Often overlooked, amber jewelry can be an extraordinary, unique gift idea

Amber jewelry has suffered over the years, because amber has been neglected by most jewelers. This leaves new amber pieces to be very few, but you are sure to find vintage and antique amber rings, necklaces, earrings, and ornate carvings. Amber was very popular during the 20's and 30's, so if you purchase an antique piece from this time period, you may be wearing something a flapper from this time wore, since amber was a popular medium for the jewelry they wore.

Today amber mainly comes from two places in the world, Baltic states and the Dominican Republic. The amber from the Baltic states is older and therefore more valued by jewelers, but amber from the Dominican Republic is more likely to contain insects and that makes it more valued by fossil hunters and scientists. In fact, more than 1,000 instinct insect species has been discovered in amber.

Owning a piece of amber is like owning a miniature time capsule, since it is fossilized tree sap. That is why some stones have prehistoric insects trapped inside, they were unfortunate enough to become stuck in the sticky sap, and as the tree “bled,” the sap covered the insect over days or weeks. Just think, if you could obtain a vintage piece of jewelry from the 20's containing an insect, it would be an extra special gift with very deep meaning.

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