Amber
| Category |
| Organic |
| Crystal Form |
| Amorphous |
| Moh's Scale Hardness |
| 2.0 –2.5 |
| Specific Gravity |
| 1.05–1.09 |
| Refractive Index |
| 1.54–1.55 |
| Sources |
| Baltic region: Poland and Russia. As well as Norway, Denmark, Northern Myanmar, Romania, Dominican Republic, Mexico, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Canada and United States. |
Amber is the hardened fossil resin of pine trees that grew about 50 million years ago. Resin seal the plant's wounds, kill insects and fungi, the tree exuded drops and ooze down trees and harden in solid masses in the air. Therefore, trapping debris such as seeds, leaves, feathers and insects. The resin becomes buried and fossilized through a natural polymerization of the original organic compounds. Amber are usually pale yellow, and tends to darken with age, and sometimes red, brown, greenish bluish or violet in colour.
Treatments
Cloudy amber is heated in rapeseed oil to a temperature sufficient to dissolve the tiny air bubbles that cause the cloudiness.
Caring
Apply hairspray or perfume before wearing amber jewellery.
Avoid contact with strong solutions, such as detergents, jewellery cleansers.
Do not place amber near heat or direct sunlight for prolonged period.
Amber jewellery should be store in a soft cloth.
Never put amber jewellery in ultrasonic or steam cleaner.
To clean, use lukewarm water and a soft cloth.