Amber

Description

Amber is more than 300 million years ago and is made up of fossilized resin of trees. This piece of amber contains a fairly complete fossil insect. Amber is not produced from tree sap, but rather from plant resin. This aromatic resin can drip from and ooze down trees, as well as fill internal fissures, trapping debris such as seeds, leaves, feathers and insects.
The color of amber gem varies from yellow to dark brown to almost black. Amber can also be found in green and blue-gray colors, but it is very rare. The color of amber denotes the area from where it has originated. Also one can judge the age of the amber from its colour.
Ancient Greeks started using amber for inlay work in gold and ivory. Romans used amber gemstone in the first century B.C to first century A.D, where they made rings and vessels out of amber.
The Baltic States and the Dominican Republic are the two main sources of amber in the market today. Amber from the Baltic is older and more valuable but amber from the Dominican Republic is more likely to have insect inclusions, which are prized by collectors.
The largest mine in the Baltic region is in Russia, west of Kaliningrad. Baltic amber is found in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Russia, and occasionally washed up on the shores of the Baltic Sea as far away as Denmark, Norway, and England. Amber jewelry is today more or less a part of our lives. The difference between now and decades ago is only one: everyone can afford a piece of amber jewelry today and doesnТt know what to do with it, but a long time ago people suspected its powers and a lot of them couldnТt afford to own this kind of jewelry.

Magic properties

Amber jewelry was known for its capacity to influence the mood of the bearer. People though that wearing amber jewelry would help them and that the small yellow-brown stone could lighten the burdens of their lives filling their spirit with white light. The results of its actions were supposes to be a feeling of happiness and joy. From the healer's point of view, the idea was that amber jewelry somehow activated the altruistic side and made people realize the power of their spiritual intellect to the fullest. Amber

The first name given to Amber was electron. After that, around the sixth century B.C., the scientists of that time discovered that, if you rubbed amber against a wool cloth, it became electrically charged. Because of its property it could attract small pieces of paper, fact which amazed the people of that time. Carrying a negative electrical charge, it was thought that the stone itself was able to draw power and energy into its bearer. This belief helped make the stone famous and valuable. People started using it in amber jewelry and making amulets and magical objects. Besides being able to attract energy, it was believed that it aided the intellect. It was prescribed for a lot of curious illnesses like memory loss, anxiety and eccentric behavior.

Healing stones

For thousands of years Amber has been regarded as a precious substance for its warm beauty. People believed that no harm could come to the one that wore amber jewelry because the stone would protect him. Because of these beliefs the stone become used for medical purposes. The ancient Romans had great confidence in the powers of baltic amber jewelry and they used amber in other ways too. They thought that some powder of the gemstone taken in a cup of wine could cure illnesses like fever, asthma or even infections of the throat. This type of medicine was used by the ancient Romans for ear and eye problems too. Amber Necklace

A fine powder was mixed with honey and, sometimes, with oil made from roses and it was either poured on the infected area or taken internally. Nowadays, it's also recommended to wear some amber jewelry around the neck (a necklace or a pendant) for the same purpose.
Precious, mysterious and miraculous, amber is by far the most complex gemstone. Amber jewelry can create an effect that no diamond can ever do and is indeed a slice of sunshine.