Featured Red branch coral brooch

Hi everyone! I bought this branch coral brooch this weekend. I did a google image search and it said the writing was Japanese for nickel or german silver. I don’t know much (or anything) about red coral. I googled a bit, but I trust you guys more. Is this real red coral? Or dyed red coral? There are a few white spots on the ends. I know the brooch is worth the dollar I paid for it, but is it worth much more than that? I was trying to find comparable pieces on ebay, but the prices were all over the place.
Thanks for any and all comments!!!

 

the coral looks real , but yes , dyed.
a nice costume piece .... worth more than a buck...

 

Thanks!!

 

It is real Japanese Aka coral, also called oxblood coral. It is not dyed. The dark red colour and white spots are typical for Aka coral.
Aka coral is probably the most valuable coral to be found, and you are lucky to have found a piece.


https://www.oagems.com/shop/corax3007-aka-japanese-coral-64mm-branch-9660?attribute_values=43304,43696,43326

There are also Aka coral beads and branches in Shamster's collection:

https://www.antiquers.com/threads/eye-candies-for-coral-people….89824/

I don't know Japanese, but the second character looks like the Chinese character for silver. It would be the same in Japanese.
I would have it tested to be sure, especially because it is on the back of such a special coral.

 

Thank you! I tried to test the pin with my silver acid. It was hard, but I finally got a scratch on my testing stone. It definitely is not sterling.

 

Well then , I'm in error......and have not looked at coral in a while it would seem !!
......

I also thought Black coral , if u can find it , was the most expensive...

 

Google says "The text engraved on the metal piece in the image is 洋銀 (yōgin), a Japanese term meaning German silver or nickel silver (an alloy of copper, nickel, and zinc)."

Debora

 

Even the best of us make mistakes! You are awesome!

 

Thank you for your kind words !!

I guess coral that nice can stand on it's own merits !!!

 

I have several black coral bangles, and while not dirt cheap, they weren't expensive either.