Amber Jewelry Blog...
Saturday 19th May 2012 06:44:55 PM •Arts: Organizations
What is amber?
A common misconception with Amber is that it is tree sap; it is actually fossilised resin from ancient forests. The tree resin is exuded for a number of reasons such as protection for an injury to the tree, protection against biological or insect attack etc. The resin has then hardened and been preserved in the earths crust. Although Amber is regarded as a gem it is actually an organic substance that does not have the organic matter replaced by minerals. Pieces of amber are not cold and hard like most other gems. I have seen it described as 'organic plastic' to try and describe its weight and texture. Whilst I understand this description I think it takes away from the mystery and romance of this gem. Amber is also sometimes known as Succinite.What are the different colours?
The huge variety of colours and the uniqueness of every piece is partly what makes this gem so popular. There are over 250 identified shades. The differing shades are due to the kind of tree the resin came from, the inclusions, the age of the amber and also the area in the world it comes from. Although amber deposits can be found all over the world there are only approximately 20 where it can be commercially mined.Regional •
What are Inclusions in Amber
Inclusions are small objects which become embedded in the resin prior to it hardening and are part of what makes this gem truly fascinating. It was the very inclusion of a mosquito in a piece of amber that started the fictional theme park 'Jurassic Park' and it was at this point that Amber became more popular and fascinating to a wider audience in modern day. Because of this tree resin it means that anyone can own something that is millions of years old. This is part of its charm and romance.
A variety of small animals have been caught in these resin 'traps' such as fleas, ticks, millipedes and mosquitoes as well as items like seeds, roots, spores and Lichen. What I personally find the most fascinating are the ones that got away! Pieces of amber have been found with animal paw prints and have, on rare occasions, contained a few hairs or feathers from animals that have fled from its sticky clutches. All of these inclusions have enabled scientists to build an accurate picture of some of the plants and animals these forest contained and build more accurate pictures of earth in those times.
Amber From the Baltic.
The class of organic gemstones is quite small, but includes some unusual varieties which are important in the gem trade, including pearl, coral, ivory and amber. All the organic gems are rather unusual, but none more than amber. Amber is the fossilized hardened resin of the pine tree, Pinus succinifera, formed mainly in the Eocene epoch of the Tertiary period, about 50 million years ago. Amber has been used since prehistoric times for jewelry, amulets and religious objects. The most prized pieces contain inclusions of insects or plants or pyrites.
Yellow, orange and brown are the most common colors for amber, though rare blue amber is found in the Dominican Republic. The term "amber" has entered the English language as the color that is halfway between yellow and orange. The clarity of natural amber ranges from transparent to opaque. Most pieces have bubbles or inclusions. When polished amber has a resinous luster.
Unlike most gemstones, amber is amorphous rather than crystalline. It is fairly soft, with a rating of 2-2.5 on the Mohs hardness scale. While it is durable enough to have survived for millions of years, it is sensitive to acids, caustic solutions, gasoline, alcohol and perfume. It will burn if ignited by a match, releasing an incense-like odor.
One of the most unique characteristics of amber is that it is exceptionally light. It has a density or specific gravity of only 1.05 to 1.09. Amber is so light that it will float in salt water. Amber's low density makes it difficult to imitate with glass or plastic, which have much higher densities. By way of comparison, the total volume of a 5 carat piece of amber is 2.5 times the volume of a 5 carat piece of zircon (one of the denser gem materials).
GemSelect is a leading online dealer in fine gemstones, specializing in amber, sapphire, spinel and tourmaline.
Visit our website: http://www.gemselect.com/
Yellow, orange and brown are the most common colors for amber, though rare blue amber is found in the Dominican Republic. The term "amber" has entered the English language as the color that is halfway between yellow and orange. The clarity of natural amber ranges from transparent to opaque. Most pieces have bubbles or inclusions. When polished amber has a resinous luster.
Unlike most gemstones, amber is amorphous rather than crystalline. It is fairly soft, with a rating of 2-2.5 on the Mohs hardness scale. While it is durable enough to have survived for millions of years, it is sensitive to acids, caustic solutions, gasoline, alcohol and perfume. It will burn if ignited by a match, releasing an incense-like odor.
One of the most unique characteristics of amber is that it is exceptionally light. It has a density or specific gravity of only 1.05 to 1.09. Amber is so light that it will float in salt water. Amber's low density makes it difficult to imitate with glass or plastic, which have much higher densities. By way of comparison, the total volume of a 5 carat piece of amber is 2.5 times the volume of a 5 carat piece of zircon (one of the denser gem materials).
GemSelect is a leading online dealer in fine gemstones, specializing in amber, sapphire, spinel and tourmaline.
Visit our website: http://www.gemselect.com/
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What has Amber been used for?
Currently Amber is enjoying a resurgence in its popularity as a gem that can make truly unique and beautiful jewelry, but has had many varied uses in the past.- The Romans used it in coins amongst other things.
- A variety of religious objects including rosaries.
- Amber attracts lint with static electricity when rubbed.
- In the past it is thought to protect the wearer from kidnapping and aging and keep evil spirits away.
- Cure for a variety of conditions such as headaches and rheumatic pain and enhance fertility.
- Amber brings the wearer good luck in a variety of situations from going to war to getting married.
- Often used as grave goods for a variety of reasons.
- Thrown into fires to release aromatic fragrances.
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Amber has always been popular and its use can be traced back to Neolithic times. The uniqueness of the gem has inspired different cultures throughout history to marvel, wonder and sometimes kill for it.
We have always loved Amber and so it was only fitting that the first web site we set-up was to sell Amber Jewelry. The article is drawn from many years of reading about amber to satisfy our curiosity. My sister and I hope this will be the first of many articles on this fascinating topic. Please visit our site http://newamberjewelry.com/home to see if you agree with us regarding the diversity of this gem.
- Art for the World : - A non-profit organization for contemporary art and humanitarian purposes. Provides a list of activities and connected organizations.
- Artists Helping Artists - Nonprofit organization that offers roundtables and contests, and creates call to arts expos.
- Artsyard: A Cyber Colony for the Arts - Provides temporary and permanent residencies to professionals in the arts in any part of the world.
- CEC ArtsLink - Works with artists, art managers and museums in the U.S., Russia, the NIS and Eastern and Central Europe, to combine efforts and address issues of mutual concern.
- Cintas Foundation - Awards fellowships annually to creative artists of Cuban lineage who are currently residing outside of Cuba.
- College Art Association - Promotes excellence in scholarship and teaching in the history and criticism of the visual arts and in creativity and technical skill in the teaching and practices of art.
- Foundation for Art Resources (FAR) - Facilitates the production and presentation of work not supported by traditional venues such as galleries, museums, and universities.
- Institute for Cultural Exchange - The Institute understands itself as link between artists, cultural institutions and companies.
- Institute for Distributed Creativity - The research of the IDC focuses on collaboration in media art, technology, and theory with an emphasis on social contexts.
- International Child Art Foundation - ICAF, a not-for-profit organization, celebrates and promotes children's art, imagination and creativity globally.
- International Music and Art Foundation - Established in Vaduz, Liechtenstein for the purpose of receiving funds from individuals and corporations for distribution in support of worthy arts organizations worldwide.
- KulturAXE - International Art Action - Transnational organization initiates and organizes international art projects and focuses on innovative, experimental working methods and border crossing cooperation.
- Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation - Arranges conferences, exhibitions and art competitions for students and artists, as well as international meetings in Florence in order to promote peace among young people.
- Shetland Arts Development Agency - Arts body which supports creative people in local area, offers information about art events, news and venues.
- Society for Arts - A not-for-profit public institution focused on promoting cultural communication between Europe and the USA.
- Talent-aid International - Non-profit organization promoting and supporting artists, composers and performers worldwide by giving them exposure and facilitating sponsorship and project participation.
- The Camargo Foundation - Offers residential fellowships in Cassis, France, for researchers and artists. Describes accommodations and local resources, and gives applications and requirements.
- The Dactyl Foundation for the Arts and Humanities - A not-for-profit organization, encourages the view that there is a place for artistic intention even in a world without telos.
- The Henry Moore Foundation - To advance the education of the public by the promotion of their appreciation of the fine arts and in particular the works of Henry Moore.
- The Pollock-Krasner Foundation - Provides financial assistance to individual working artists of established ability.
- Timotca - Features art and artists represented by 68 countries and the United Nations.
- Twin Rivers Media Festival - Nonprofit organization event for film, video, audio, CD multimedia, Internet media, scriptwriting and journalism. General information, entry forms, dates, and archive.
- VSA Arts (formerly Very Special Arts) - International arts organization serving people with disabilities of all ages, with a large network of affiliates. A wide range of educational opportunities, exhibits and performances in all of the arts from young children through elderly adults.
- World Academy of Art and Science - A non-official network of people in art, the natural and social sciences, and the humanities, examining the social consequences and policy implications of knowledge.