Red Coral Beads? Or Fake?

Got these potential red coral beads out of a clean out. I know these types of beads are dyed and faked alot. These beads look natural to me? I dont know if they have been dyed. Someone told me once to soak them in milk? I dont drink milk lol, so i cant try that at the moment. Maybe someone can tell visually if it is worth pursuing to test that way?

 

Real coral, dyed red. Chinese beads.

 

Is it because of the light fade in color around the drill hole?

 

More experience. I've seen tons of those coral pieces over the years, and NONE of them were real red coral.

 

Do you have a real set?

 

The rubbery cord is typical of the way beads are strung when seen at any gem show or bead supply house.

 

they don't look right......heavily dyed..

 

If i soak

I just took acetone and rubbed the heck out of it and no color transfer?

 

maybe cuz the coral or whatever lends itself to having the dye sink in and hold ??

 

Update- i got a bit of color off the dark ones after doucing them with more acetone ☹ the lighter colored ones still no color transfer.....doh....fake still cool looking tho.

 

I would say they're fake.........just messed with...

 

The coral is real coral, but the Chinese added the color. I've heard of people bleaching it with varying degrees of success.

 

Google for "bamboo coral":
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bamboo_coral



http://www.nmbeadandfetish.com/Bamboo-D/products/1142/

 

Real sets are expensive, and nothing like those $1 Chinese dyed pieces.
It helps seeing real red coral. Since you asked, several of us have real sets, and examples of natural red coral are posted on antiquers:
https://www.antiquers.com/threads/coral-necklace-and-ring.32994/#post-436864

https://www.antiquers.com/threads/wooden-dolls.17788/#post-243437

Some of my own Mediterranean red coral:


These are not mine, but also genuine.


I am Dutch, and we love our genuine red coral. We grow up seeing the real deal.

http://zeeuwsveilinghuis.blogspot.com/2014_10_18_archive.html?view=classic

 

BAMBOO CORAL, Natural state

cut and polished, undyed:

Finished dyed product, quite convincing! Natural but not precious...18.88 $ for 2 strands...:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/2st...ds-For-DIY-Bracelet-Necklace/32820903750.html

 

For some reason rubbing doesn't work. If you press a cotton bud with acetone against dyed coral for a little over 30 seconds, you should be able to see colour transfer.

 

Oooopsy...that should read....... I wouldn't say.......

sloppy typing...

 

Once I visited a jewelry store selling new coral necklaces, both natural color and dyed. They kindly talked about and showed me the somewhat subtle but perceptible differences in color tone. These were round coral beads, different from the ones here. The necklaces were new. I bought a necklace with dyed beads. Much less expensive, but still very nice!

 

Think I have posted this link before:

https://www.gia.edu/doc/Spring-2007-Gems-Gemology-Pink-Red-Coral-Guide-Determining-Origin-Color.pdf

And think I can attach a pdf: