Precious coral is a species valued for jewelry. It has a hard core that can be polished. Polishing brings out beautiful red, rose, or pink colors. Craftworkers carve it into beads and other ornaments. Precious coral grows in bushlike formations in the Mediterranean Sea and Sea of Japan.
Gorgonian corals have internal skeletons of a flexible, horny substance.
These corals look like bushes, fans, or whips. They may be soft yellow, rose, purple, brown, tan, or black. In clear West Indian waters, gorgonian corals look like sea gardens as they wave on the reefs.