon shapes. The Euphyllia Torch Coral is a large polyp stony coral, often called Trumpet Coral or Pom-Pom Coral. It thrives under proper conditions and excellent water quality. The Hellfire Gold Torch Coral is highly sought after for extraordinary reef tanks. It has bright gold tentacles with lighter violet tips. As long as import is unregulated, there will be excessive, unselective and illegal coral harvesting.
What are the rarest colors of coral?
Of all gem corals, Hawaiian Gold Coral was the rarest. The color of Hawaiian Gold Coral varied widely and displayed interesting patterns, unlike Pink and Black Corals. Its color ranged from a sandy beige to almost black.
United States: It is illegal to harvest or export coral from the United States. Despite the name, it is not a true stony coral but a hydrocoral.
Blue is perhaps the rarest coral color. A handful of coral types can display blue hues. Water depth explains occasional blue and green hues.
Most affordable coral is legal bamboo coral from the Philippines. This is a type of coral, not bamboo! To spot real coral, look for white flecks on the gem’s surface.
The grandmaster Krak zoanthid is the most expensive coral for its size. A single polyp can max out at the size of a dime. It has gold and green striped skirts with a red and purple/blue speckled mouth.
While coral occurs naturally in various colors, red coral is essentially the only type for jewelry and is the most sought after.
Is black coral illegal?