Amber - knowledge base, jewelry
Properties of amber, physiological effects, zodiac signs and amber jewelry.
Fossil resin of amber ancient pine trees.
The color is opaque-white, the translucent is honey-yellow, brownish-red or hyacinth red. Light and even dark blue pieces are found on the island of Sicily. The most common deposit of amber is on the shores of the Baltic Sea. Black amber is also found in Romania.
Chemical and physical properties of amber:
Formula:
C10H16O organic vegetable resin
Crystal system:
organic compound
Color:
from yellow to brown and other colours
Streak:
white
Transparency:
transparent- opaque
Cleavage:
none
Fracture:
ridge and conchoidal
Mohs scale hardeness:
2 – 2,5
Specific gravity:
1,05 – 1,09 g/cm³
Major metaphysical healing properties attributed to amber:
Reduction of pain during toothache in young children, for gingivitis, skin diseases, respiratory diseases, infections, alleviation of inflammation, improves metabolism, stimulates the stomach, kidneys, spleen and liver, improves memory, stimulates brain function, restores mental balance.
Zodiacs associated with amber gemstones:
Amber is the gemstone of the zodiac sign of Capricorn, Gemini, Leo and Sagittarius.
Click here to read about the general characteristics of horoscopes!
It was already known and much appreciated by the ancients
The Greeks called it an electron and turned it into jewelry and made small and large ornaments by turning and carving. The XVI-XVIII. century, just as ivory was used to make cups, bowls, cans and even small sculptures, larger pieces were valued equivalent to gold. In ancient times, amber gemstones were worn as amulets to protect against various diseases.
Use of amber gemstone
Nowadays, pearls are used to make it, mainly for silver jewelry, but it is also used to decorate gold jewelry. Its main processing sites are Danzig, Memel, Boroszló, but its processing is also common in Paris, Vienna and Turkey.
Sometimes it contains a fossil (inclusion) of an ancient insect,
this is certainly not an automatic corollary of amber. It is especially spectacular, but it is rare in translucent amber, so we have to reckon with a much higher price than a general amber.
What to look for
As amber resin is a fossil, it is recommended to protect it from the effects of the radiant sun, as its surface may become dull and slippery. You also need to be more careful about scratches when wearing it because it is easier to scratch than other gemstones due to the softness of its material.