subject: Choosing Your Amber [print this page] Choosing Your Amber Choosing Your Amber
The most valuable amber has a rich, warm reddish or orange colour, or much rarer, green or blue; although Baltic amber occurs in a much wider range of colours, most of these exhibiting various degrees of opacity though. The clarity needs to be perfect, with no trapped air bubbles or debris present. The only exception to this general rule is the presence of an insect inclusion, ideally intact and well presented. Such stones are rare and therefore much more expensive to purchase. Of course, it need not be repeated that the best amber is always natural, not pressed or 'improved' by heating.
As an example of the prices that the highest quality Baltic amber can fetch; an amber necklace consisting of laced stones, each one individually cut and polished, and practically transparent, recently sold in an auction at Sotherby's for $3,300.
An example of high value Baltic amber, but not the highest value, would be a stone containing a rather unremarkable insect inclusion such as a fly, partially obscured because of the amber's slight opacity. Such a piece might well fetch a price of a few hundred Dollars.
The next example I'm looking at is a rather well cut piece of Baltic amber mounted in Sterling silver, a legal standard originating in the area and requiring appropriate hallmarking. Although only deemed to be of medium quality and value because of the stone's insipid colour and poor clarity, it is actually my favourite; being quite large, and it would make an excellent pendant I should think. The price of the stone is listed as 'under $100.'
Finally, the lowest cost amber consists of small irregular shaped beads and chippings left over from the process of making amber jewellery, the source of material for pressed amber.
Generally speaking, the clearer a piece of amber is, the more it will cost. However, this is not always the case as different cultures set different priorities when choosing Baltic amber; for example, in Middle Eastern countries, opaque amber has traditionally been the most highly prized and therefore relatively expensive.
Well positioned and presented insect inclusions in a clear piece of amber will increase its value tenfold; however inclusions of leaves and blackened plant matter and debris add nothing to the value or interest of the stone.
I hope this few brief comments have been useful to you if you are deciding to buy any amber jewellery, but in the end, personal preference and word-of-mouth recommendation will be the reasons for your choice but whatever you choose be sure to enjoy your amber jewellery a unique gift originating from the Baltic and expertly crafted by local artisans.
