I posted a message to a belize listserv about a Raiders pendant that my husband had a local Ambergris Caye jeweler make from him (using a plastic one that they sell in the Raiders stores as a model). The jeweler used black coral and some kind of white bone material.
I got slammed by a listmember for unethical conduct for having purchased black coral jewelry and for violating Belizean law by doing so.
This was surprising to me. Black coral jewelry is in all the jewelry and gift shops and even at the airport. I have never heard anything about it being illegal and wonder how it could be illegal and at the same time, so widely displayed for sale. I have bought quite a few pieces of it over the years in Belize and never had a clue that I was breaking the law by doing so....was I? (I thought I was doing good by spending $$ in Belize...oh well...)
Is it an endangered species or something? Should I be boycotting this stuff instead of buying it?
What's the story on black coral jewelry?


Susan Guberman-Garcia, Attorney at Law. Phone: 510-792-2639
Fax/Voicemail:: 510-405-2016 Email: [email protected]