Amber Jewellery
The amber range available from Regal Jewellers Trararalgon includes: Strands; Bracelets, Bangles, Rings, Brooches and miscellaneous items.
Amber is the fossilised, hardened resin of the pine tree, Pinus succinifera, formed in the Eocene period about 50 million years ago. Mostly amber is drop or modular shaped with a homogenous structure, or gas a shell-like formation, often with a weathered crust. Pieces the size of a head, weighing 22lb/10kg, have been found. It is sometimes found with inclusions of insects, parts of plants, or sometimes pyrites. It is often turbid because of numerous blisters, hair lines or tension fissures. It is possible to clear air bubbles and enclosed liquids from the material by boiling in rape-seed oil, thus improving the quality.
Reaction to chemicals and hot solutions varies with origin. Can be ignited by a match. When rubbed with a cloth, amber becomes electrically charged and can attract small particles. Takes polish well, and has a resinous lustre. The largest deposit in the world is in Samland near Palmnicken, west of Konisberg, formerly eastern Prussia, and now Poland. Under 100ft/30m of sand is a 30ft/9m layer of amber-containing clay, the so-called blue earth. Mined from the surface, the amber is picked and washed out. Only about 15% is suitable for jewellery. The rest is used for pressed amber or melted for technical purposes.
There are large reserves on the seabed of the Baltic. After heavy storms, amber is found on the beaches and in shallow waters of bordering countries, after the surf has stirred up the seabed. This amber is especially solid and used to be regularly fished for by fisherman. Further but less important suppliers are Sicily (named Simetite), Rumania (Rumanite), Burma (Burmite), Canada, some Atlantic states of the U.S. and the Dominican Republic.
It has been used since prehistoric times for jewellery and religious objects, accessories for smokers, also a cure for various illnesses. Amber, the “gold of the North”, is the earliest-used gem material of all. Used today for ornamental objects, ring stones, pendants, brooches and necklaces. Smaller pieces and remains are welded at 284-482 deg F/140-250 deg C and 3000 atmospheres into Ambroid, a natural-looking pressed amber.
*reproduced from Gemstones of the World, Walter Schumann
