When you buy a piece of amber jewellery you are buying a piece of history that is millions of years old. Nothing compares to the look and feel of natural amber and we hope you enjoy the following facts and information. Once you have read them feel free to enter our store and browse through the amber jewellery we have to offer.

What Is Amber?

Amber is tree resin which has become fossilized. Although not a mineral, amber is often considered a gemstone and good quality amber is used to make ornamental objects and jewellery. Amber comes in varying colours from a whitish colour through to a dark brown or black, it can be red (known as "cherry amber"), lemon, green and even blue, which is rare and highly sought after. The most common colours of amber in jewellery are orange-brown , referred to as "honey amber", lemon and green.

Where Is It Found?

Of all the amber deposits in the world the largest, and probably the most famous, comes from the Baltic region. It represents about 80% of the worlds amber resource and is estimated to be between 35 to 40 million years old. 90% of Baltic amber production is localised around the southern coast of the Baltic Sea but Baltic amber has also been found in Germany, Lithuania, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Holland, Sweden, Denmark, Belorussia and even The United Kingdom. The second largest deposit of amber in the world can be found in The Dominican and is dated up to 40 million years old. It is here that the highly valued blue amber can be found. Only about 100 kilos of blue amber is found per year, adding to its rarity and value.

Amber Jewellery Through The Ages

As far back as 13000 B.C. there is evidence of amber use as jewellery in Central and South Europe in the form of amulets, used to ensure safe and successful hunting, as well as beads and pendants. Evidence of amber jewellery workshops have been tied to a period around 1200 B.C.

By 8000 B.C. amber craftsman were crafting animal figures and jewellery from amber and by 1700 B.C. the trade in amber items had reached the North Pole. The grave of Tutankhamen, the Egyptian pharaoh, contained amber relics and amber necklaces have been found in Italian graves dating from 500 B.C.

The next major producers of amber were the Romans. Amber jewellery was particularly popular during the Roman Empire and amber was considered more valuable than the fair haired Baltic slaves that came from the same region; it was written by Pliny that the price of a small amber sculpture was worth more than a Baltic slave.

By to 1100s, Gdansk was the centre of amber production. Amber crosses were very popular at this time, due to the rise of Christianity, as well as necklaces and rings.

In the latter part of the 1200 A.D. the Teutonic Knights, who had returned from the crusades, took control of the Baltic area and the manufacture of amber jewellery was restricted to religious items such as rosary beads or crosses.