different methods for testing natural coral

 Good job Pam...and Stan.

I too was offended by Nostradamus' response to Kimmie.  I've seen too many forums taken down by this kind of thing and appreciate your quick action.

I would say that the people on this forum are more likely to just ignore the threads started by someone who takes this attitude rather than get into a flame war....that's one of the great things about BD. If you come to the forum for help....it might help you not to alienate the people who may be able to help you...if not on this occasion, maybe another.

On topic....I was actually very interested in Kimmie's post.  I don't really use coral and admit to having my head in the sand regarding it's acquisition so I for one am thankful that she brought awareness to the forum about the ravages of the coral beds.  It will make me think twice about coral and certainly look into where any I want to buy came from.  Thanks Kimmie.

TIme for me to chime in here.

Remember in The Wizard of Oz when the farm hand/Scarecrow tells Dorothy that if she doesn't want Miss Gulch to set the sheriff on Toto for digging in her garden, then Dorothy shouldn't go near Miss Gulch's garden in the first place?  

That's how I feel about this. don;t go back to that thread. Start a new thread. Nostradamus has no power to make anyone leave a forum. The comments were inappropriate, even rude, but also completely impotent.  If anyone feels any poster is out of line and won't adjust their attitude, simply leave that forum and start another chat. Why waste time when you could be beading?

BUT, if anyone sees the same members with the same behavior in other threads or especially in any spin-offs from this one, then I will have to drop a house on the instigators, if you get my drift. I happen to have some powers in this land. Please continue to report to me through your moderators.

But I truly hope this is a one time thing, and we can all get along.

Keep the forums friendly!

Yes, thanks Chrystallinya, I haven't already thanked you - and I do apologize for not asking in a nicer way and for anything else. Now can we be friends again? I do hope so.

Mikki, hello to you too! Sorry you were so offended you felt so compelled to write. It's my fault entirely and I'll be trying to make up for it. Since we have dropped the subject for now at least - what's new with you? So, where do all all of those forums go once they've been 'taken down?' Probably some black hole thats uncharted as of now. Do they ever come back. Hmm. Makes you wonder. I doubt there is much more to learn about coral in the thread but do stay tuned to hear and read what the new guy says next!

Well Deb, I was smiling throughout, see I swore I threw at least one Lol in there somewhere's, I did, and there's a smart alick remark or three on top to boot, ask anyone! Ah, to no such avail. Alas, my very first coral thread is a, oops, I mean, the beadingdaily's coral thread is now a total disaster!! Chrystallinya must have gotten all of her coral distaining beaders together over the weekend to totally squash the thread out of existence before it ever had come to end from it's own fruition. Lol! I like it better here already to see everyone stick up for other members. Finding good answers about vintage or pre-ban and the modern corals is hard no matter how nicely or not that you ask. Forget it Nosty, no matter what you say or do from here out...they'll never let you live this one down, not for a long time anyways! Okay, that's fine. Just keep trying. harder if you have to. You'll see. I have many redeemable qualities.

Since coral is a 'heated' subject to some of the members here  I'll continue to enjoy finding my facts elsewhere as well, like at the gem shows and bead shops where everyone else here also learns. There's a show coming in Nov and one in Dec as a matter of fact. Hope to see some of you there, I'll be the one with the big smile and stunning coral necklace.  

As a side note: my newest corals arrived over the past few days, and wow, they are something else and their previous owners revealed many new facts. Maybe I will share some of them over the next few weeks and in different threads entirely, They haven't banned me yet, thanks beadingdaily.com, you guys are also something else! Nosty

Good for you Nosty!

Leslie

Please don't drop any houses on us Leslie - we're all waiting to see if Chrstallinya accepts my sincere apology.

Yup, I will always give people the chance to evolve and redeem themselves! Sometimes we just have bad days...

 Hey Nostradamus-- I like your shortened version of "Nosty" much easier to type... anyway, I only know about ONE kind of coral, and it's a fossilized one... happens to be my home state's state stone. Petoski, really a very cool stone, would make AWSOME beads if it were easier to find. I did find one random strand at a bead shop once, in fact I'm wearing the bracelet I made from it as I write this. Anyway, sorry I can't add anything else to the coral topic. I'm more of an admirer from in the water, SCUBA diving.

Lois

Nosty -

Perhaps the only "testing" method I can offer is price!  Gem quality Angelskin coral is nearly impossible to find, because of a much needed harvesting ban, same with Ox Blood (Mediterranean).  About 15 years ago, I bought a single strand of 2mm round certified antique Ox Blood coral beads - I think I paid over $50 for it (it sold by the gram).  Around the same time, I bought two strands of 10mm Angelskin, and I don't recall what I paid for them - but it probably wasn't too much.  I recently encountered this dealer again, and I was surprised to see that she still had a few strands left - and the price was jaw dropping - nearly $200 a strand.  We chatted a bit, and she explained that solid Angelskin coral (not stabilized or reconstituted from lesser quality materials and dyed) is as hard to find and to sell as Ox Blood.  The "good stuff" that I was looking at was harvested from deep sea colonies, which is now prohibited. 

Today, I would not purchase any type coral, much for the same reason I won't purchase fossil ivory.  While  what is on the market may come from rapid-growth species, it still encourages the harvesting of endangered ones.  My choice, and no implied criticism to anyone else.

Lita

Lita

Lita,

Your comment about fossil ivory makes me chuckle a little.

Several years ago, at some glitzy Hollywood type party, one of the guests was wearing something using mammoth ivory. A ditzy starlet was asked her opinion of it. Her reply was, "I don't believe we should use mammoth ivory because they have a right to live like every other creature." Someone had to take her aside and explain that mammoths have been extinct for something like 10,000 years!

As an avocational paleontologist, the thought of selling fossil anything makes my heart hurt - though I do make an exception for amber! <grin>

Deb