Italian Strand of Rubrum Coral

Small, uneven beads in many shades of red.

This strand of rubrum coral comes from Italy. Rubrum coral, a red coral from the Mediterranean, is commonly strung as beads. The pieces here are small, rounded and irregular, with colors from pale orange to dark red, giving the strand a lively, mixed tone. A few darker beads sit near the bottom of the loop. The surface is naturally textured, and no two beads match. Worn long, the mixed shades read as one warm, glowing red. Laid flat, they look like a handful of embers.

About 20 inches long. A scatter of warmth around the neck.