SUWA
AMBER, Often Heated
This warm, elegant gem has been
used for ages in rosary beads and talismans.
Amber is a fossilized resin, formed when the sap secreted from ancient trees was buried in the earth. The word "amber" is derived from Arabic words meaning "fragrant material," and in German it is called "the stone that burns." These terms stem from amber's properties- it emits a fragrance when warmed and burns when ignited. Furthermore, amber develops a static charge when rubbed, causing it to attract small, light particles.

Amber pendants, beads, and buttons dating back to 3700 BC have been discovered in Estonia, and gems from 2600 BC have been found in Egypt. It was also a valued material used by Christians in medieval Europe to make rosary beads. By the late 19th century, influential prospecting companies appeared along the Baltic coast. Lower- quality material, which amounted to about half of total production, was used as the raw material for making varnish, while the high- quality amber was supplied to major European cities to be used as gems. The city of Vienna in particular, which procured about 40 percent of this rough material, came to be a center for the manufacture of smoking accessories such as cigarette cases and pipes. The current center of amber production is the Russian city of Kaliningrad, near Poland on the Baltic coast. Kaliningrad boasts more than 90 percent of total world production, with some 5,000 people engaged in amber mining.
Amber jewelry conveys a sense of serenity, with a characteristics elegance and warmth. While diamond is cool to the touch, the sensation of amber is one of warmth, and an amber necklace is so light that you might even forget you are wearing it. The beauty of these pieces varies according to factors such as the size and volume of the piece, the quality and shape of each bead, and the balance of the tones present. The beauty of the necklace pictured to the next page is emphasized by its combination of colors and the special facet arrangements used.

Because amber was a fluid resin at the time of its creation, pieces of "insect amber," where prehistoric insects were trapped alive and fossilized along with the amber, are occasionally discovered. These intriguing pieces also hold interest for researchers in paleontology and genetics.

Over time, the light yellow color of amber may darken, or it may take on a reddish hue. The degree of such changes will vary according to the type of amber.
Pendant, Gold
Amber 1pc
0.37g
Heated
Diamond 1pc
US $1,000
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