Feb 24, 2013 Old Coral Beads Introduction To identify old coral beads you need a magnifying glass, preferable a jeweller's loupe. Looked through a loupe, there should be a grain, tiny faint irregular lines runing through, almost similar to ivory. There shouldn't be bubbles, which is a sign of glass, or a mould seam. Old coral beads looks lived in not shiny or glazed. Pitting and dark spots in old coral beads is a good sign of use and age, and should'nt be so frowned upon. Old coral beads come in a variety of colours, from varying shades of red to soft cream and white. www.goodoldbeads.com/collections/old-coral-beads