Amber: A Prehistoric Material For Beads And Bead Bracelets

Many have heard of amber from the movie Jurassic Park. But did you know that amber also is used to manufacture beads? Here is just a sampling of all the reasons why amber is used for beads, along with how it is formed and other useful facts.

Amber is tree resin that is millions of years old. It fossilized in old pine and conifer trees that are now long extinct. It is a light material that is considered a “gemstone” due to its high demand and beauty. Along with its natural charm, amber sometimes contains plants or small insects in them, as it a soft, sticky material before it hardens, making it very popular in beads and bead bracelets. As a result of it not being a proper mineral, it is the only precious stone that can float in water.

Although it is not a renewable resource, amber can still be found in New Zealand, the Baltic Coast, Dominican Republic, the U.S.A., Mexico, and Russia. Along with being found in the fossilized remains of extinct trees, amber is also in coal seams and is known as resinite. New Zealand resinite is specifically referred to as ambrite. Despite all of their varying names, they are relatively similar in their coloring, ranging from lemon yellow to brown. However, there are some anomalies in colors, such as red amber, green amber, and blue amber, which is the rarest and the most sought after, specifically for jewelry and beads.

Besides looking pretty, what is amber good for? Well, for those who hold stock in the medicinal value of gemstones, the answer is that its quite useful. It has been thought to help balance the endocrine and digestive systems. If you have poor eyesight or swollen glands, then wearing an amber bead bracelet can help improve your eyesight and reduce the swelling. And finally, for those who could use a little bit of luck, amber is seen as a good luck charm.

Due to its popularity, many have tried to counterfeit amber. The first thing to do is to take your piece to a specialist who can determine its authenticity and relieve your doubts. If you have the real thing, there are a few things to know in order to maintain its beauty. Any alcohol or ether that your amber is exposed to can dull its natural luster. So avoid spraying hair spray or perfume on your amber beads, as many contain alcohol in their chemical composition.

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