When I was very young and we were headed toward Ocean City, New Jersey for a vacation, my mother made us stop at a small shop along the way to purchase some amber jewelry. The shop, if I recall correctly, was in a private home. The owners traveled to the area of the Baltic Sea. The pieces of amber were stunningly beautiful. I have, even now, a ring from this wayside stop. How beautiful! Amber has always fascinated me. But what is amber? What makes it so special?
What is Amber?
Amber, used in jewelry, is actually tree resin that has changed over time.1 Terpenes, volatile compounds that obey the Isoprene Rule,2 polymerize and cross-link, and this actually forms the valued substance which occurs in a variety of colors, the most common being a golden yellow-orange. A lot of amber is cloudy, but it is the clear amber that is especially prized. Since the original resin is sticky, insects were commonly trapped and preserved, making amber special to researchers. Amber is often washed up on beaches along the Baltic Sea, looking a bit like stones. Its name is a misnomer of sorts, it being mistakenly identified with ambergris , whale vomit that itself can wash up on shore, and which is used by the perfume industry.
The Greek word for amber is ηλεκτρον, which transliterates “elektron.” When electrical charges were first being studied, amber was among the substances of interest, because, when it is rubbed, amber develops a static charge. Today, amber is most highly prized for its beauty. Baltic and Dominican Amber are especially highly valued commercially.3 Dominican amber is often transparent, and the blue variety is particularly rare. All Dominican amber has the property of being fluorescent.
Amber, a Russian Tsar, and an Entire Room!
There is a fascinating bit of history in connection with amber. In the earliest 1700’s, a complete room of amber was constructed in Prussia but in 1716 was given by the king to Peter, Tsar of Russia, when peace was established between Russia and Prussia. This room was expanded by the Russians, and is said to have included more than six tons of amber! This room, many years later, was looted by the Nazis and its whereabouts are no longer known. Perhaps it will again be found. Meanwhile, the room has been reconstructed at the Catherine Palace , in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Amber vs Diamonds
Amber, beautiful as it is, seems to be seldom-mentioned when jewelry is discussed. Diamonds seem to be foremost, though frankly, I consider them a bore. Diamonds are not all that rare. Diamonds glitter, but have no character. Their expense is due to an artificially induced shortage of supply by a monopoly that controls their supply. They are best suited for grinding and polishing! How much more beautiful and rare are other gems and stones. Think of emeralds, sapphires, rubies, and fire opals! Don’t, whatever you do, fail to think of amber. When it comes to unusual characteristics, is there anything more interesting than amber? Can there be anything more entrancing? And it is, for many people, affordable.
1http://www.chimiste.ca/ncw/articles/1997_amber_e.html
2 http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/333797/vincent_summers.html
3 http://www.fortunecity.com/campus/geography/243/ambdepos.html
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