| Amber, the gem of a stone that's not | | | | England. Baltic amber is the oldest |
| really a gemstone at all, is actually | | | | geological specimen to be used in |
| fossilized pine sap. People have | | | | jewelry. Archeologists digging near the |
| collected, traded, carved, and coveted | | | | Baltic Sea have found evidence of Baltic |
| amber for more than 10,000 years. Yet | | | | amber jewelry that is approximately |
| despite our fascination with it, much | | | | 40,000 years old.Green Amber is a |
| about the smoky yellow stone -- the | | | | completely natural variation of Baltic |
| history of amber -- remains a | | | | Amber. The green color is a result of |
| mystery.The price for amber stones | | | | plant interaction with the resin. While |
| varies widely, in the right price range | | | | green is a more valuable color of amber |
| for Average Joe's (and Joannas) who can | | | | than brown, the best quality of amber |
| spend as little as $20 for amber and | | | | remains clear, transparent, and |
| silver jewelry, and also for | | | | flawless.Slightly softer than Baltic |
| high-rollers ready to spend $40,000 or | | | | amber, Dominican amber is prized for its |
| more for a "slice of sunshine" in amber | | | | coloration, including yellow and deep |
| jewelry crafted in gold, platinum, and | | | | red, as well as the distinctive (and |
| featuring other gemstones. And although | | | | rare) blue and smoky green hues that |
| it not an official "birthstone -- a | | | | come exclusively from that area.Shocking |
| designation reserved for actual | | | | Information about AmberThe ancient name |
| gemstones -- amber is often presented to | | | | for amber was "electron," the root word |
| those born under the sign of Taurus | | | | of electricity. Around 600 B.C., it was |
| (April 19-May 19).History of AmberAmber | | | | discovered that if an amber stone was |
| is found in Myanmar home to the largest | | | | rugged vigorously, it became |
| piece of transparent amber in the world | | | | electrically charged. Believed to carry |
| (33.5 pounds and 40-50 million years | | | | a negative electrical energy charge, |
| old), as well as Lebanon, Sicily, | | | | amber was used to draw power and energy |
| Mexico, Romania, Germany, and Canad. The | | | | into its bearer.In addition to its |
| two main sources of amber on the market | | | | ability to attract energy and power, |
| today, however, are the Dominican | | | | amber was believed to aid the intellect. |
| Republic and the Baltic states.Once | | | | It was prescribed for memory loss; |
| highly regulated, Baltic amber has | | | | eccentric behavior; anxiety, and |
| become more widely available due to more | | | | indecisiveness.The Joy of AmberAmber |
| liberal economic policies in Eastern | | | | jewelry is said to help one be joyful |
| Europe. Today, the whole world enjoys | | | | and happy. The cheery yellow stone is |
| amber minded from the Baltic region, | | | | believed to lighten the burdens of |
| where the largest mine is in Russia, | | | | life.Healers say that amber activates |
| west of Kaliningrad.Baltic amber may | | | | our altruistic nature and helps us |
| also be found in Lithuania, Latvia, | | | | realize the full power of our spiritual |
| Estonia, Poland, Russia. Baltic amber | | | | intellect.Learn How To Buy Jewelry And |
| has even washed up on the shores of the | | | | Gemstones Without Being Ripped Off. |
| Baltic Sea in Denmark, Norway, and | | | | |