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 What
is Amber?
Commonly referred to as tree sap, however amber is
anything but sap! The modern name for amber is thought
to come from the Arabic word, amber, meaning ambergris.
Ambergris is the waxy aromatic substance created in the
intestines of sperm whales. The substance is related to
cholesterol and is formed to protect the sperm whale
from the sharp beaks and stings of its major food
source, the giant squid. Ambergris was used to make
perfumes. Ambergris and amber are only related by the
fact that both wash up on beaches.
It All Started Millions of Years Ago!
Large number of trees in some parts of the world began to seep its
sticky and aromatic resin down their sides and onto the land while
filling internal fissures, trapping debris, such as seeds, leaves,
feathers and insects on the way. These seeped globes of tree resin
collected life forms in the process. As geologic time progressed through
the millions of years afterwards, these forests were buried under the
ocean or the resin was washed out of the forest floor by large rivers
and transported south towards the sea. In the course of time, the globes
of resin progressively hardened into a golden gem with a warm and soft
glow from within!
The Process of Polymerization
This process of fossilizing tree resin of ancient trees is called
natural polymerization and oxidization of original organic compounds. In
other words, amber is fossilized resin that is million of years old.
Most of the world's amber is in the range of 30-90 million years old.
Therefore contrary to common belief, Amber is not produced from tree
sap, but rather from plant resin.
Amber is the hardened and fossilized resin of trees (usually pine trees
such as Pinus succinifera. Although not mineralized it is sometimes
considered and used as a gemstone. It is much used for the manufacture
of ornamental objects. Most of the world's amber is in the range of
30–90 million years old. Semi-fossilized resin or sub-fossil amber is
called copal.
The Magnificent Inclusions in Amber
The odd inclusions that are often seen in amber usually add to amber's
unique look and in many cases greatly increase its value. It appears
surprisingly light and warm to the touch, and readily produces static
electricity when rubbed. Indeed it was known to the ancient Greeks as
elektron, and it is from this that we have obtained the word electron
for the negatively charged particle, and also the word electricity. The
metal electrum was so called because of its similarity in color to
amber.
Why Amber?
The reasons why amber has been popular for centuries are
many. Amber has been a beautiful jewel that has been
fought for. amber has medicinal properties, amber is
useful to scientists for prehistoric life studies and so
on...Read below to find out more.
Joy and Happiness
Amber contains joy and happiness. It contains life-giving energy. The
life that started more than 30 million years ago survived the massive
moving of earth plates, masses of heavy grounds falling on them, being
washed away miles away and miles deep to the ocean bed and the traces of
them still stayed to amazing details inside the tree resin we now call
Amber!
A Beautiful Jewel from the Ocean
Amber has a special beauty in its ability for each piece to be truly
original in nature and content. It is indeed a beautiful gift from
Mother Nature. Several popular gemstones possess quite numerous color
varieties. None of them however, can compare with amber in this regard.
It has thousands of color varieties. It often happens that a single
stone is a natural composition of over a dozen different colors.
Beautiful amber is 10 times lighter than silver and almost 20 times
lighter than gold. Amber can be excellently polished to obtain a gentle
and noble sheen. A sheen which does not compete with the gemstones’
natural range of tints, nor does it disrupts with its sparkle the form
of the amber stones.
Prehistoric Life Forms Evidence in Amber
The treasures of life forms proved its existence through this long and
really earth moving experience. Amber is therefore symbolic of
life-giving energy. Amber is popular for thoughtful gift giving to the
beloved ones. Amber has a meaningful message about life and survival.
Useful for Scientific Studies
Geologists and paleontologists are interested in amber because it is a
fossil and for evidence of prehistoric life. Archeologists look at trade
routes and the barter view of amber. Organic chemists investigate the
physical and chemical properties. Botanists and entomologists examine
the botanical sources of amber and embalmed insects and debris. Poets,
writers, and artists look to amber for sunny inspirations. Gemologists
and jewelers desire amber for its beauty and rarity. Curators and
conservationists preserve and archive amber.
Long Life Expectancy
Baltic amber is known to have the longest life expectancy. Taking proper
care of your amber will result in enjoyment for many years, sometimes
thousands of years as seen with the recovery of jewels from the past.
Amber varieties also differ in the degree of their translucency. From
completely clear specimens, which were once used to make eyeglasses and
lenses for kindling fire (by the focusing of sunlight rays), through
varieties translucent in various degrees, to completely opaque stones,
often of the white or ivory variety. Amber’s great advantage is its
lightness. This allows uncommonly large stones to be used in jewelry,
which makes an impression of its dominance possible even when the weight
of the stone does not exceed 20% of the total weight of the piece.
Beauty with a Good Sense of Touch and Smell
Amber gemstones satisfy not only the eye, but also the senses of touch
and smell. Amber stones are always warm to the touch, and because of
their negative static qualities they create a beneficial aura, which
mitigates the impact of magnetic fields produced by most of the
appliances around us. Necklaces and bracelets worn directly on the body,
emit a delicate scent at body temperature, albeit below the sensitivity
of the human sense of smell, but therefore unobtrusive while always
there. Additionally, there is also the chemical impact of succinite’s
most valuable component: amber acid, a medicinal substance, which other
fossil resins do not have.
Back to All About Amber
Commonly referred to as tree sap, however amber is anything but sap! The
modern name for amber is thought to come from the Arabic word, amber,
meaning ambergris. In our "All About Amber" page, we have attempted to
provide interesting and useful information...
Read more...
Gem and Jewelry Education Pages
What is a diamond? How to buy diamond Jewelry? Online Shopping Tips..
Useful information on these and many other topics can be found in our
Jewelry Education pages. Read on the
useful information about diamonds, gemstones and jewelry in general. We
believe the more you will know about jewelry, the better you can
appreciate the quality and overall value of the jewelry we have to
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gemstones and precious metals with their history, facts, myths and all
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What is Amber?
