Amber Jewelry Blog...

Tuesday 22nd May 2012 02:29:42 AM •

Society: Philanthropy

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.

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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).
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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.

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.

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Center for the Study of Philanthropy - Follows trends in international, multicultural and women's philanthropy, features electronic conference information, research tools, programs, and publications.
Charity Wire - Provides charity news, fundraising ideas, ten ways to help, directory of non-profit organizations, and a FAQ.
Evergreen Charitable Trust - Exists to help build charitable endowments through life-insurance policies. Includes various plans, FAQs, glossary, example transactions, and contact information.
Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund - Offers two charitable giving programs - a donor-advised fund, and a Pooled Income Fund providing immediate tax benefits and the flexibility to support any IRS-qualified U.S. public charity.
GiveSpot.com - Philanthropic portal aids in finding charitable opportunities online. Provides information on research foundations and non-profits, volunteer projects, research on social issues, and resources.
Guardian.co.uk - Charitable Giving - News, analysis and commentary on charitable giving.
How Philanthropy Works - Article explaining the various ways in which you can support charitable organizations, how to make sure a charity is legitimate, how philanthropies work, and links to resources.
Institute for Philanthropy - Aims to promote philanthropy via research, debate, publications and by encouraging the philanthropic sector in Britain. Includes research and study opportunities, areas of activity, newsletter, and contact information.
International Society for Third-Sector Research (ISTR) - Promotes research and education in the philanthropy, civil society and nonprofit sectors. Includes membership information, affinity groups, conferences, and publications.
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JustGive.org - Connects people with charities and causes. Provides a searchable nonprofit database, ways to give, donor info, inspiring stories and quotes, newsletter, and nonprofit resources.
More Than Money - An organization that helps wealthy people learn to use their resources to create a better world. Features a quarterly journal, membership information, events, discussions, coaching groups, and an online store.
National Center for Family Philanthropy - Encourages families and individuals to create and sustain philanthropic family foundations. Offers programs, publications, articles, resource links, a newsletter, calendar of events, and a FAQ.
National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy - Committed to making organized philanthropy more responsive to socially, economically and politically disenfranchised people. Features publications, current projects, and membership information.
National Philanthropic Trust - Helps people create donor-advised funds to support charities, while maximizing tax deductions and eliminating paperwork. Features mission statement, guides, and philanthropic resources.
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Resource Generation - Offers a variety of programs for young people with wealth to explore how their financial resources relate to social justice and provide tools for them to take action. Also offers forums to promote cross class and intergenerational dialogues about money, class, and philanthropy.
Schwab Fund for Charitable Giving - A national (USA) donor-advised fund.
The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University - An interdisciplinery academic center headquartered at Indiana University that seeks to increase the understanding of philanthropy and improve its practice through research, teaching, and public service.
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The Philanthropic Initiative - Non-profit organization promotes growth of strategic philanthropy through research, educational programming, and consulting services. Provides profile of services, philanthropy articles, forum, email list, and events calendar.
The Philanthropy Workshop West (TPW West) - Provides a small group of individuals quarterly workshops to work with prominent figures from the fields of philanthropy, policy, and public management to develop a deep understanding of the nonprofit sector and strategies for maximizing his or her effectiveness as individual philanthropists.
The T. Rowe Price Program for Charitable Giving - A national (USA) donor-advised fund.
U.K. Cabinet Office - Big Society - News and information along with FAQs, Who's Who, documents, links and resources about charitable giving.
Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program - Helps individuals setup a donor-advised fund and choose which charities will benefit. Includes fee structure, program overview, benefits, giving options, brochures, and contact information.
onPhilanthropy - A global resource for non-profit and philanthropy professionals. It is free of charge and features several e-mail newsletters.