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Amber, a treasure in its own right, is also
the golden window to long ago. All Amber can be traced to
resin that oozed and flowed down pine trees millions of
years ago to protect the trees from disease. While it
flowed, the resin trapped insects, seeds and a host of other
interesting vegetation. Over time, this resin hardened by
evaporation and chemical changes and became what we know as
Amber. The objects that were trapped inside are called
inclusions.
Although Amber has been found throughout the
world, one of the worlds' oldest amber collections is from
the central Appalachian region of the United States, but the
richest and largest amber deposits are in the Baltic Sea
region.
The level of succinic acid contained in the
amber determines its quality. Amber from the Baltic Sea
region contains the highest level of succinic acid, and
therefore is the highest quality amber you can find. Because
the Amber by Monica collection offers amber strictly from
the Baltic Sea region, you can be assured that you will
receive the highest quality amber when you purchase your
amber from us.
Baltic Amber comes in a wide spectrum of
colors: white, yellow, brown, black, red, green and blue.
The most common colors are honey and milky yellow. A small
percentage of amber is bone white and the most rare has a
green and blue tone.
Throughout the ages, craftsmen and artists
have turned amber into fine art pieces that people have not
only cherished for their beauty, but also for the proposed
practical uses. It is believed that wearing amber brings
purification of mind, body and spirit by absorbing and
charging negative energy. The Greeks actually referred to
amber as "electron" because of its ability to pick up static
charge. Amber worn around ones neck is believed to protect
against throat ailments and if worn around joints to ease
rheumatic pain.
Prehistoric man used amber for embellishment
and religious rituals. The Phoenicians, Etruscans and Romans
believed that amber warded off evil spirits. The Slavic
tribes thought amber to be magical because of its warm feel,
its lightness and luster, and romantically, some believed
amber to be the petrified tears of gods.
Since each piece of amber is in itself a
unique, genuine and natural jewel with its own identity, and
its own beauty, it is no wonder that people continue to
adore amber. Each piece is truly one of a kind.
Caring for your Amber
The original luster of your amber can be maintained
indefinitely with a few precautions:
- Remove dust and perspiration with lukewarm water and a
soft flannel cloth.
- Apply a little olive oil with a clean soft cloth to
restore the polish of your amber.
- Never let amber come in contact with strong solutions,
soaps, detergents, perfume or hair spray. They will dull
the finish.
- Never use commercial jewelry cleaning solutions on
your amber jewelry.
- Use a silver polish cloth to polish the silver crafted
settings.
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