Living Coral - Colour and All Other Information

August 02, 2023

Every year the Pantone Color Institute (New Jersey, U.S.A.) selects a new colour for that year. This year, 2019, that colour is Living Coral that has absolutely nothing to do with Coral Reefs or the Coral gemstone that comes from those reefs in the world’s tropical and subtropical oceans.

Rather, the emphasis or focus is the colour described by Pantone as a life-affirming coral hue with golden undertones that enriches, energizes, and enlivens with a softer edge, nurturing and embracing us in warmth and buoyancy in our continually changing environment.

In other words, Pantone’s Living Coral is a feel good, effervescent and mesmerizing shade of coral that contrasts sharply with the colour of the real Coral gemstone that’s a stunning blood-red colour that, in fact, explains why the real coral is in such high demand by Chinese consumers because red, in Chinese culture, is synonymous with good luck, good fortune. But that aside, the focus here is the colour of Pantone’s Living Coral, and the need to find gemstones that best exemplify or substitute for that gorgeous colour that I see as a lovely pinkish-orangey-red with no hard edges of red, a colour that envelops the senses with warmth and well-being.

Eye of the Beholder

Are there any gemstones in such a colour that, first and foremost, is a delicious or mouth-watering salmon colour that is mellow yet vibrant, soft rather than garish or harsh evoking feelings of well-being? Well, actually, though I’ve done copious online research, checked every family of gemstones I know of, read many books, trade and otherwise, I have found few gemstones matching this beautiful, enveloping colour. But with colour, I believe, being the same as beauty “in the eye of the beholder”, you might totally disagree with me.

It’s really a matter of perception. But if we focus on pink rather than the orange tint, there are a number of gemstones that could qualify as a stand-in for Living Coral: Kunzite (a soft pink), Morganite (a soft pinkish-peach), Rubellite, Tourmaline that boasts every colour in the spectrum to satisfy every person earth with no two alike; Rose Quartz (though I see it as too pink) Pearl (of every variety, e.g. natural, cultured, Tahitian, freshwater and saltwater); Opals; and that delectable Padparadscha Sapphire though it, I think, is more peachy than pink in colour. There is also the one from Ceylon that is more orangey-pink than

pinkish-orange with some a true salmon colour in a pinkish to orange hue. So, again, it’s all a matter of perception or ‘in the eye of the beholder’ as to what colour you see.

Gemstones that may stand in for or represent Pantone’s Living Coral

Since I see Living Coral as a pinkish-orangey-red colour, my choice of a gemstone that could fit this colour is the Mexican Fire Opal for it too is an orange-red colour though with no pink in it. But sometimes you can’t have everything so this gemstone – Mexico’s national gemstone – could suffice in a pinch. Not only is the colour sensational but so too is its history for it was known by both the Mayas and the Aztec Indians who cherished it as a symbol of deepest love and gave it the name – in translation – “Stone of the Bird of Paradise”.

My first choice, though, is the Spessartite Garnet whose colour is even more sensational than the Mexican Fire Opal for the Spessartite is a fiery red with slight orange tints, which happens to be the most desirable colour and, in my opinion, the ideal stand in for Living Coral. But here too perception is important for you may not see it as I do.

I suggest, therefore, if you are of a mind to envelope yourself in this Living Coral colour, that you consult a gem expert – Monika at LL Private Jewellers is my recommendation – who will undoubtedly provide you with that alternative gemstones I don’t know in that colour or close to it.

Another alternative

This alternative is the real Coral from the seas and one I cannot personally endorse because I believe the coral should not be harvested for jewellery but remain in the ocean where it belongs,as an underwater ecosystem for about one quarter of all ocean species. stay where it belongs in the world’s oceans and not harvested for jewellery. But, if your preference is for the real Coral from coral reefs, if you can even find it, you will need deep pockets because the price for the real Coral gemstone has skyrocketed by 500% in the past 3 years. Example, last year a single strand coral necklace sold for $234,000; today that price would be $306,000 at $1,000 per gram because the demand is greater than the shrinking supply.

Please for more information about Coral please contact LL Private Jewellers at 604-684-6343