Amber stone is a miraculous work of nature, the beauty and mystery whereof attracted people already in ancient times. There are many songs and legends about amber; poets and scientists brought fame to it.

The history of Baltic amber stone that is still found and appreciated began over 50 million years ago. At that time massive conifer forests covered the territory of the present-day Baltic Sea and Scandinavia.

The change of climate had an effect on temperature rise, which caused so-called «amber trees» to start draining away big amounts of resin. There are two morphologic species of Baltic amber: interior lenses, which formed from initial resins in various parts of wood and bark, and superficial icicles, drops or trunk amber formed by outpouring of resins along the surface.
Resins were very fluid and solidified very quickly through evaporation. An insect or a spider caught by the sticky resin remained trapped for centuries. This is how inclusions were formed.

This type of conifer trees disappeared 40 - 35 million years ago because the nutritious matter necessary for the growth of trees was consumed for an intensive resin formation. Consequently, the main period of resin exudation and formation of amber stones was the reason for disappearance of amber-producing pine trees.

Due to physical, chemical and microbiological processes in the conifer forest soil the resin underwent transformation. The amber under formation was washed out of the forest soil by rivers and transported to an Eocene sea basin and deltas. In the course of time the layer of amber was covered by delta sediments and survived until the present day.

There are different words for amber stone in many countries, which means that amber was known in various cultures. In Lithuanian AMBER is GINTARAS, in Latvian - DZINTARS, in Estonian - MEREVAIK, in Russian - YANTAR, in Polish - JANTAR, in German - BERNSTEIN, in French - AMBRE, in Greek - ELECTRON, in Hungarian - GYANTAR, in Spanish - AMBAR, in Japanese - ANBA, KOHAKU. SUCCINUM is a Latin word for amber.

Providing that amber articles are taken proper care they will never lose their beauty, originality and value. Since ancient times, amber and its preparations have been used in medicine.

Amber is the lightest weight & softest of all gems (a diamond is hardest) and quite fragile. It is one of only a handful of gems of vegetative, not mineral, origin. The others are pearl, jet & coral.
The staggering variety of colour, variations in translucency & the fact that no two pieces are identical contribute greatly to the appeal of the gem.

Amber is warm against the skin. This, along with its obvious sunny color, is why it is known as “sunshine” of Baltic.

Baltic amber appears in 256 identified shades—from a nearly black brownish-red, orange, green, yellow & cream to white and very rarely, even blue & tints of violet. Baltic Amber typically marketed as "blue amber" is heavily treated. Legitimate "blue" amber tends to be Dominican, not Baltic, in origin.

True amber is light enough to float in salt water, if not weighed down by other substances (like silver). This quality probably helped in its discovery - inhabitants of the Baltic Sea area can still find raw amber washed up on the shore.

Healing Properties of Amber

Amber acid is a bio-stimulant and has been used for ages to promote healing. Amber fights depression, and serves as a magnet to attract joy to the wearer.
Amber allows the body to heal by absorbing and transmuting negative energy into positive energy (ions). It is believed that wearing amber brings purification of mind, body and spirit.
New Age practitioners believe amber opens the 3rd Chakra (solar plexus). This is thought to provide mental clarity, balance moods & instill confidence in the wearer.
Amber, especially the inhalation of amber incense or vapors, has a long history of medicinal use. It was used well into the nineteenth century throughout Europe for medicinal purposes & is still used in Russia. It was said to protect one from ailments of the throat as well as a host of other maladies.
At all times amber necklaces wore in order to prevent and heal of Graves' disease and other derangements of thyroid gland. To wear amber bracelets on the left hand helps to normalize blood pressure. Amber is also well known as a good pain soother – today even the most “advanced” pediatrists recommend to put on small children amber beads when they are getting new teeth (it helps better than any ointment or drops – successfully tried on my own daughter)! They also believe that amber kills stress and nervousness.

Symbolism of Amber

Amber was first worn as a talisman of good luck.
Amber serves as a symbol of renewal in marriage & continued fidelity. It also represents an everlasting bond of eternal love. In some cultures, it evokes eternal life & youth.
Amber is an alternate birthstone for November, replacing topaz.
Amber has always been association with good luck & general protection, particularly the ability to ward of the evil eye.
Amber is associated with the signs Leo and Aquarius.
In dreams, amber signifies a voyage.
Amber represents the tenth wedding anniversary.

Like all precious stones amber was the subject of falsification. There are tests to distinguish natural amber from imitations.

COLOUR: honey yellow, orange, yellow white, red (hyacinth), sometimes blue, greenish and black.
TRANSPARENCY: transparent, opaque
BRILLIANCY: Fat, mat
HARDNESS: 2-2.5
COLOUR OF THE SCRATCH: white
DENSITY: 1.05-1.096
REFRACTION: 1537-1545
LUMINESCENCE: Bluish, yellow
SPECIFIC FEATURES: Friction gives an electrostatic charge