Red Coral Jewelry from Italy: Necklaces, Earrings, Ring and Beads

Italian Red Coral and the Antique Orange one from Sicily (the so-called Sciacca Coral) are the most traditional precious materials for jewelry of the Bel Paese. 

Red necklaces, beads, earrings and rings are the core business of Eredi Jovon Venice since 1934!

The "Corallium rubrum" (generally called red Mediterranean coral) grows, is fished, worked in Italy and Italian Coral Jewelry is sold (since the Roman Empire) everywhere in the world!

The antique legend of Italian red coral gemstone: The legend says that when Perseus cut the head of Medusa, her blood went to the sea and transformed the aquatic plants into corals. This antique Italian tradition takes its roots on roman times: coral jewelry has been given to mothers that nursed their children; the Italian grandmas was used to say if milk had been good coral would had kept red and brilliant

What about fishing and respect for nature? Genuine Coral is draw out in the Mediterranean Sea: it's a selective hunting respectful of nature and provided by licensed brave divers because at Eredi Jovon we respect environment! So a coral jewel is is therefore respectful of nature, made entirely in Italy, and preserves an Italian job.

Red Coral Necklace Bracelet and beads

Which are the parameters for the best red coral beads necklace? To simplify the question, we’ll talk about a regular chain with round pearls

We need to create a first distinction: not all red spheres are coral and not all red corals are the genuine and real Italian one. Why we make this premise? Because an Italian red coral bracelet or necklace are rare piece of jewelry and naturally, like everything that is unique, they’re expensive.

These are the 3 most important parameters to get the best Italian coral necklace at a fair price

• Coral Beads size:

Corallium Rubrum grows slowly so diameter of the red pearls is fundamental and basically makes its price

• Spheres Quality:

Every stone has different grade of quality and purity, red coral is not an exception, just remember that perfection simply doesn’t exists. First choice coral string is not perfect, only plastic is without faults.

• Dark Red Color Beads Necklace in Coral

This has never been a parameter but if everybody wants the chain to be almost unnaturally red, the seller who got a (just a little bit) deeper color bead, cabochon or branch will naturally ask you for the double of the price!

Handmade Coral Necklace from Eredi Jovon

In 1961, Bruno Jovon acquired a stake in one of the oldest coral workshops in Italy. Since then, we’ve worked exclusively with partners who have been involved in coral craftsmanship for centuries. Red coral is a heritage craft and a proud symbol of Italian uniqueness and excellence.

We often refer to it as a “factory,” but in truth, it’s more accurate to call it a workshop, where every piece is handcrafted by the skilled hands of true artisans. The heart of coral craftsmanship lies in the expertise passed down from father to son—an endangered art form that deserves to be protected like WWF’s pandas. It is a dying tradition, and we feel a deep responsibility to preserve it with all our passion and strength.

Coral is often called “red gold”, and for good reason. When it’s authentic—and ours always is—it’s a rare and precious material that must be treated with the utmost respect.

But let's go in deep with our wide selection of Italian Necklaces

Explore our Coral Necklace Collection

The shapes and cuts of coral must honor the rarity of the material. We never waste coral: it's too valuable. Certain cuts do not optimize yield and often indicate imitation coral, as real coral artisans respect every millimeter of this natural treasure. Genuine coral should always be cherished.

Traditional Beaded Necklaces for Sale

We offer classic coral bead necklaces that are not only timeless in beauty but also a solid investment. In coral jewelry, the bead size matters greatly: because large coral branches are extremely rare, for example, an 8mm bead can cost twice as much as a 7mm one.

Alternative Red Coral Cuts

The barrel cut (either smooth or faceted) is the most traditional method of shaping coral, and many vintage necklaces for sale use this style. Other antique cuts include the cheese cut, tube-shaped, small cylindrical cuts, as well as natural or rough forms.

And to be honest—with over 40 years in the business—I’m still learning new things about this “red gold” every day.

Modern Italian Coral Necklaces

Recently, we decided to open our production to fashion jewelry: women just asked us something different from the regular beads coral necklaces so we started few collaborations with designer and artist in order to find new tempting models and match new desires and needs.

So we match coral with ebony or we added branches of gold into the traditional coral branch necklace

Antique Sciacca Coral Necklaces

I now want to introduce a rarity: the little-known ancient “gold of Sciacca.” This is a truly special coral that was found off the Sicilian coast around 1875 and for three decades provided material for late 19th-century Bourbon-style jewelry. it is a coral whose nuances vary from light orange to salmon hue via a smoky variant. At Eredi Jovon you can also find this rarity that is treated with the respect that something exceptional deserves.

Statement coral necklaces

Coral its for its nature a visible stone with a charming hue and a very recognizable shape. We just added a touch of glam creating model that had enlarged our offer of special and unique pieces of jewelry.

For example, our 3-strand Sciacca coral necklace is a unique and inimitable piece we have for sale in our store. Imagine yourself sitting in the theater while the whole audience while watching the opera can't take their eyes off you, your beauty and your taste for unique and inimitable jewelry. Imagine yourself, simply dressed in white at a dinner with friends on a summer porch while sipping an aperitif and wearing a coral necklace where a hand-engraved cameo stands out. It's your way of saying I am unique and inimitable.

Coral Necklace Care Guide

Like all natural products, coral needs some special care: don't shower with your necklace, don't spray perfume on it, and be careful when putting on lotion. Even particularly scorching days when you sweat are not great for this precious material.

In fact, a natural red coral necklace fears anything that carries a negative or acidic PH because it will deteriorate the part that we so lovingly polished. Now coral in nature is opaque and just goes back to its origin but loses much of its beauty (for many but not for all the customers).

However, Eredi Jovon (for a small fee) is always available to bring your jewelry back so that it looks like new. For your daily use simply be a little careful and treat your coral necklace with due respect.

Is coral a soft or hard stone? Mohs Hardness: Red coral rates about 3.5 on the Mohs scale, making it relatively soft and prone to scratching.

What is Coral Jewel

Red coral originates in the Mediterranean Sea and is a ductile material that is easy to work with (with proper care and preparation) but difficult to fish and bring to the surface.

Lightweight and comfortable, it gives the woman who wears it a warm, enveloping charm that enhances its class and elegance.

Coral also has great symbolic and apotropaic value in Italian tradition, which considers it a product descended from the divine and a harbinger of good fortune

Scientific Classification of Red Coral (Corallium rubrum)

Domain: Eukaryota - Kingdom: Animalia - Phylum: Cnidaria -Class: Anthozoa

Order: Alcyonacea - Family: Coralliidae - Genus: Corallium

Coral: the Organic Provenience

Coral is thus the hard shell that the tiny animals we call polyps build in the sea, depositing calcium and carbonate. They live in colonies and work together with microscopic algae to grow layer after layer. Once harvested and polished, this material becomes precious and is assembled by skilled hands into unique and iconic jewelry.

Coral Colors

But does only red coral exist?

NO, they exist in various colors from white to pink from orange to black! In this post we talked about the colors of coral.

Coral Gemstone Meaning and Symbolism

We have often talked about the cultural meanings of coral and the symbolisms associated with this precious and magnificent material. In one of our blog articles, we talked about how Italian red coral has been exported and sold around the world. As a common thread we can glimpse in “Corallium Rubrum” an apotropaic and good luck value valid and present in all cultures. Here it is that in Italy the red coral made of this material has a good luck effect, in China it is associated with family well-being and marriage, in India it is present in ajurvedic medicine and Vedic astrology, among Native Americans it was even a currency and a fundamental part of healing rituals, and in Africa it is a symbol of power because it is worn by tribal leaders.

Red Coral Earrings and Rings

Cabochons of “Corallium Rubrum” are than shaped by hand in our workshop to obtain a wide (the largest in Italy) selection for genuine red coral jewelry.

Set is mostly done in 18 kt/750% gold since the top-quality metal is ideal to preserve the stone inside the bezel and offers the ideal support for a cross-generation piece of jewelry.

Real gold red coral earrings usually show stone shaped in

• Oval

• Round (commonly called “pastille cut”)

• Square

• Tear Drop

I permit that those are usual cuts for a real and genuine coral earring because the main intent of the carver is to obtain the maximum from the rough branch of coral reducing the normal scrap that every stone requires. For example, a triangular cut will be quite impossible in a real pair of real red coral earrings.

Vintage Coral Jewelry 

According to the times, we offer as well vintage red and orange “corallium” necklaces and pieces of antique Victorian coral jewelry.

Antique Corals from Sicily: The old Sciacca Coral

We sell old red beads chains and the famous orange antique coral from Sciacca (dated 19 th century). This kind of jewelry is extremely rare. Only the oldest firm can provide you such a kind of pieces. Since 1934 we fish, produce and sell engraved corals or beads according to the Italian ancient tradition. That's why we have some piece of Sciacca orange coral jewelry, one of the oldest products of Italian craftsmanship, and museum pieces that we keep for ourselves, but we'll be proud to show you in our private small wonderbox.

Red Italian Horn in Coral

For the "Belpaese" tradition the Italian red horn in coral on a gold necklace is the typical gift to celebrate the birth of a new baby: the cornicello on a chain will keep evil far from the newborn.

Let's say the Italian horn in yellow gold is a light version of the traditional amulet.

The lucky protecting stone for astrologist:

That's the reason why astrologist think this an amulet gemstone, something that deals with our ancient roots: coral is red like the blood, like the wine, like the Italian life!

The Eredi Jovon Difference

What makes Eredi Jovon's coral necklaces and jewelry so unique? It may seem obvious and pleonastic but it is the most important thing of all: the necklaces created by us are made of real Italian coral guaranteed. Each of our jewelry carries with it Italian provenance and the first choice and quality of red coral. Each of our creations is totally handcrafted and makes attention to every detail its hallmark. Of course, since everything is our own production, we are able to customize each coral necklace to the customer's specific requests. 

But what is the different service we give our customers at Eredi Jovon?

In addition to being a coral expert, Marco is also an official certifier of the Italian Red Coral Association (ASSOCORAL). All our products come with a guarantee certifying their quality and truthfulness. For more valuable products (necklaces, earrings and rings above a thousand euros in value) we provide an additional certificate that benefits from blockchain technology and helps in case you want to insure your jewelry.

Obviously Eredi Jovon creates as well customized ring, earrings and  cameo necklace

These are Eredi Jovon Certificates

Red Coral from Italy Q & A

Q:Why do the Italian wear coral?

A: Wearing coral in Italy and especially in the south (Naples) is a millenary tradition. Coral is always been considered an apotropaic stone that can bring health. Coral is red like the blood, like love, like, wine, like life!

Q: What does the coral necklace symbolizes?

A: A genuine coral necklace is more than a piece of jewelry. 

A: Wearing or gifting a coral necklace is a statement of Italian identity; it's a way to wish prosperity and good health for oneself or for the person receiving the gift

Q: Is Italian Coral Expensive?

A: real Italian coral is rare, difficult to fish for and regulated so yes it is very expensive especially when choosing cabochons or large coral balls. The most important thing is to have a guarantee so you can wear with pride this treasure that the sea offers us.

Q: it's ok to wear coral jewelry?

A: Eredi Jovon creates jewelry exclusively with certified natural coral caught in full respect for nature. The coral is harvested by hand, from the bottom and only by divers authorized for professional fishing with predetermined and limited quantities. Coral fishing is therefore environmentally sustainable so that you can wear a piece of jewelry that first and foremost respects the environment. Only in this way can your jewelry have both a commercial and ethical value, respectful of the true Made in Italy that makes nature a resource to be drawn upon with the care of a good family man.

Q: What is a coral jewel?

A: Red coral jewelry isn’t just Made in Venice — it’s a true symbol of Italy itself.

This unique art form is deeply rooted in Italian history and tradition.

You can find red coral featured in Renaissance masterpieces, like the paintings of Piero della Francesca, and even aboard ancient Roman shipwrecks, where coral cargo was discovered after centuries underwater.

So yes — coral is more than a material. It’s part of Italy’s millennia-old passion for beauty, craftsmanship, and the art of living well.

Certificate of Guarantee

Since genuine Italian red coral is one of the most desired pieces of jewelry, imitations are few and we need to certify our products to give a great customer's service to our clients.

Eredi Jovon is also an official certifier of the Italian Coral Association (ASSOCORAL). Our guarantee is international, with QR code and uses blockchain technology for total security of your purchase.

Every product is so provided of an authenticity Card that certify the "real red Italian coral" and the "original made in Italy".

Eredi Jovon: A legacy of Venetian Craftsmanship

Eredi Jovon is a family of artisans who have been working with coral and cameos since 1934, the year grandfather Luciano opened a workshop in Venice on the Rialto Bridge. For almost a century, this family of jewelers has created jewelry for so many clients (Hollywood VIPs or fantastic ordinary people, the ones we love the most) while respecting the traditions of Venetian craftsmanship and never making easy compromises.

Our most iconic model is definitely the cameo dedicated to mythology, which you can see here in a splendid example: the nicest cameo necklace in gold available in our website!

Still today the jewelry store is run by the same family and if you pass by the store you can always find Marco, Alessio ready to welcome you with the smile of always.

Our motto is "A Family Affair since 1934"