Description
This description was automatically translated from German. If you have any questions about this piece of jewellery, we will be happy to help!
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In July 1831, an undersea volcano erupted in front of the town of Sciacca, located on the southern coast of Sicily. Fishermen watched the explosions and were astonished to discover that the volcano had formed a new island. Immediately after the eruptions ended, a fierce dispute broke out as to which country the new island should belong to. The Kingdom of the Two Sicilies considered it a natural part of its territory and named it Ferninandea after its king, Ferdinand II.
However, Great Britain also claimed the new land, strategically located on important shipping routes, and named it Graham Island. The French fleet also claimed the island, which it called Julia, and Spain also laid claim to it. The dispute was finally settled by nature: By 1832, the waves had eroded the island to such an extent that it sank into the sea and remained only as a shoal.
But what does this have to do with corals? The repeated submarine volcanic eruptions and numerous earthquakes had killed large quantities of corals, which formed one of the richest deposits of the entire Mediterranean. These subfossil corals had taken on a salmon hue due to storage in the water, which made them unmistakable.
This treasure of the sea was discovered in 1875, when Bettu Ammareddu, captain of a trawler, was fishing on the shoal that was once the island. While doing so, his necklace, which he had received as a gift from his beloved, fell into the water. When he dove for the necklace he found that the seabed was covered all over with coral. Soon mining of the coral began, but by 1915 the deposits were completely exhausted.
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Size & Details
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You can rely on our years of experience in the trade and our expertise as a professional art historians for reviews of the antique jewellery. As a member of various trade organisations and the British Society of Jewellery Historians, we remain committed to the highest possible degree of accuracy. In our descriptions, we always also indicate any signs of age and defects and never hide them in our photos – this saves you from any unpleasant surprises when your package arrives.
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