What is amber made of?

resin

Amber is formed from resin exuded from tree bark (figure 9), although it is also produced in the heartwood. Resin protects trees by blocking gaps in the bark. Once resin covers a gash or break caused by chewing insects, it hardens and forms a seal.

Amber is considered a gem because it glows and glistens when polished, but Amber is not actually a gemstone. It is the hardened resin of certain types of ancient trees that have been fossilized over millennia.

Amber is actually not a stone, but fossilized resin from evergreen trees. It looks and feels similar to a gemstone and is often treated as one, having been a popular element in decoration and adornment for many years. Generally a golden or brown color, it is considered to be restorative and soothing.

Amber is found in many places around the world, from Alaska to Madagascar, but the largest deposits exploited for jewelry and science are in the Dominican Republic, the Baltic region of Europe, and Myanmar, also known as Burma.

Perform a scratch test by using your fingernail to gently scratch at the stone. Real amber will not budge and leave any scratch marks on the surface of the stone. However, imitation amber in the form of manmade copal is going to show damage from a fingernail scratch. It has a hardness level of 1.5 on the Mohs scale.

Most amber is from pine trees or other conifers, though there are a variety of trees that they can come from. However, most amber is from extinct species because the resin was exuded so long ago.

AMBER (choose carefully) foods and drinks should be selected carefully and consumed in moderation. Although AMBER items may provide some valuable nutrients they can: contribute to excess energy (kilojoule) intake. contain moderate amounts of saturated fat, added sugar and/or salt.

Note – Amber stone price in India starts from Rs 150 per carat ($3 approx.) and can reach up to Rs 2500 per carat ($ 40 approx.) depending upon the quality and uniqueness of the pieces.

Artificial amber is made from glass, modern types of plastic, as well as synthetic and natural resin.

Genuine amber is lightweight and slightly warm to the touch. This is due to it being underground for millions of years and because of its chemical composition. You can distinguish fake amber that is made of glass from the real thing because glass is harder, cooler, and heavier than authentic amber.

Amber itself can be in water and it won't get damaged. However, many Amber jewelry pieces are made with a string, clasps from other materials or it contains other gemstones. Prolonged periods in water might weaken a cord or damage other jewelry components.

Clean with plain warm water and a soft cloth and rub with olive oil. Leave in the sun or warm airing cupboard to recharge for a couple of hours Keep perfumed oils and body lotions away from it. Keep away from direct heat such as radiators as amber will crack and shatter.

Amber prices can range from $20 to $40,000 or more. Fortunately for new amber enthusiasts, amber from the Baltic states is more widely available on the market than it was in previous years thanks to the liberalisation of the economies of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.

Can Amber Jewelry Be Worn In The Bath? Amber can be worn in the bath however frequent wetting and drying can weaken the thread on the jewelry. Avoid wearing your necklace in the pool or hot tubs where chemicals are harmful to the amber. If the necklace needs to be washed, use warm water only, no soap.

Amber will float on cold seawater. Or in a glass of water saturated with salt. Some plastics will also float under the same conditions. Amber floats on salt water.

It is quite okay to clean the amber teething necklace with lukewarm water and a soft cloth but frequently wetting amber can break down the stringing material of the necklace. In fact, it is expected that the jewelry shouldn't be worn for long hours and immediately be removed before going to bathe or to the pool.

Amber is sensitive to direct sunlight, try to keep it away from direct heat. For example, remove jewellery before sunbathing in hot climates. Similarly, your amber jewellery should also be kept away from climatic extremities, as this can also affect the look of the amber.

Over the years, amber does age. Often the outer surface will react with oxygen and form what is called a "crazing". This is a series of small surface cracks.

At Mohs 2 to 2.5, amber is a soft gem and care must be taken not to scratch it. Amber burns at relatively low temperatures. With prolonged exposure to light it might darken, and it can be damaged by chemicals. The only safe way to clean amber is with warm, soapy water.