Why amber?
Do you wonder why we chose to incorporate amber stone in our bracelets? Have questions about amber stone itself? Here you'll find all your questions answered.
Quick facts
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WHAT IS AMBER?
Scientifically speaking, Baltic amber is a fossil resin from Sciadopityaceae family plants that has achieved a stable state through oxidation, action of micro-organisms and other processes. Leaving the scientific terms aside, it’s a material that resembles a stone or a gem but is neither.
Called ‘the stone of purification’ or ‘the Baltic gold’, amber, a traditional accessory, contains numerous legends and stories dating back thousands of years. -
HOW OLD IS AMBER?
The process of resin formation took approximately 50 million years – back then, subtropical forests used to grow in the place of today’s Baltic sea. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that amber is as old as our mother earth – and, of course, as precious. -
WHAT’S IN A PIECE OF AMBER?
79 percent carbon, 10.5 percent hydrogen and 10.5 percent oxygen. Amber contains over 40 compounds as well as Succinic Acids and additive salts of potassium, sodium and iron. The powerful substances can be used for healing and therapy in numerous ways. -
CAN I CHOOSE THE COLOUR OF AMBER?
Traditionally, amber ranges from bright yellow to dark yellow or brownish-orange, depending on its age and where it is found, in seldom cases it is either red or blue. Otherwise it’s probably not real amber. -
THERE ARE BUGS IN MY AMBER! WHAT SHALL I DO?
Tiny inclusions – anything from insects to plant seeds, feathers or water bubbles – commonly clue us in the origin of amber and make its piece stand out from the crowd. So, enjoy it!
It should be noted that because of small insects trapped inside, paleontologists have been able to reconstruct life on earth in its primal phases. More than 1,000 extinct species have already been identified! -
IS AMBER A TRADITIONAL ACCESSORY?
Yes, indeed! It was trendy many centuries before Cartier or Chanel occur, and even before Christ. Baltic amber gatherers/miners used to add a personal detail to the piece of amber excavated – for example, ancient jewelers (American) would engrave wishes or other inspirational words on the stone, place it on a string and sell or give it as a gift to their beloved ones.
In Baltics, amber has been one of the most popular accessories for many years; today it’s still by far the most prevalent souvenir and a traditional yet charming gift. -
WHY IS AMBER CALLED THE NORTHERN GOLD?
Just as China had the Silk Road, Europe appeared to have the Amber Road. Amber was transported from the North Sea and Baltic Sea coasts overland via Vistula and Dnieper rivers to Italy, Greece, the Black Sea, Syria and Egypt thousands of years ago – from at least 16th century B.C., to be precise. In time amber became a very expensive gemstone. Especially when travelling merchants made its way to Greece and other southern territories; thus, the nickname ‘gold’ was adopted. The transparent reddish and golden colour also contributed a great deal -
HOW DOES AMBER PROVIDE GOOD LUCK AND POSITIVE ENERGY?
Many legends about the good luck brought by amber have travelled through time. It is believed that amber draws out negative energy from the body and transmutes it into positive energy that purifies the body, soul, heart and spirit. For example, carrying a piece of amber with you every day makes the perfect good luck charm. It’s also advised to sleep having a piece of amber around so that you have the dreams to come true and the choices in life made successfully.
The Greek word for amber is electron – that’s where the term electricity comes from. Amber, being sort of electricity capacitor, helps people to recharge and get rid of bad energy.
Amber is also called ‘a stone of purification’. As the ‘stone’ symbolizes the energy of the Sun, it is believed to awaken good spirits and positive feelings. -
HOW DOES AMBER HELP?
Amber has been proven to serve as a pain reliever for the upper body including the head, neck and throat areas. Amber bracelets can control aches and pains associated with rheumatism, arthritis, and aching muscles and joints. Amber has also been used as a remedy for anxiety and fatigue.
On a bigger scale, the Baltic tribes used amber incense to drive away evil spirits and attract the good ones. Soldiers would trust on amber before going to war. The newlyweds and the babies would be fumigated for a happier life, too. Also, as recorded by a 17th century priest, historian and ethnographer Matthäus Prätorius, during a plague in the Baltic region not a single amber man from Gdansk, Memel (Klaipėda), Konigsberg (Kaliningrad) or Liepaja died from the disease. Sounds convincing! -
HOW DOES THE HEALING ACTUALLY HAPPEN?
First, amber warms to the touch and exudes a nice, relaxing fragrance in the palm of your hand. It is also the only fossil resin surface of which contains 3-8% succinic acid. The latter is a pretty powerful substance with many applications for therapy healing. For example, plants that absorbed the amber resin were often used as an antibiotic to heal cuts or dress wounds. -
IS IT SAFE FOR BABIES?
Yes, of course. Nannies in the Baltics and surrounding countries would wear amber beads to protect the babies and themselves from various diseases. Amber beads were usually placed on babies’ necks to alleviate teething pain and make the teeth grow stronger. -
WAS BALTIC AMBER USED FOR HEALING PROCESSES ONLY?
Not exactly! Hippocrates, the father of medicine (460-377 BC), described healing properties and methods of application of Baltic amber that were later used by scientists until the Middle Ages. The Roman physician Calistratus wrote that amber protects from madness, powder of amber mixed with honey cures throat, ear and eye diseases and taken with water cures stomach illnesses. Albert the Great (1193-1280), a Dominican and a philosopher, identified amber as the first among the six of the most effective medicines.
As historical sources say, Amber was also worn by the Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamen (ca. 1333-1324 BC). Even Homerus wrote of amber in Odyssey. So, to recap, all these examples give us obvious evidence that amber was vastly used and appreciated for its numerous benefits. -
DOES AMBER SINK?
Interestingly enough, natural Baltic amber floats in salt water but sinks in fresh water. -
WHAT ARE THE SCENTS OF AMBER?
Originally amber does not have a scent in everyday conditions; however, when heated amber extracts an exceptionally pleasant and musky pine scent. There may also pop up warm and soothing fragrances if you have a piece of amber warmed in your palm.