Buying Marjan: A Plain Guide to Choosing Red Coral You Won't Regret

Red coral, marjan or moonga as most people here call it, isn't a mineral. It is the skeleton of tiny sea creatures, made of calcium carbonate, and that changes nearly everything about how you buy it and care for it. It is soft, acids attack it, and it is copied everywhere. If this is your first piece of coral, have a read before you pick one.

What you are actually buying

Gem coral comes mostly from the Mediterranean and the waters around Japan and Taiwan. The colour runs from orange-red right through to a deep oxblood. It is usually cut as a smooth oval or round, or as a triangle for astrological wear. Natural coral shows a fine, slightly wavy grain or small pits on its surface, which is the mark of something that grew.

Common fakes and how to catch them

• Dyed bamboo coral: a cheaper, paler coral that has been coloured red. Under a loupe you'll see the dye sitting in the surface pores and cracks, usually darker there than everywhere else.
• Plastic and resin: light in the hand, warm to touch, perfectly even in colour, with no natural grain.
• Glass: may show round bubbles and a shinier, glassier lustre than real coral's soft, waxy glow.

A piece that is flawless, completely even in colour and cheap deserves suspicion. Ask for "natural coral, undyed" to be written on your invoice.

What good marjan looks like

A strong, even red matters most. After that comes a smooth surface with no visible pits or cracks, a good shape and a fine polish. Size counts too, because large clean pieces are hard to come by.

Wearing it and looking after it

Coral is only 3 to 4 on the Mohs scale, so it is soft. It is happier in pendants and earrings than in a ring you wear all day, although plenty of people do wear a coral ring for astrological reasons. If you do, take it off before working with your hands. Keep it away from perfume, lemon juice, vinegar and household cleaners, all of which can etch the surface. Clean it with a damp cloth and nothing more, and never in an ultrasonic cleaner.

Price

We price every piece on its own, according to its colour, surface and size.

Marjan in tradition

In South Asian astrology red coral belongs to Mars (Mangal) and is traditionally worn for courage, stamina and firm decisions. These are beliefs, not guaranteed results. Settle the weight, metal and finger with your astrologer before you set it; our rashi guide shows the usual pairings.

Before you hand over money

Make sure it is natural coral and not plastic, glass or dyed material, that any treatment is in writing, and that the weight quoted is for the finished piece. We check every stone and photograph each one by itself. Browse red coral, or compare topaz and blue topaz. Our names page lists the Urdu and English names. Cash on Delivery covers all of Karachi, usually within 1–2 working days, plus Lahore and every other city.