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Amber is solidified resin from pine trees ( Pinus succinifera ) aged over 30 millions years. Amber occurs in the region of the Baltic Sea which includes Poland, Rumania, Norway, Denmark, East Germany and Russia. The word "amber" was derived from Arabic word "anbar". The Spanish converted the word to "ambar" and later in English to "amber".
Amber has been apppreciated since ancient time and its popularity continues to this day. It is one of the oldest gems ever used. Its “warm like the sun rays” color and its low hardness are responsible for its extensive use since the earlier ages of humanity. In the times of early Greeks and Romans, it was called Elektron or Electrum due to its capacity to produce static electricity when vigorously rubbed. This old name would lead to the word: electricity. It was also considered as a talisman against evils and headaches, as a small part of the sun. At that time only nobility and gladiators were allowed to wear it. Most amber of European origins were either washed up from the sea or dug from pits in the ground in the Baltic region. Accordingly amber can be classified as sea amber and pit amber both displaying clear, massive, cloudy, frothy, fatty and crackled.
The colors range from yellow, brown, orange, light yellow, orangy shades, blue tinted, greenish, cream, and violetish. The chemical formula is C10H16O + H2S. Amber is amorphous. Luster is greasy. Hardness is 2-2.50. Specific Gravity is 1.05-1.08. There is no cleavage and the fracture is conchoidal. It fluoresces yellow in short wave ultraviolet; bluish white or greenish in long wave. Baltic amber may fluoresce a grayish blue in short wave. Other occurences are from Burma, Lebanon, Dominican Republic, Canada and Alaska. Amber is noted for its inclusions which can be insects, plants, and basically any debris that were trapped in the pine tree sap.
Amber is also known as succinite due to the fact that its composition includes a mixture of hydrocarbons, resins, succinic acid and oils. The most valuable colors are golden yellow and an orangy brownish red hue. The clear material are considered desirable as is the ones that contain interesting insects. Amber is much appraised for the type of inclusions it displays: Gemstones are the witnesses of the Earth’s history; Amber is the only one which witnesses Life’s history too. Insects within Amber are millions of years old and perfectly kept intact. Prehistoric flies, ants, spiders, leaves and pieces of wood within amber are the best clues to study the pre-human and prehistoric fauna. Pieces of Amber with the right inclusions are very valuable and researched by collectors and entomologists. The more perfectly preserved insect inclusions and their placement within the piece will demand higher market prices.
Like many gemstones, Amber is subject to imitation and treatments. One should be aware that due to its low melting point, small pieces of amber can be pressed and fused together to get a bigger piece, a treatment which is easily recognizable with a 10X loupe and known as “pressed Amber”. Closer inspection usually reveals the separation lines when observed under light magnification. Plastic imitations are also abundant. The hot point testing method which takes a hot metal wire against amber produces an aromatic smell of pine whereas plastics will give off an acrid and offensive scent. Also note that a more recent amber is known as Copal. Its principal origins are South America, Africa and New Zealand. Copal fluoresce whiter under short and long wave ultra violet rays. Kauri gum is a copal from the kauri pine tree of New Zealand.
Amber is used in jewelry for making pendents, rings, earrings, beads, carvings as well as in lays and parts to decorate precious objects. From the earlier ages of humanity to nowadays, amber is still a
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