The facts
What baltic Amber actually is
The species behind baltic Amber is fossil conifer resin, Eocene (34-48 Ma), from Pinus succinifera-type trees, C10H16O approx., with 3-8% succinic acid; it forms in the amorphous system.
Conjugated organic chromophores; entrapped micro-bubbles lighten the body colour to opaque 'butterscotch' is responsible for the colour — and the chromophore, not the name, is what decides whether a colour is stable.
On the instruments it reads a refractive index of 1.539-1.545 and a specific gravity of about 1.05-1.10, with none; conchoidal fracture cleavage.
Where baltic Amber comes from
Commercial material comes from Yantarny (Palmnicken), Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia, Juodkrante and the Curonian Spit, Lithuania, Klesiv-Rivne amber field, Ukraine and Gdansk / Sambia deposits, Poland.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How baltic Amber is treated
Near-universal: hot rapeseed or linseed oil clarification, and autoclave heat to create sun-spangles and 'cognac'/'cherry' colours. Pressed amber (ambroid) is reconstituted from chips and must be disclosed. No CITES listing, but a large share of Ukrainian amber is illegally dug and smuggled, and Kaliningrad material is affected by Russia sanctions in some jurisdictions.
We state the treatment on every stone, including when the honest answer is that it cannot be determined. A treatment disclosed is a fact; a treatment discovered later is a refund.
What baltic Amber is confused with
Watch for Copal (soft, tacky with acetone or ether), Phenolic and polyester plastics, Bakelite / Faturan, Pressed amber sold as natural and Glass (cold, hard, heavy) — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.539-1.545 and specific gravity 1.05-1.10 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What baltic Amber is used for
The trades that buy baltic Amber are jewellery, mineral collecting, carving and sculpture and decorative objects. They do not want the same thing, and they do not pay in the same unit.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the carat, by the specimen or by the block.
Durability and care
Hardness 2-2.5; cleavage none; conchoidal fracture. That combination decides what it can safely be set into.
Below about 5.5 a stone will be scratched by ordinary household dust, which is largely quartz. That does not make it unusable — it makes it a pendant, an earring or an object rather than a ring worn every day.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What baltic Amber costs
Expect roughly $1-20 per gram for ordinary rough; $50-500 per gram for large clear pieces; scientifically significant insect inclusions run into thousands per piece, depending on quality.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is baltic Amber treated, and how?
Near-universal: hot rapeseed or linseed oil clarification, and autoclave heat to create sun-spangles and 'cognac'/'cherry' colours. Pressed amber (ambroid) is reconstituted from chips and must be disclosed. No CITES listing, but a large share of Ukrainian amber is illegally dug and smuggled, and Kaliningrad material is affected by Russia sanctions in some jurisdictions.
Where does baltic Amber come from?
Yantarny (Palmnicken), Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia, Juodkrante and the Curonian Spit, Lithuania, Klesiv-Rivne amber field, Ukraine and Gdansk / Sambia deposits, Poland. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is baltic Amber hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 2-2.5 on the Mohs scale it is softer than the quartz dust in ordinary household dirt, so it scratches with wear. It suits pendants, earrings and objects better than a daily ring.
How much does baltic Amber cost?
Indicatively $1-20 per gram for ordinary rough; $50-500 per gram for large clear pieces; scientifically significant insect inclusions run into thousands per piece. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is baltic Amber confused with?
Most often Copal (soft, tacky with acetone or ether), Phenolic and polyester plastics, Bakelite / Faturan, Pressed amber sold as natural and Glass (cold, hard, heavy). A refractive index of 1.539-1.545 and a specific gravity near 1.05-1.10 separate it quickly.
What is baltic Amber used for besides jewellery?
mineral collecting, carving and sculpture and decorative objects. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for baltic amber?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about baltic amber