Precious coral jewelry is the oldest form of gemstone jewelry with pieces as old as 25,000 years in museums. It predates the later use of pearls. Each coral gemstone color has its own distinct quality. Black coral is exotic and dramatic and has long been considered to guard against misfortune. Pink coral is delicate and is said to bring good health. Red coral is best described as rich and romantic.

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Black Coral: Antipathes Grandis
Mature colonies may take 50 years to grow. The first new black coral bed to be found in centuries was discovered by us in the waters off Lahaina, Maui in 1958. Today, Hawaiian black coral--the world's finest and the Hawaii State Gemstone--is carefully collected by hand by our divers at depths that exceed 200 feet. To ensure the future of Hawaiian black coral, Maui Divers strictly adheres to state regulations that prohibit the harvesting of immature colonies.

Black coral is rare and, when polished, it shines with such luster you can almost see your own reflection in it. Its stunning contrast against yellow gold makes it a wonderful gift as well as a beautiful keepsake for you to treasure forever. Our popular Paradise Ring features an ocean wave shaped by a graceful cut of polished black coral, gold maile leaves representing Hawaiian royalty, and diamonds that shine like the evening stars over paradise; a perfect reminder of a trip to the Islands.

Pink Coral: Corrallium Secundum
Pink coral was first discovered off Makapuu Point, Oahu, in 1,200 feet of water in 1966, and we began making jewelry from it the same year. Now it is found over the entire length of the Hawaiian chain from Oahu in the east to beyond Midway Island in the west.

A very dense and hard gemstone, its color runs the entire spectrum of pink, from almost white to hibiscus pink to salmon red. The marbled and shaded colorings in some larger pink corals are natural qualities of the gem. The value of pink coral gemstones is dependent upon their rarity but all shades of this coral are highly prized. Maui Divers hand selects only the highest quality stones that meet our rigid standards of excellence.

Our pink coral designs reflect the beautiful and fragrant blossoms of the Islands, such as the pikake flowers, which may well have been fashioned into the lei you received during your last visit to Hawaii. Our Princess Kaiulani ring was named after the most beautiful princess of Hawaii; when you turn it to the side, it looks like a crown.

Red Coral: Corallium Japonicum
With a history predating the ancient glories of Rome, precious red coral has been revered since early civilizations for its color, luster and texture. Found in ocean depths of approximately 500 to 1,000 feet, red coral grows at a very slow rate-only about 1/4 inch per year - making it a highly treasured gemstone. Our oxblood red coral is harvested in waters off the island chains of Ogasawara and Ryuku. We also hand select both rough material and cut stones of the highest quality from markets around the world.

Hawaiian Gold Coral: (Gerardia Species)
Hawaiian Gold Coral was discovered in small amounts in 1971 by Dr. Richard Grigg using Star II submarine in the same general area as the pink coral discovery area off Makapuu Point in 1,200 feet of water. In the year 2000, two new beds of Hawaiian Gold Coral were discovered; one atop an ancient underwater volcano called Cross Seamount, 100 miles south of Oahu, the other off Keahole Point on the Big Island of Hawaii. Both beds are at a depth of 400 meters (about 1,300 feet). The beds off Makapuu were the only commercially harvested beds in the world, and Maui Divers is the only company in the world that makes jewelry from Hawaiian Gold Coral.

Hawaiian Gold Coral grows at a rate of approximately 3 inches per year, and only about 3% of the bed can be harvested annually. Both State and Federal laws strictly regulate the harvest. Of all gem corals, Hawaiian Gold Coral is by far the rarest.