The facts
What mexican Amber actually is
The species behind mexican Amber is fossil resin of Hymenaea, Miocene, approx. 22-26 Ma, Fossilised terpenoid resin; it forms in the amorphous system.
Organic chromophores; some pieces show a weak green-blue fluorescence 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 1.04-1.08, with none; conchoidal fracture cleavage.
Where mexican Amber comes from
Commercial material comes from Simojovel de Allende, Chiapas, Mexico and Totolapa and Huitiupan, Chiapas, Mexico.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How mexican Amber is treated
Largely untreated. Protected under Mexican denomination-of-origin rules for Chiapas amber; counterfeit 'Chiapas amber' made of copal and plastic is sold heavily to tourists. No CITES.
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 mexican Amber is confused with
Watch for Mexican copal (abundant and cheap in the same markets), Plastic and Dominican amber — 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 1.04-1.08 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What mexican Amber is used for
The trades that buy mexican Amber are jewellery, mineral collecting and carving and sculpture. 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 mexican Amber costs
Expect roughly $2-25 per gram; fine green-fluorescing or inclusion pieces much higher, 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 mexican Amber treated, and how?
Largely untreated. Protected under Mexican denomination-of-origin rules for Chiapas amber; counterfeit 'Chiapas amber' made of copal and plastic is sold heavily to tourists. No CITES.
Where does mexican Amber come from?
Simojovel de Allende, Chiapas, Mexico and Totolapa and Huitiupan, Chiapas, Mexico. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is mexican 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 mexican Amber cost?
Indicatively $2-25 per gram; fine green-fluorescing or inclusion pieces much higher. 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 mexican Amber confused with?
Most often Mexican copal (abundant and cheap in the same markets), Plastic and Dominican amber. A refractive index of 1.539-1.545 and a specific gravity near 1.04-1.08 separate it quickly.
What is mexican Amber used for besides jewellery?
mineral collecting and carving and sculpture. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for mexican 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 mexican amber