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03 Mar 2008 04:59:52 | Sher Maten
Amber is a beautiful! A true gift from mother nature. It comes
in many different colors - yellow, orange, red, white, brown,
green, blue and almost black. It may be transparent or clouded.
Transparent tones range from pale to dark yellow, to yellow
light brown. Cloudy amber comes in a wide range of colors. Amber
is fossilized resin of ancient trees that grew in amber forests.
Through various physical and chemical changes the resin becomes
Amber. Amber is unique because it is able to preserve the
organic tissues in it. It is very common to find pieces of
plants and insects, trapped in amber making it extremely
valuable to both collectors and the scientists. A beautiful and
fascinating gem! Amber is found in various parts of the world.
The largest amber deposits are off the shores of the Baltic Sea.
Baltic Amber is the most sought after and valuable for making
amber jewelry. Baltic Amber has been used for decorative items
since prehistoric times. A Baltic amber amulet has even been
found in Egyptian tombs . Amber was also very popular in ancient
Rome during the reign of Neron when: jewelry, ornaments,
amulets, and even dice were made from amber. During the Middle
Ages, amber prayer beads were exported. From the 16th century
into the 18th century item made from amber included jewelry,
dishes, buttons, pipe mouth pieces, chess sets and a host of
other fine products. The majority of Baltic amber comes from a
400-square-mile area - the Samland Peninsula, now known as the
Kaliningrad region. The Kaliningrad amber mine supplies 99% of
the Baltic amber. Up until the 19th century amber was retrieved
manually from the sea. During the latter part of the 19th
century operations became much more sophisticated as they began
dredging and mining for amber. Since then millions of pounds of
Baltic amber have been mined.. A small town in the Kaliningrad
region has the world’s largest amber mine. Amber has a special
beauty in its ability for each piece to be truly original in
nature and content. The downfall to amber is like anything
organic it does not last forever. Baltic amber is known to have
the longest life expectancy. Taking proper care of your amber
will result in enjoyment for many years, sometimes thousands of
years as seen with the recovery of jewels from the past. Some
important tips for caring for your amber: Never store
amber where it may rub against hard surfaces such as metal or
other jewelry. Do not expose amber to harsh chemicals
such as soap, jewelry cleaners, perfumes, hair products.
Do not expose amber to direct sunshine or heat.
To clean your amber wash in lukewarm water. Use a soft
cloth to wash and dry. To restore the shine polish with pure
olive oil. Where amber with pride, add it to your jewelry
wardrobe and be sure to make your fashion statement!
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© Copyright Sher Matsen, All Rights Reserved.
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