Amber rings are made from stones that are not actually minerals. Amber is really a fossilized pine tree resin. It is sought after for its rich and diverse color. Amber is frequently used in making jewelry and especially in making rings.
Amber is famous for its mixture of yellow, brown and orange colors but it can also be found in yellow, brown, nearly black. Red, green and blue amber are quite rare. Some amber is cloudy and some is clear. The cloudiness is often caused by bubbles. Inclusions are particles that are trapped in the amber and give each piece a unique look. Sometimes these inclusions are actually fossilized insects or plants. The better samples of these fossils are highly sought after.
About 90% of the world’s amber is Baltic amber. It is produced in the area around the Baltic Sea. Dominican amber is unique in that it turns blue in ultraviolet light. Butterscotch Tibetan amber is so rare that Tibetan amber jewelry is often made by reusing amber from other pieces of jewelry. It is highly prized for its rich butterscotch color but can also be lemon yellow.
There are many attempts to counterfeit amber. Usually the counterfeits are made from some type of plastic. A simple test is to touch the amber with a heated pin. If the amber has a wood resin smell it is genuine otherwise it is not. Amber is often used as a special incense by Tibetan monks because of this.
Amber rings can cost less than $20 to small fortunes. The price is mainly effected by the setting and whether the stones are Baltic, Dominican or Tibetan amber. Inclusions actually add to the value of amber. Bubbles can make the amber too fragile so the value of each stone is affected by how the bubbles affect the integrity of the stone.
Amber is a relatively soft stone. To clean amber, just wipe with a damp soft cloth. Rubbing with a little olive oil will enhance its shine.
Since you’re interested in rings, you may also want to read our articles on right hand rings, the green amethyst ring, cushion cut engagement rings, and the marquise diamond ring as well.
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Yes, amber is true fantastics…. I always wondered where Tibetans got it from. But they surely value it a lot.