Welcome to the World of Amber!

The world of amber is as fascinating as the gemstone itself. Amber is among the most interesting gemstones you can find today because of how it was formed. It is used not just in jewellery but also for many decorative objects, enjoying remarkable popularity dating back to the Stone Age. It was also used as a healing agent in ancient medicine.

Although it can be found across the globe, some amber are often considered quite rare, with some inclusions containing plant and animal materials.

Conifers, a type of tree, that grew during the Eocene era in Scandinavia are responsible for producing the majority of the (tree) resin that became amber, which lasted from 55.8 up to 33.9 million years ago. The relatively mild climate and extensive forests of conifers covered the Scandinavian region.

About 35 million years ago, the sea level rose, eroding the amber from the soil of the Scandinavian forests. The amber was then taken by the ancient river in the Baltics, and was deposited at the southern estuaries. Later, the amber was once again eroded, this time taken by Eridanos river, which is the present-day rivers in Germany, Elbe, Ems, and Weser.

Eventually, the Scandinavian land ice spread amber over the North and Baltic Sea, resulting in amber pieces washed ashore on the beaches.

Amber was among the first-ever to be used as jewellery. Its 2.5 rating on the hardness scale made it relatively shapeable. Decorated amber pieces were discovered in remains dating back to the Stone Age. Believing that they contained magical powers, most ancient people buried amber amulets and objects with their dead for protection in the afterlife. Since prehistoric periods, amber was used as religious items. These gemstones also served as amulets before, during, and after the ancient Greeks.

The Romans called it succinum since it was rightly believed to come from tree sap or plant fluid. Amber was brought from the Baltic coast to the Alps, a significant distance back then, giving a glimpse of the stone’s demand at the time.

While amber is often considered smooth and honey-coloured with remarkable inclusions, the market actually offers different varieties. The two major types of amber used for jewellery are Baltic amber and Dominican amber.

Dominican amber is a highly valued variety that often has more inclusions. It is about 25 to 40 million years old with green and blue colours. You can also find Mexican, New Jersey, and Sri Lankan varieties of amber among others.

Baltic amber, the most common and popular type, is what we sell here at Amber Lynx, and it comes from the shores of the Baltic Sea which is enclosed by Denmark, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, and Sweden. It is widely believed to have the highest quality, commanding a higher market value. It can be more than 40 million years old with colours ranging from white to dark yellows.

At Amber Lynx, we sell butterscotch, cognac, black, bone or white, green, cherry and multicoloured amber jewellery. Browse through our online shop; there’s bound to be one that suits your personality and price!