To have a better grasp on amber jewellery, it is necessary to first have a firm grasp on amber itself, which is, in the simplest terms, the petrified resin that once formed on tree trunks. Because of this, it is not uncommon to see moss fragments, pine needles, insects, and lichens encased inside the resin; in many cases, these organisms have been preserved there for millions or even billions of years. Amber is regarded as one of the most beautiful and long-lasting gems despite the fact that it is not mined as often as other valuable stones.
Amber’s lengthy history of beliefs concocted by alchemists and philosophers is one of the elements that contributes to the allure of this fossilised tree resin. For instance, during the Roman period in the 1st Century CE, people believed that amber was produced from the urine of lynxes, with the darker amber assumed to be the product of the male and the lighter amber thought to be the product of the female. Amber was said to have been formed when the rays of the setting sun solidified in the water of the ocean and were then washed up on the coast as a solid substance. This was another intriguing notion.
Nevertheless, about the year 240 BC, an astrologer made the discovery that amber had many of the qualities and attributes of gemstones. After more investigation, he discovered that the material in question originated from a tree known as the Lynx, which is indigenous to the region of Liguria in Italy. In addition to this, he discovered that the golden or amber hue was the most prevalent, but that other colours, such as yellow, green, blue, violet, and even black, could also be produced. These more uncommon hues are in very high demand as of right now, with green and blue being the most valued of the bunch.
Amber’s appearance is often transparent or translucent, and it has a gloss that resembles grease. The pockets of air that are trapped within give it a hazy look, which is a characteristic that is often seen in its raw form. However, when the amber is heated, oil fills those gaps in the amber that were previously occupied by air. This causes the amber to convert into the transparent colour that we are most familiar with. Then, the amber becomes genuinely charged with electricity when it is rubbed quickly with a soft cloth, which causes fragments of tissue paper and straw to attach to it. This occurs when the amber is rubbed with the cloth. This was truly a discovery made during the 6th Century by a German scientist. As a derivation of the word “electricity,” the term “electron” was developed as a result of this discovery.
Amber is used for a wide variety of important reasons. For instance, amber was first used for therapeutic purposes. Amber, for instance, was first crushed into a powder before being combined with wine. People used to believe that consuming these characteristics might cure croup, asthma, fever, and tonsillitis. This was a common misconception. After being ingested, a piece of amber or the powder contained in a tiny vial was then worn around the neck; this is how it initially began being worn as jewellery. Amber was traditionally used in the treatment of painful ear ailments as well. Once again, the amber was ground into a powder, and this time it was combined with honey and rose oil before being packed into the diseased ear, giving rise to the term “amber earrings.”
Amber rose to prominence as a fashionable option for jewellery quite rapidly. Amber is known for its therapeutic properties, as well as its bright hue and long-lasting nature. As a direct result of this, it was rapidly adapted for use as rings, earrings, bracelets, necklace pendants, and even hair ornaments.
