The facts
What pressed Amber actually is
Mineralogically, pressed Amber is genuine amber chips and dust fused under heat (approx. 200-250 C) and pressure into blocks — Same as the source amber, crystallising in the amorphous system.
The colour is caused by source amber chromophores, plus dye in the coloured grades. That is worth knowing because it determines what heating, light and time can and cannot do to the stone.
A refractometer reads 1.539-1.545, and the specific gravity sits near 1.05-1.10; cleavage is none.
Where pressed Amber comes from
The recognised sources are Gdansk and Kaliningrad processing plants (Baltic feedstock) and Chinese and Polish workshops.
Origin affects price in this material, so we name the locality on every quote rather than the country. "African" or "Asian" tells a buyer nothing.
How pressed Amber is treated
By definition a manufactured product. Diagnostic: flow lines, elongated flattened bubbles, a blood-red 'bloodstone' internal network from added dye, and a granular boundary structure between fused fragments. CIBJO and most national rules require it to be disclosed as pressed or reconstructed - never as 'natural amber'. It is the single most common misrepresentation in the amber trade.
None of this is a problem when it is said out loud. It becomes one the moment it is left out.
What pressed Amber is confused with
The usual confusions are Natural amber (this is the deception, not the confusion), Copal and Plastic.
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 pressed Amber is used for
Pressed Amber is bought by jewellery and decorative objects — and each of those trades wants a different form of the same material.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the carat or by the piece.
Durability and care
Pressed Amber is 2-2.5 on the Mohs scale, with none cleavage.
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 pressed Amber costs
Indicative pricing for pressed Amber is $0.30-3 per gram; sold at natural-amber prices when undisclosed.
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 pressed Amber treated, and how?
By definition a manufactured product. Diagnostic: flow lines, elongated flattened bubbles, a blood-red 'bloodstone' internal network from added dye, and a granular boundary structure between fused fragments. CIBJO and most national rules require it to be disclosed as pressed or reconstructed - never as 'natural amber'. It is the single most common misrepresentation in the amber trade.
Where does pressed Amber come from?
Gdansk and Kaliningrad processing plants (Baltic feedstock) and Chinese and Polish workshops. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is pressed 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 pressed Amber cost?
Indicatively $0.30-3 per gram; sold at natural-amber prices when undisclosed. 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 pressed Amber confused with?
Most often Natural amber (this is the deception, not the confusion), Copal and Plastic. A refractive index of 1.539-1.545 and a specific gravity near 1.05-1.10 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for pressed 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 pressed amber