Amber and its properties

13 Jul Amber and its properties

Amber is one of the few gems that hasn’t got a mineral origin,  it has a vegetable origin so it is an organic gem.

Amber is a fossilized resin from certain pine trees, particularly Pinus Succinifera, which flourished in Oligocene times, more than 30 million years ago.

Since prehistoric times amber has been used as an object of ornament and as a jewel.

It is a delicate gem due to its low hardness (2-2.5 on the Mohs scale).

Its low specific weight (1.05-1.09 maximum 1.30) makes amber a lightweight gem that allows  to make “big” comfortable pieces.

Its composition is complex, several resins, succinic acid and a volatile oil, but also contains a certain amount of hydrogen sulphide.

Amber goes from translucent to transparent. The color usually goes from yellow to brown.

Imitations

Ambroid: Small fragments and amber remains that are heated and pressed to make large pieces to work with.

Copal: Relatively recent natural resin (approximately 100 years old)

These two imitations are not easy to detect.

And then we would have to count also the synthetic resins and the crystals

Therapeutic properties

Amber is a very powerful gem. It has intense connections with the earth. It cleans the environment and the chakras. Absorbs the negative energy and transforms it into a positive force. Psychologically it provides stability.

You have to wear it for long periods of time, especially on the wrist or neck.