The facts
What amber actually is
The species behind amber is fossil tree resin, Approximately C₁₀H₁₆O; it forms in the amorphous system.
Organic pigments in the original resin 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 cleavage.
Where amber comes from
Commercial material comes from Baltic coast — Kaliningrad, Poland, Lithuania, Chiapas, Mexico, Dominican Republic (blue amber) and Myanmar (burmite).
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How amber is treated
Heating clarifies and produces sun spangles. Pressed amber (ambroid) is reconstituted, and copal and plastic are sold as amber constantly.
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 amber is confused with
Watch for Copal, Plastic, Glass and Pressed 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 1.05–1.10 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What amber is used for
The trades that buy amber are jewellery, prayer beads, mineral collecting 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 set or by the specimen.
Durability and care
Hardness 2–2.5; cleavage none. 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 amber costs
Expect roughly $1–1,000/g, 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 amber treated, and how?
Heating clarifies and produces sun spangles. Pressed amber (ambroid) is reconstituted, and copal and plastic are sold as amber constantly.
Where does amber come from?
Baltic coast — Kaliningrad, Poland, Lithuania, Chiapas, Mexico, Dominican Republic (blue amber) and Myanmar (burmite). Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is 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 amber cost?
Indicatively $1–1,000/g. 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 amber confused with?
Most often Copal, Plastic, Glass and Pressed amber. A refractive index of 1.539–1.545 and a specific gravity near 1.05–1.10 separate it quickly.
What is amber used for besides jewellery?
prayer beads, mineral collecting and decorative objects. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for 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 amber