Coral beauty-price comparisons.

[tyler1503]

I recently made a comment on a thread about what the price limit we set ourselves is when it comes to buying corals. My comment was to the effect of "(my price limit).....I don't understand why some people drop thousands of dollars on expensive coral. I can find a coral for less than $100 that is a match for any excessively priced coral, beauty wise".
Hey I'm not judging, you wana drop 2 grand on a half inch acro? Go ahead!
But anyway, back to the point of this thread, a challenge was issued and a photo was posted. It's now up to me to find a coral that matches it's beauty for $100 or less. I'm not actually gona buy the coral, I just have to find it advertised at that price. I would also like to say I will be removing any company's names from pics I use for legal reasons and I do not own ANY of the pictures posted unless written otherwise. I also understand that beauty is subjective, so you may not agree that my choice is just as nice as the expensive choice, but I feel those here at R2R are open minded enough to realise the beauty in even the most common and "plain" pieces and give cheaper corals credit when credit is due.
Let the battle begin!
that Reef Guy posted this pic:

I respond with the yellow elegance coral:

Not the clearest pics. Here's a better one from another source:

What does R2R think? Is the yellow elegance a match for the chalice in the beauty department?

 

[that Reef Guy]

I recently made a comment on a thread about what the price limit we set ourselves is when it comes to buying corals. My comment was to the effect of "(my price limit).....I don't understand why some people drop thousands of dollars on expensive coral. I can find a coral for less than $100 that is a match for any excessively priced coral, beauty wise".
Hey I'm not judging, you wana drop 2 grand on a half inch acro? Go ahead!
But anyway, back to the point of this thread, a challenge was issued and a photo was posted. It's now up to me to find a coral that matches it's beauty for $100 or less. I'm not actually gona buy the coral, I just have to find it advertised at that price. I would also like to say I will be removing any company's names from pics I use for legal reasons and I do not own ANY of the pictures posted unless written otherwise. I also understand that beauty is subjective, so you may not agree that my choice is just as nice as the expensive choice, but I feel those here at R2R are open minded enough to realise the beauty in even the most common and "plain" pieces and give cheaper corals credit when credit is due.
Let the battle begin!
that Reef Guy posted this pic:

I respond with the yellow elegance coral:

Not the clearest pics. Here's a better one from another source:

What does R2R think? Is the yellow elegance a match for the chalice in the beauty department?

Don't forget the other two Chalices I listed.

 

[that Reef Guy]

God No!!!!!!!! There is a reason why those are so expensive 3,500 to 5,000 each (They would be much more 5 Years Ago when the economy was better and when Chalices were more in demand by the way).

Look at all those different colors!

 

[that Reef Guy]

Maybe you should add a Poll where people can Vote.

 

[tyler1503]

God No!!!!!!!! There is a reason why those are so expensive 3,500 to 5,000 each (They would be much more 5 Years Ago when the economy was better and Chalices were more in demand by the way).

Look at all those different colors!

Oh, my bad. I'll find two more pics!
I believe they're that expensive because they're new, not for many other reasons. Give it a while when more hobbiest have them pieces and are fragging them and the price will drop dramatically.
Anyways, I believe the yellow elegance is still a stunning piece that rivals the first and last pic at least.
I'm on a mission to find two more pieces though! Leave it with me

 

[that Reef Guy]

Oh, my bad. I'll find two more pics!
I believe they're that expensive because they're new, not for many other reasons. Give it a while when more hobbiest have them pieces and are fragging them and the price will drop dramatically.
Anyways, I believe the yellow elegance is still a stunning piece that rivals the first and last pic at least.
I'm on a mission to find two more pieces though! Leave it with me

Yes, they are Rare but price does not mean rarity only.

There are plenty of Rare Corals out there that nobody wants because they are Ugly.

 

[tyler1503]

Maybe you should add a Poll where people can Vote.

That's a good idea. I'm using the r2r iPhone app though. Can mods help out with that?

Yes, they are Rare but price does not mean rarity only.

There are plenty of Rare Corals out there that nobody wants because they are Ugly.

I understand that, but a high price doesn't guarantee a nice looking piece and it doesn't mean it will be nicer than cheap corals. I've seen very expensive corals that I think are as plain as day and ugly compared to $20 pieces. Here's some more proof that cheap corals can rival expensive ones

 

[miamiangler]

To rich for me I`ll stick to the 20 dollar frags

 

[Shep]

Look at some acans, you can find some amazing looks acans from less than $100. I got Rainbow Stripes Acan Lord | ReefGen for $80 and I got a teal rainbow acan for super cheap (there were 5 acans in the order each with 15+ heads for $200) I personally will never understand buying frags for so much.

 

[that Reef Guy]

That's a good idea. I'm using the r2r iPhone app though. Can mods help out with that?



I understand that, but a high price doesn't guarantee a nice looking piece and it doesn't mean it will be nicer than cheap corals. I've seen very expensive corals that I think are as plain as day and ugly compared to $20 pieces. Here's some more proof that cheap corals can rival expensive ones

I agree that there are many instances where a less rare coral is nicer than expensive ones.

Best Point - There are a hundred Zoanthids out there that look better than the 2,500 a Polyp Krakatoa.

But nothing is going to beat those 3 Chalices.

 

[Shep]

I agree that there are many instances where a less rare coral is nicer than expensive ones.

Best Point - There are a hundred Zoanthids out there that look better than the 2,500 a Polyp Krakatoa.

But nothing is going to beat those 3 Chalices.

Meh, to each their own. I think those chalices are nice looking but I personally think the acan I posted looks better and I have seen a ton of other acans that also look nicer. When it comes to looks its really all about the person looking at the coral.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

I'm confused. Was the challenge to find something that looks like the chalice for under $100? I am assuming that's not the way it was taken since the elegance is posted as a suitable comparison. The problem there is that we're not even comparing 2 chalices to each other...those are 2 totally different corals. How can this be considered even remotely for objectivity? I get that subjectivity is always going to play a role when we're talking about "beauty"...but when we start comparing acros to oranges (see what I did there?) it becomes an impossible conversation IMO. It would be like me saying that my sports car is beautiful and worth every penny and someone else rolling out a boat of some kind and wanting to compare the two (again this is my opinion).

 

[Shep]

I'm confused. Was the challenge to find something that looks like the chalice for under $100? I am assuming that's not the way it was taken since the elegance is posted as a suitable comparison. The problem there is that we're not even comparing 2 chalices to each other...those are 2 totally different corals. How can this be considered even remotely for objectivity? I get that subjectivity is always going to play a role when we're talking about "beauty"...but when we start comparing acros to oranges (see what I did there?) it becomes an impossible conversation IMO. It would be like me saying that my sports car is beautiful and worth every penny and someone else rolling out a boat of some kind and wanting to compare the two (again this is my opinion).

I think it was to find a coral that looked just as good as the chalices and I would take the orange over the acro anyday. Gotta have the vit C!

 

[tyler1503]

I'm confused. Was the challenge to find something that looks like the chalice for under $100? I am assuming that's not the way it was taken since the elegance is posted as a suitable comparison. The problem there is that we're not even comparing 2 chalices to each other...those are 2 totally different corals. How can this be considered even remotely for objectivity? I get that subjectivity is always going to play a role when we're talking about "beauty"...but when we start comparing acros to oranges (see what I did there?) it becomes an impossible conversation IMO. It would be like me saying that my sports car is beautiful and worth every penny and someone else rolling out a boat of some kind and wanting to compare the two (again this is my opinion).

The challenge was to find any coral for $100 or less that can rival any expensive ($1000-$2000+) coral in the beauty department.
I get that beauty is purely subjective, but I was saying its possible to have a cheap coral that looks as good or better than an expensive one. I also get that comparing an elegance to a chalice isn't exactly a great comparison, but it's not about comparing two of the same species. It's purely about appearance and price and because we can see both of them and buy both of them, I believe it is relevant. It's a visual thing, not biological.
I believe the $20 rainbow trachy is more than a match or even the most expensive pieces out there. The colour is ridiculous!!
As it was said before, each to there own. I just can't justify spending $2000 on a chalice when I can spend $20 on the trachy that I believe looks better

 

[Z06-Hec]

I think i can agree with the OP...
In a similar case, lets take the Black Tang vs the Spotted Tang or Gem Tang... Personally i think the Gem Tang/Black Spotted tang is a much more nicer looking fish and is way cheaper than the black tang...
I just think people consider something rare on their own and just put a high price on it...
In fact... I've seen wholesalers prices on these black tangs.. they range from $250-$350 wholesale... Why the retailers mark them up to $900 and better is beyond me... Would never pay $1000 for a fish or a coral.
Or
$600 for a .5" coral or clam

 

[that Reef Guy]

I think i can agree with the OP...
In a similar case, lets take the Black Tang vs the Spotted Tang or Gem Tang... Personally i think the Gem Tang/Black Spotted tang is a much more nicer looking fish and is way cheaper than the black tang...
I just think people consider something rare on their own and just put a high price on it...
In fact... I've seen wholesalers prices on these black tangs.. they range from $250-$350 wholesale... Why the retailers mark them up to $900 and better is beyond me... Would never pay $1000 for a fish or a coral.
Or
$600 for a .5" coral or clam

I thought Gem Tangs were around triple the Price of Black Tangs.

 

[Z06-Hec]

I thought Gem Tangs were around triple the Price of Black Tangs.

LOL your're right but you get what I'm saying...
Could have been a purple tang or anything... etc...