Amber: Baltic
Known as a "window to the past," Baltic amber is fossilized pine tree resin, frequently containing prehistoric plant material, insects and strands of DNA. It has been appreciated for its beauty and unique properties since Neolithic times.
Since the dawn of man, the peculiar and curious properties of golden amber pebbles found on shores and in coastal forests have caught people's imagination. When burned in a fire, amber releases a pleasant sticky scent and aromatic smoke. When rubbed, it attracts other items towards itself with a magic we now know as static electricity. Baltic amber is 40 to 60 million years old and trapped many prehistoric plants and insects during its formation. Researchers have cataloged amber pieces containing more than 1,000 extinct species of insects. Between 1895 and 1900, one million kilograms of Baltic amber went to jewelry production. The word 'amber' comes from three separate sources: "ambre" from Middle French, 'ambra' from Medieval Latin and 'anbar' from Arabic. Amber takes heat application to alter water bubbles to discoid fractures (disk-like or radiating) also known as sun spangles.
- Amber is associated with love, strength, luck, healing, protection and the gift to soothe stressed nerves.
- In ancient times, amber was believed to have magical powers. It was warm to the touch, light weight, emitted static electricity when rubbed and gave a pleasing aroma if heated. People wore it to protect them from evil and negative energy.
- Early civilizations burned amber to cleanse the air, especially during childbirth. It was also though to correct eyesight by gazing into it.
- As early as 8000 BCE beads and pendants of amber were among the treasures found in gravesites in the northern part of Europe, and archeologists have found amber artifacts dating back to prehistoric man. Amber carving dates back to around 7000 BCE.
- The Ancient Greeks referred to amber as 'Elektron' because it can develop static electricity when rubbed.
- In Roman mythology Phaethon, the son of the sun-god Helios, persuaded his father to let him drive his chariot across the heavens. Phaethon steered too low, scorching the earth. To save the planet, Zeus struck down Phaethon with a thunderbolt and killed him. In their grief, Phaethon's family turned into trees. Their dried tears became amber.
- The Roman Emperor Nero was a great connoisseur of amber. During his rule, the price of an amber figurine was said to exceed the value of a healthy slave.
- In the movie and novel "Jurassic Park," dinosaur DNA was extracted from a mosquito trapped in amber.
LOCATION: Kaliningrad
The Baltic Sea region holds the richest and largest amber deposits. The level of succinic acid found in amber determines its quality. Baltic amber holds the highest levels of succinic acid
The largest mine in the Baltic region is in Russia, located west of Kaliningrad and where we get Amber.
- Ranks 2 to 2.5 on the Mohs hardness scale.
- Amber presents in various shades of golden brown, including pale yellow, honey, burnt orange, dark moss, blue and black.
- Sourced from the Baltic Sea region of Russia.
- Amber is not your typical gemstone. Technically, it is organic material. It is a mixture of organic compounds like hydrocarbons, resins, succinic acid and oils. However, it didn't develop the crystalline structures present in other gems.
