Image Missing: Hearst Museum object titled Necklace, accession number 3-29924, described as Black coral bead necklace 24" in length with beads approximately .5" to .25" in diameter; strung on nylon line with metal finding embedded in coral. Materials, techniques: black coral branches; hacksaw; sandpaper; dremel power drill; buffer wheel; raw coral is cut to size, polished, buffed to round shape, drilled and strung. Context of use: commissioned by the collector especially for the Museum's Collections, this piece is not available on the local jewelry market. Purchased for $100 US along with a black coral bracelet and pair of earrings (3-29925, 26), it is too expensive to be made in larger numbers for the growing tourist market in black coral jewelry. Most necklaces have less coral and cost anywhere from $20-$40 Belize ($10-$20 US) on the local market. The supply of coral is endangered by this local market and by the demand for export which is illegal in its raw state. However, there is a black market dealing in black coral.