Amber
A life capsule that seals millions of years of time.
📜 History and Stories
Amber is one of the earliest ornaments used by mankind, dating back to the Stone Age. Its English name Amber comes from the Arabic word "anbar". The ancient Greeks called it "elektron", meaning "product of the sun", and discovered that rubbing amber produced static electricity, which is the origin of the word "electricity".
The most famous amber work of art is the Amber Palace, an 18th-century gift from the King of Prussia to the Tsar of Russia. The entire room was decorated with more than six tons of amber and gold, but mysteriously disappeared during World War II, making it one of the biggest unsolved crimes in history.
🌍 Major Origin Distribution
More than 90% of the world's amber comes from the Baltic Sea region (e.g. Poland, Lithuania, Kaliningrad, Russia), where amber (known as "sepia" or succinite) is about 40-60 million years old. The Dominican Republic is famous for its amber, which is rich in insect inclusions, including the extremely rare blue amber. Other sources include Burma, Mexico and Fushun, China.
📍 Explore the Amber Capital of the World: Gdansk, Poland🔬 Gemological Properties
| characterization | descriptive |
|---|---|
| Category | Organic Gems (Resin Fossils) |
| Chemical composition | Complex hydrocarbons |
| Mohs hardness | 2 - 2.5 |
| index of refraction | Approx. 1.540 |
| Key Features | Lightweight, floats in salt water, often contains inclusions. |
Amber vs.
⏳ The time capsule: formation of inclusions
The most fascinating thing about amber is its contents. When the resin from the pine and cypress family flowed down millions of years ago, it encased the insects, plants and even small vertebrates of the time. Over time, as the resin hardened and petrified, this ancient life was perfectly sealed, making it an invaluable sample for scientists studying ancient ecosystems.
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Resin dripping
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parcel organism
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Petrified to form amber
💰 Different quality grades and values
The value of amber is mainly determined by its inclusions, transparency, color and size.
1. Inclusions
The most important factor. The rarer (e.g., vertebrate), more complete, and clearer the inclusions, the higher the value.
2. Transparency
Clear, transparent 'goldbergs' allow better visualization of the contents and are usually more valuable than opaque 'beeswaxes'.
3. Color
Uniform, rich colors are preferred. Rarely seen blue and green peridot are highly valued.
4. Size
Large pieces of amber, especially those with large inclusions, are very rare and expensive.
The value ladder of different varieties
From the common beeswax, to the golden amber containing rare insects, to the extremely rare blue amber, the value of amber varies greatly depending on its uniqueness.
💖 Symbolism
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Warmth and Healing
Considered to have the energy of the sun, it brings warmth, absorbs negative energy and heals the body and mind.
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Protecting and warding off evil spirits
It has been a powerful talisman since ancient times, protecting the wearer from evil.
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Eternity and Memory
As a capsule of time, it symbolizes eternity and creates a link with memory and the past.
🛡️ Care and Wear
Amber is a very delicate organic gemstone, with a very low hardness, which requires the utmost care.
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Avoid scratching
Extremely low hardness and should be stored separately.
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Stay away from chemicals
Avoid contact with perfumes, hairsprays and detergents.
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Avoid high temperatures
High temperatures or exposure to the sun can cause them to become brittle or discolored.
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wipe with clean water
Wipe gently with a soft cloth and water only.
👑 art and collecting
Amber is not only jewelry, but also an important work of art and a collector's item. In addition to the legendary amber palaces, the world's major museums have exquisite collections of ancient amber carvings. Amber with rare inclusions (e.g. lizards, feathers) is highly sought after at auctions and is a gem for scientific research and collecting.