How Amber Jewelry Is Made ?

Amber, like all precious stones and gems, is mined and processed so that it can become the beautiful piece that is set into your impressive amber bracelet, amber necklace, amber earrings, or amber brooch. Also like many other gemstones, amber jewelry is made over the span of many years and is the result of natural processes. Thousands of years ago, pine trees in the Scandinavian and Baltic regions dripped resin or a thick sap that would eventually harden and become petrified. It is this raw material that we call amber and often, it has trace amounts of plants and other matter and in some cases, entire insects or leafs perfectly preserved because they happened to get caught in the gem-producing resin.

Throughout the years, the forces of nature caused the amber resin to harden into a gem-like state, as trees were buried under sedimentary matter. The process by which amber is made does not end there, however. In addition to this stage, geological events moved amber to various locations, where it continues to be mined today and prepared as pieces for contemporary jewelry lovers. After the raw amber is mined, it is washed and begins the processing that will give the hardened resin new life that will become your amber ring or amber pin. Without processing, amber jewelry would not look much like we think it might and this stage in the way amber is made is important.

One step in processing raw amber that is critical for producing piece of amber jewelry of exceptional quality is called clarifying. In this stage, the amber is boiled in an oil in order to rid the stone of any imperfections and to reduce any cloudiness; alternately, the amber may be baked for the same purpose. When the amber passes to a jeweler’s hands, he or she will file and sand the amber piece in order to give it shape and definition. The most skilled jeweler will ensure that the inclusion, or the fossilized object within your amber piece, is positioned in such a way that it draws attention to your jewelry. The last step in making jewelry involves polishing and then placing the amber in a beautiful silver setting or another metal of your choosing. Well-cared for amber jewelry will last forever.