~MGJ~ STERLING Pink Bamboo CORAL CUSTOM DESIGN CORAL Leverback EARRINGS

They are specially dyed so the center of each bead is lighter in color for the appearance of realistic depth.
The word Coral is derived from the ancient Greek word "korallion". Historically, this word was used to describe the precious red coral from the Mediterranean.
The Coral is a branching skeleton-like structure built by polyp-bearing marine animals that live in colonies and are found throughout the world in the seas and oceans from freezing polar regions to equatorial reefs and at all depths. The branches are generally 20-40 cm in height and up to 6 cm thick.

Coral is made of calcium carbonate and is relatively soft, but surprisingly durable. coral comes in a variety of colours ranging from white to pink, red, orange, yellow, blue and black. 

Coral is a traditional gift for the expectant mother or newborn as a protective amulet. Coral comes from the sea and is associated with emotional healing because of its watery home. It is also considered a bolster remedy for physical disorders involving blood and bones, nourishing blood cells and strengthening the skeleton.

Bamboo Corals in North America: Deep-sea Forests and Blue Light -What do corals and jellyfish have in common? If you guessed “stinging cells,” you are correct. Corals, jellyfish, and anemones are all members of the Phylum Cnidaria. Corals and anemones are in the same class: Anthozoa.
Corals are divided into two sub-classes, based on whether they have six or eight tentacles on their polyps. Corals with eight pinnate tentacles are in the sub-class Alcyonaria. Of the corals in this sub-class, those with a horny proteinaceous skeleton, such as a sea fan, are in the Order Gorgonacea. Those corals from the sub-class Alcyonaria that have a bony skeleton are in the Order Alcyonacea. Bamboo corals, of the Family Isididae, are one of the most fascinating families of the Order Alcyonacea (Alderslade, 1993).
 
A Fascinating, Cosmopolitan Coral is Bamboo coral. They are cosmopolitan, which means they occur in waters all over the world. They can be immensely abundant, often dominating deep-sea communities and forming large, single-species fields, meadows, or stands. Their fleshy polyps are non-retractile, growing upon a calcareous (containing calcium carbonate) skeleton, alternated by horny gorgonian nodes. The bony internodes are increasingly used in jewelry, both in its natural form (bony white) and as a dyed polished form (pinkish-red). One of the deepest recorded occurrences of all deep-sea corals is a bamboo coral (Keratoisis profunda), which was discovered at 4,851 m.
 
Another bamboo coral species, the unbranched Lepidisis olapa, is bioluminescent (creates light) when touched (Muzik, 1978). Bioluminescent bamboo corals give off a blue light that shoots up and down the axis. Imagine a forest where the trees light up when you touch them. This is what we find sometimes at the bottom of the sea.
Scientists in New Zealand and Australia have taken bamboo coral colonies 30 ft tall, with “trunks” 13 in. across, from seamounts in the region. A 4 ft specimen, sampled from Warwick Seamount on the 2002 Gulf of Alaska cruise, was aged to 70 yrs. Those larger colonies may be 500-years-old.
 

• All Gem Weights & Gold & Silver Weights are approximate.
• Image Colors are as digitally accurate as possible.
• PICTURES ARE ENLARGED TO SHOW DETAIL.  
• PLEASE ASK QUESTIONS "BEFORE" BIDDING TO AVOID MISUNDERSTANDINGS;
• WE WANT YOU TO BE PLEASED WITH YOUR PURCHASE.  
   
• McKenzie’s Gold ‘n Jewels
  I come from a long line of family jeweler’s ca 1943.  Each piece I sell whether Vintage Estate, Trendy pieces from wholesalers, or my own Creations, they are precious to me.  I have a wide selection of many pieces that are from all kinds of different Cultures that are rich with history for 1,000s of years.  I know WOW huh!  Each piece radiates these amazing personalities whether new or vintage.  I hope my customers will enjoy their treasure & wear it with pride & confidence that the best jewelry components & one-of-a-kind gemstones are adorning their beautiful bodies.
   
• Here at ~MGJ~ we sell primarily three types of jewelry and on occasion miscellaneous items:
• I research what my wholesaler’s newest trends are for the changing seasons & purchase some of their inventory we call “finished goods” (already made jewelry pieces).
• Next several times a year I go out to Estate Sales & if I’m lucky I come across some really pretty “Vintage Estate” pieces that are a very good value & what I consider very well-made from multiple eras, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, etc.  On occasion I may sell a fun costume piece I find on my Estate Sale searches; or on occasion I make some unusual jewelry that may not be solid gold or silver but has a genuine focal Gemstone - those pieces are always disclosed as not solid gold or silver. 
• Then there is my Workshop here on South Padre Island, TX where I design my own creations.  I “never” make the exact same piece twice.  I’m just not a fan of seeing ladies wearing all the “SAME IDENTICAL PIECES” from the popular designer-of-the-moment.
• First, I use “precious metals (gold or silver)”; rarely use anything else.  You may see in some listings that Sterling Silver has a Gold "Overlay".  It is still precious metal over precious metal.
• Second, I am a big believer in nature’s lovely bounty of glorious Gemstones available in every color imaginable. There are just so many & I like working with them all while trying to keep prices reasonable for my customers.  I put a great deal of thought & creativeness in my designs.  Sometimes it takes a while in the designing process before I am satisfied that my pieces are impressive, unique, & affordable considering the overwhelming competitive jewelry market.  I’m all about the color, different textures & nature’s richness of exquisite, stunning, awe inspiring, dazzling magnificence that natural Gemstones provide, organic or mineral!  You get the picture, I like to mix ‘em up! 
• Thank you for looking at our store & we would appreciated it if you would come back any time as I am making unique pieces weekly.
• Fran McKenzie, Owner & Designer, 
• McKenzie’s Gold ‘n Jewels