SOURCE Amber is buried at shallow depths beneath the earth's surface, so reserves can be roughly estimated. An estimated two-thirds of the world's amber is located along the Baltic coast in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany, and Denmark. About 40 million years ago, massive quantities of resin originating in the forests of the Scandinavian Peninsula apparently were transported by river to the Baltic region, amber is also found in the Dominican Republic and at Kuji in Iwate Prefecture, Japan. Currently, however, the Baltic region accounts for more than 90 percent of world amber production. Rough Material The size of rough amber varies widely, from a few millimeters to several dozens of centimeters (a fraction of an inch to more than a foot long). About 70 percent of amber is cut into beads for necklaces, while the remainder is made into cabochons and carvings. Weight : 9.01 g untreated Baroque Material Baroque (irregularly shaped) pieces that have simply had their surfaces polished are not of jewelry quality. Smaller pieces will be drilled and used in necklaces, while pieces of 3 to 4 centimeters (about 1 to 11/2 inches) are used as small talismans and charms that are carried around in one's pocket. Beads The typical shapes of beads are rounds, as well as the barrel and olive shapes shown in the photographs below. The top three beads with milky appearances show amber's color as it appears in nature. The bottom four beads have had their transparency improved by heat treatment. Besides necklaces, amber beads areused in religious items such as rosaries and prayer beads. Barrel Shape 3 pc Total Weight : 1.77g Untreated US $30(total) Olive Shape Barrel Shape Olive Shape 4 pc Total Weight 3.63 g Heated US $50(total) 3 pc Total Weight : 17.9 g Index Back Next