Amber is a fossilized resin, formed
when the sap secreted from ancient
trees was buried in the earth.
The word "amber" is
derived from Arabic words meaning "fragrant
material," and in German
it is called "the stone
that burns." These terms
stem from amber's properties-
it emits a fragrance when warmed
and burns when ignited. Furthermore,
amber develops a static charge
when rubbed, causing it to attract
small, light particles.
Amber pendants, beads, and buttons
dating back to 3700 BC have been
discovered in Estonia, and gems from
2600 BC have been found in Egypt.
It was also a valued material used
by Christians in medieval Europe
to make rosary beads. By the late
19th century, influential prospecting
companies appeared along the Baltic
coast. Lower- quality material, which
amounted to about half of total production,
was used as the raw material for
making varnish, while the high- quality
amber was supplied to major European
cities to be used as gems. The city
of Vienna in particular, which procured
about 40 percent of this rough material,
came to be a center for the manufacture
of smoking accessories such as cigarette
cases and pipes. The current center
of amber production is the Russian
city of Kaliningrad, near Poland
on the Baltic coast. Kaliningrad
boasts more than 90 percent of total
world production, with some 5,000
people engaged in amber mining. |
Amber
jewelry conveys a sense of serenity,
with a characteristics elegance and
warmth. While diamond is cool to
the touch, the sensation of amber
is one of warmth, and an amber necklace
is so light that you might even forget
you are wearing it. The beauty of
these pieces varies according to
factors such as the size and volume
of the piece, the quality and shape
of each bead, and the balance of
the tones present. The beauty of
the necklace pictured to the next
page is emphasized by its combination
of colors and the special facet arrangements
used.
Because amber was a fluid resin at
the time of its creation, pieces
of "insect amber," where
prehistoric insects were trapped
alive and fossilized along with the
amber, are occasionally discovered.
These intriguing pieces also hold
interest for researchers in paleontology
and genetics.
Over time, the light yellow color
of amber may darken, or it may take
on a reddish hue. The degree of such
changes will vary according to the
type of amber. |
