Is Amber Expensive?

Amber is part of a small group of gemstones that are created by living organisms known in the trade as "organics". Specifically, amber is defined as tree resin that has fossilized into a hardened substance that must be at least one million years old. Anything younger is classified as "copal" and this material is not as hardy as mature amber. 

Of all the organics, amber is the only gem that can be transparent, but you can find translucent and opaque nuggets as well. In terms of value, fully transparent gems fetch the highest prices. To show off the glass-like appearance, most amber pieces are simply polished to remove minor surface scratches. They are rarely faceted and generally not excessively shaped as it is the outer layer that is the most durable. Maintaining the unique form of each amber piece serves as a reminder that they were made by living trees and no two gems look alike with variation in color, transparency, size, and clarity characteristics.

The Six Billion Dollar Gem

Amber undoubtedly owes much of its current popularity and monetary value to Hollywood. In 1993, the film Jurassic Park debuted on theater screens across the globe, and a juggernaut franchise that has grossed over six billion dollars was born. The premise of the film was that dinosaur DNA perfectly preserved in the stomachs of mosquitos trapped in amber could be used to grow the ancient beasts. 

In actuality, the DNA contained in the dinosaur blood of ancient mosquitos' last meals are not well preserved. What amber does protect is the physical form of whatever got stuck; whether that be living creatures like mosquitos, spiders, scorpions, and small animals, or other items like foliage, dirt, fungi, flowers, and general debris. The GIA states that scientists have identified 1,000 extinct plant and animal species frozen in amber. 

Thanks in large part to the Jurassic Park films, highly transparent amber that contains beautifully preserved specimens fetch prices many times greater than a few dollars per gram, with some examples priced at thousands of dollars. To a lesser degree, the value of transparent pieces which contain non-living substances like leaves or wood debris are also elevated above what non-included, cloudy amber fetches. 

The price hike associated with organic inclusions should not come as a surprise - you are literally buying a piece of ancient history encased in a glowing, colored nugget!

Glowing Red Hues Are Most Expensive

After clarity, the next factor that determines the value of a piece of amber is its color. Most people associate amber with radiant red, shining yellow, and gentle golden hues. Many don't realize that amber can also be brown, green, blue, black, and even white. Clarity aside, deep red pieces are typically priced higher than any other color, followed by gold and yellow. Amber can also fluoresce, and the value of pieces that show a bright bluish or greenish glow under UV light is increased. 

For those who value the color of amber over all else, a word of caution. Amber is an extremely soft gemstone, scoring only a 2 - 2.5 on the Mohs scale. The thin outermost layer of the nugget is the hardest, but this is easily removed if the gem is cut or excessively polished. This is why amber is often left in its natural, freeform shape. In addition to contaminants penetrating the gem, exposure to the air can cause oxidization which can darken color over time, regardless of the original hue. The valuable red color may darken to a nearly black hue while yellow and orange become reddish. 

To best preserve the color of your amber, treat it with care. Don't let it rub against other jewelry or expose it to excessive heat like from a jeweler's torch. 

O rigin Matters

Trees that produce resin grow all around the globe, and they have left over 160 known amber deposits. 

Most buyers don't consciously consider the origin of amber when they are shopping for jewelry, but gems from the various sources are certainly priced differently. Amber that originated around the Baltic Sea between 34 and 38 million years ago is generally the costliest and these are often the popular red, yellow, and orange colors. Baltic amber can be mined directly out of the ground, but many pieces erode out naturally and wash into the sea. The very low specific gravity of amber allows them to float on the surface of the salty seawater, and the current carries them to European countries like Poland, Russia, Lithuania, and Denmark. 

Half a world away, the Dominican Republic also has sizable reserves of amber that can look very much like Baltic gems, but they are about 10 to 15 million years younger. Despite the similar appearance, these gems are often valued at a notably lower price point. This is odd considering because much of what is collected in the Caribbean can actually be considered superior to the Baltic gems. Overall, there is a higher concentration of highly transparent red and gold gems, and they are more likely to contain the sought-after animal and plant inclusions. Additionally, access to the gems is significantly more difficult and requires labor-intensive physical mining.

This discrepancy might be explained by reputation. The Baltic Sea has been the traditional source of amber for centuries, thus it is a trusted locale. Caribbean amber was only introduced to the global market in the mid-twentieth century and, thus, hasn't had the time to amass followers.

A third famous source of amber exists in Myanmar. Here you will find ancient amber that dates from almost 100 million years ago. Unfortunately, the current political situation negatively impacts mining and research activity. Other notable amber deposits are located in Canada and Italy. The oldest amber ever found was secreted from a tree 320 million years ago in modern-day U.S. state of Illinois. 

Amber Can Be Treated, But Not Synthesized

To increase the value of amber with lower transparency, heating may benefit the stone. When placed in specific types of oil and heated, the tiny bubbles and pits in the stone can be filled in and become less apparent, improving the overall transparency. It can be hard to tell if amber has been heat treated, but some stones develop circular cracks called "sun spangles". These sun spangles can be large enough to be seen with the naked eye. They appear as flat and highly reflective discs.

When it comes to color, various stains and dyes can be used to deepen the valuable red hue. 

Being, by definition, an ancient organic gemstone aged a million years or more, amber cannot be synthesized. It is possible for small chunks of amber to be pressed together to create a larger aggregate gem that is called "reconstructed" or "consolidated" amber. However, microscopic analysis will show the outlines of the original gems as well as tell-tale warped inclusions like elongated air bubbles.

There are a plethora of similar materials such as Bakelite, plastic, and polymers that can look similar to amber, but are merely imitations. 

A Sweet-Smelling Wonder

While you should not over-handle amber, one method that can be used to confirm its identity is to smell it. Amber lets off a slightly sweet smell when held and rubbed. In the past, amber nuggets were burned as incense to release their characteristic aroma. If you place a hot metal tip against amber, this tell-tale scent will be released. However, as this test is destructive to the gem and will leave behind an indentation, it is rarely used.