AMBER

REFRACTIVE INDEX    1.540 (+.005 -.001)
HARDNESS     2 – 2.5
SPECIFIC GRAVITY     1.05  - 1.096

 MINERAL  CLASS          Fossilized Resin 

  

 Amber is known to  humans for thousands of years, most probably longer than any other gem material.  It is one of the most beautiful natural forming compounds in the world,  a by product of flora which gradually forms and hardens over many millions of years. In fact, most of today’s Amber is from 30 to 90 millions old.

 

Amber  comes in many colors, with the most common being yellow, orange and brown.  Amber with a green, blue, or violet tint is rarely found. This is due to extreme fluorescence.  There are several shades of these colors and several grades of transparency. Jewelry is made almost exclusively from the transparent material.

 

 The two main sources of amber on the market today are the Baltic states and the Dominican Republic. Amber from Baltic States is older, and thus preferred on the market, but that obtained from Dominican Republic is more likely to have insect inclusions.