Tip of the Month - Amber

Amber
Picture by wikipedia.com

Amber is fossilized tree resin that people have appreciated since Neolithic times. Its gorgeous color, natural beauty and, if you're lucky, inclusions like plants, insects or other small animals trapped within, makes it a wonder to look at.

Amber is available many different sizes and shapes - like chunks or nuggets, chips and ready made cabochons, just to name a few.

It's no wonder that Amber is one of my favorite stones, but with the abilities of today’s factories, how can you tell whether or not it’s genuine? Obviously, the first thing to do is always buy amber from a reputable dealer. But, you can also look at its structure. Fake amber looks like it came out of a mold - very smooth and regularly shaped. If you’re still not sure, this test may help you determine whether your amber is a fake:

Try dropping the piece of amber in a cup of very salty water (3-4 heaping tablespoons of salt per cup). If it floats, it’s probably the real thing. If it doesn't, it’s most likely a fake. This is probably the least invasive method I've heard about for testing amber (others recommend using a match or chemicals).