so sorry for multiple replies had trouble uploading : (

Last upload I promise! (magazine for scale-it was nearby)

Wow Heather,
I wish I could tell more from your images - I cropped and enlarged a couple of areas, and still can't tell for sure...all I can say is.....maybe! But could be imitation from India. Can you get any macro closeups?

Thanks for the follow-up, Joyce! Appreciate it! Sorry about the other pictures, I took these with my camera instead of the iPad. Hope they are better. Also, I tried using finger nail polish to test for dye but nothing came off. Other suggestions? Try warm water and paper towel?

Thank you! I really do believe its authentic too - I just cannot imagine the beauty of this necklace could be imitated. Now my dilema - how do i determine its value?

i'd guess mediterranean, although the metal findings look to me like inexpensive bits as found on Indian costume jewellery. they could also be chinese from a time before coral was colour-enhanced.
to determine the value of the coral, weigh them and you may find a price for natural colour coral by weight if you look it up on the internet.
i'm not so sure about calling them "Heishi" which is i believe the native american name for small thin disc beads of shell or ostrich shell etc that are made and shaped in a particular characteristic way.These are small cylindrical or barrel-shaped beads.

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with me - really do appreciate it! I agree about calling them barrel. Thats what i originally thought but i saw several websites with similar cuts labeled as "heishi" so i thought perhaps i was in the wrong. I would consider the other necklace from the lot i purchased to have wooden heishi beads. So if i consider selling them you advise breaking the string and sell just the beads? Or did i misunderstand? Thanks again, Heather

I don't think you'll find any dye coming from these. Congrats!