BALTIC AMBER

Amber is not a mineral, it is fossilized ancient tree resin. 

Amber’s beauty and translucence makes it desirable for being used 

in jewelry and decorations. Gem material is correct classification for 

organic gems like pearls, coral, and amber.

The northern Europe ancient Paleogene forests produced over 105 tons 

of amber in the Baltic region. The Baltic amber that was formed millions of 

years ago was moved around northern Europe by glaciers and river flow. 

The Baltic region contains the largest known deposit of amber in the world. 

Baltic amber is also considered to be the highest quality amber in the world.

Today, Baltic amber is still collected in on the shores of Sweden, Poland, 

Finland, northern Germany, western Russia, and the Baltic States. 

Locals often use landing nets to “fish” for amber in the Baltic sea, particularly 

during winter, when the slightly heavier salt water causes the amber that is 

caught in seaweed to float a bit so it can be moved in the current.

Amber jewelry has been found at archeological sites in England, and polished 

amber jewelry and carved amber decorations have been found dating back 

to 11,000 B.C. There have been many finds of amber jewelry dating from 

ancient Egypt, ancient Greece, and ancient Rome. Mycenaean graves 

dating to 2,000 B.C. with thousands of Baltic amber beads indicate that 

thriving amber trade routes existed from the Baltic shores to the 

Eastern Mediterranean.

Throughout history to the late 1800s, amber was believed to charm against 

infections and help cure them. Baltic Amber was used to treat a wide variety 

of ailments in ancient Greece. Powdered amber was mixed with honey to cure 

ear infections, cure dimming eyesight, and ailments of the stomach. 

Amber oil was often prescribed for whooping cough and asthma.

In the Orient, amber incense was created by throwing amber on a hot brick. 

It was believed that amber incense imparted people with strength and courage 

from the soul of the tiger. Amber is cited in the holy book of Buddhism as one 

of the seven stones that will bring good luck.

Jurassic Park, the hit movie in which dinosaur DNA preserved in amber was 

used to resurrect them, raised global awareness of amber. Most recently, 

China has become one of the largest markets for amber, and especially 

high quality Baltic amber. Although most Chinese buyers purchase high 

quality amber as an investment, amber is also used in traditional Chinese 

medicine (TCM). In TCM, amber is believed to sooth circulatory 

ailments and have calming properties.