Necklace Pendant Top Black Coral Vintage 1/20 12KT GOLD FILLED Box: Some scratches and dirt Rarity: Black coral is regulated for harvesting by the Washington Convention, so vintage items are considered valuable. Description: Introducing black coral, harvested from the seabed canyons at a depth of thirty fathoms (approximately sixty meters). Black coral (scientific name: Antipathes) is actually formed by the accumulation of the skeletons of microscopic marine animals, which grow into beautiful forms. The locations where it is found are very difficult to find, and are kept secret by divers. Rare and extremely difficult to obtain, black coral is harvested under extremely dangerous conditions. Divers face the constant threat of attack, unpredictable changes in deep-sea currents, and the dangerous bends (decompression sickness) that divers fear most. These factors contribute to why black coral is highly valued by gemstone enthusiasts. In Arabia, it is used as beads (rosary beads) for prayer.