Natural Italian Red Coral Rings Made by DeSantis Jewelry
Natural red coral from Italy is such a great material to work with when making our coral rings. This type of red coral is also known as Mediterranean red coral which can be extremely valuable depending on the grade and quality. Sometimes the term "ox blood" is used to describe the dark red coral color that is highly desired in natural red coral. In our jewelry, we will use medium to high grade red coral in our coral rings. As you can see our coral rings are made out of gold which is necessary for such valuable material. Some of the coral rings that we make possess intricate inlay pieces of red coral. The inlay process of red coral is very delicate and timing consuming to create such beautiful coral rings.
A very nice compliment to our red coral rings is setting diamonds around the featured red coral displaying a beautiful look.
Design styles
The collection runs to four shapes. A domed cabochon ring, where the coral is left smooth and polished and diamonds sit along the shoulders. A slim gold band set with a single small coral between two diamonds, which wears as easily at work as it does at dinner. A channel set inlay band, where the coral is cut into segments and set flush along the gold, the most architectural of the four. And a halo ring, where an oval coral is framed by a ring of brilliant cut diamonds. Four coral rings, four different jobs.
Sizing, made to order and custom work
Every ring here is made to order rather than pulled from a case, so sizing is flexible. We can usually build within one size larger or smaller than listed, and because the stone is set after the sizing is confirmed, the proportions stay correct. A coral ring can also be made as a coral engagement ring or as part of a wedding set, in 14kt yellow gold or 14kt white gold, with or without diamonds. If you have a size or a design in mind that is not on this page, ask us and we will tell you what is possible.
Caring for red coral
Red coral is a soft stone, around 3.5 on the Mohs scale, which is why it is always set in gold rather than worn loose. Keep coral away from perfume, hairspray, pools, hot water and ultrasonic cleaners, and wipe it with a soft dry cloth after wearing. Store it separately so harder stones cannot scratch the surface. Looked after that way, the colour holds and the ring can be worn for decades and handed down.
Materials and the workshop
Every coral ring is cast, set and finished by hand in our workshop in Tombstone, Arizona, in solid 14kt gold that is never plated and never filled. Coral has been part of this bench since 1977, when the family workshop began, and we still cut and polish it ourselves. If you are looking for a natural coral ring rather than a dyed or reconstituted one, this is what we do: real Italian red coral, set in real gold, made one at a time.
