Amber Information
AMBER - PREHISTORIC HISTORY IN JEWELRY
Honey yellow and with inclusions, bugs, twigs and bits of other debris. Amber is truly a bit of prehistoric specimen used in jewelry. It is difficult to identify and test. Hopefully, this article will answer some of your questions.
Is amber a gemstone?
Photo courtesy of crystal-cure.com
Amber is a very light stone, which is actually a solidified and fossilized resin of the now extinct conifer trees. As the sticky resin oozed from these ancient pine trees, small insects, feathers, plants and other small objects which were in the path of the flow became entrapped in it. As time progressed, the resin became encased in dirt and other debris to become what is called Copal. Over more time, and through pressure and the process of heat, the copal fossilized to become what is then known as amber. We think of an promote amber as a gemstone, but it is actually an organic matter.
Color of Amber
The color of amber is usually honey brown but it does come in an array of slight honey colored variations such as bright yellow all the way through to a fairly deep brown color. Brighter colors such as green, red and blue can often be found within the honey colored substance, but honey brown is the most common overall color.
Photo courtesy of polandforall.com
Insects and other entrapments
Amber can contain insects, which is one of the ways to definitely identify it. Some common insects found in it are gnats, flies, wasps, ants and bees. Every once in a while, one may find more exotic insects encased in the amber such as grasshoppers, beetles, moths, etc. And of course, twigs, leaves and the like are commonly found. Even scorpions, frogs and lizards have been found on rare occasions. Often, bubbles are found within amber.
Age of Amber
One of the oldest geological specimens to be used in jewelry, evidence of amber jewelry has been found that is 40,000 years old. Of course, not all amber is this old, but since it is a fossilized organic matter, it will definitely be old.
Photo courtesy of alightforscience.com
Hardness of amber
Amber is very soft and will scratch easily, so it should be stored away from other jewelry. Bracelets and rings which contain amber should be worn carefully so that the surfaces don't get too much friction which will cause them to bruise. The easiest type of amber jewelry to protect is that in necklaces, especially pendants, and brooches or pins. The hardness of amber is only 2 1/2-3 on the Mohs Scale. Most jewelry today which has amber in it, will have reconstituted amber. This type of amber rarely will have insects or other debris and has been worked, so it is much more durable.
Real or plastic?
Much modern day jewelry touted as amber is actually plastic. Fortunately, there are some tests that you can use to determine whether the piece is genuine or not. As always, when buying expensive jewelry, use a jeweler that you can trust. The tests include friction, buoyancy, solvent testing, UV Light, and heat. In the lab, spectroscopy or mass spectrometry are used to test. Any tests that you do yourself should be done with care.
Friction Test
Rub the piece vigorously with a dry soft cloth. If the amber is genuine, it may emit a faint fragrance of pine. Amber will also become very heavily charged with static electricity when rubbed, so that it may easily pick up small pieces of paper or dust particles. This test is inconclusive at best because other materials can also become electricity charged with friction.
Buoyancy Test
This is the best test for amber for the novice to perform. Make a saturated solution of water and regular table salt and place the piece of amber in the mixture. (2 1/2 tablespoons to 1 cup of water.) If it floats it is amber, and if it sinks it is more likely man made. One of the reasons that locals on the Baltic Coast find amber is that they discover it on the beaches after storm events. While fairly accurate, the test is not entirely conclusive, since some forms of copal may sink.
Hot Pin Test
Not for novices, since it can easily damage a piece and one needs a good nose. A hot pin point in an inconspicuous part of the specimen will make it slightly sticky, leave a black mark and give off a faint pine scent which is very momentary. Be careful with this test - it can easily damage the amber and for this reason I don't recommend it to beginners.
Solvent Testing
Plastics and immature resin copal will deteriorate when they come in contact with a solvent such as alcohol, ether or acetone. A few drops of acetone (fingernail polish remover) or alcohol dribbled over the surface of the specimen and left for three or four seconds will show whether it holds up to the solvent. Any tackiness or dissolving of the specimen is a good indication that it is not genuine amber. (but once again - copal may dissolve or become tacky)
UV Light Test
Put the specimen under a UV light or "black light." If it is copal, it will show little color change. True amber may show a pale shade of blue under the light. Copal or plastics, under a short-wave UV light, show hardly any color change. Amber fluoresces a pale shade of blue
Final points on testing
As can be seen, most of these tests are not very conclusive. The flotation test seems to be the most accurate. Labs can give a definitive answer though. In the lab, spectroscopy or mass spectrometry are used to test. Please note: Any tests that you do yourself should be done with care and I don't recommend any of the possibly destructive ones.
Final thoughts
There are some mystical qualities associated with amber: As far as healing goes, amber is rumored to be excellent for eyes, and for throat and lung glandular swellings. It is also said to balance the endocrine glands and digestive system. In a metaphysical view, amber is said to bring good luck.
I try to offer accurate vintage jewelry information, but may make errors from time to time due to mistakes in research information.
