Shopping for an Engagement Ring

Five Interesting Facts About Amber

If you are looking for unique jewelry, you may be drawn to some pieces containing amber. Amber is an orange-brown substance with a glassy finish. It looks lovely paired with gold or even brass. Here are five interesting facts about amber that you may want to know before you purchase jewelry featuring this gem.

Amber is a fossilized resin.

Many people assume amber is a mineral, like quartz or rubies. However, it comes from a different origin than minerals. Instead of being a component of rock, it is actually the result of fossilized resin from various trees. A tree may have been punctured at one point, and some of its resin flowed down to the earth. Over time, this resin hardened into amber. It is considered a gem, but it is an organic gem rather than an inorganic gem.

Amber has been valued for centuries.

This generation is definitely not the first one to appreciate amber and use it in jewelry. There are amber jewels found in Egyptian tombs that date back to 3000 BCE or earlier. Some early civilizations believed amber had healing powers or would protect them from evil spirits.

Some people still believe in the power of amber.

You may be looking at amber jewelry for its color and beauty, but you should know that certain people buy amber for its apparent healing powers and properties. Crystal experts believe amber encourages feelings or warmth and healing. Wearing it on your body may help heal a negative mood or discharge the negative energy coming from those around you. People who deal with stress and anxiety often use amber to calm them. 

Some so-called amber is fake.

Since amber is valuable, there are people who make forged amber jewelry. Many of the fake pieces are made from plastic, so they are a lot lighter than amber. To avoid getting a fake, make sure you buy from a reputable distributor. If you're unsure whether or not a piece is real, put it in a cup of water. If it floats, then it is fake. If it sinks, then it is probably real.

Amber can make a lovely gem for a ring, necklace, or other jewelry piece. To learn more about this unique substance, talk to a company that makes amber jewelry. They can tell you about the place where your amber came from, which will make for an interesting backstory. 


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