Amber colors: a palette created by nature

Amber, referred to as the “gold of the north”, is commonly associated primarily with warm shades of brown, reminiscent of the color of honey. But did you know that amber comes in many other colors? Let's discover together the diversity of amber colors and their importance in the jewelry world.

Yellow, brown or cognac?

The most famous color of amber is shades of yellow and orange. Often this color is also called brown, tea, cognac or just amber. It is the most common color, which owes its warm tones to the incorporation of air and gases in its structure under the influence of heat.

Milk amber

White amber, also referred to as royal amber or the color of “ivory”, is rare and of great interest to collectors. Its milky color is due to the large number of tiny air bubbles enclosed in amber, which gives it a unique, almost pearlescent appearance. This variety can range from light yellow to almost white.

green

Green amber is rare, and its color is the result of the presence of organic matter, such as plants, that were enclosed in amber during its formation. Natural green amber often has an earthy, olive hue that comes from mineral inclusions. In addition, many green ambers are autoclaved, where they are subjected to high temperatures and pressures, which intensifies their color.

Red and cherry

Red amber, often referred to as cherry amber, is as beautiful as it is rare. Natural red amber is also called “old” because of its maturity. This deep, saturated color is usually the result of natural oxidation processes that take place on the surface of amber for decades. Due to such a long waiting time for the effect of natural processes, red ambres are often obtained by heat treatment in special furnaces, where they change color to intense red under the influence of high temperature. This amber color is often used in exclusive jewelry and enjoys great popularity among collectors.

Blue

Blue amber is one of the rarest and most sought-after varieties. Most often it comes from the Dominican Republic, where its blue shine is due to the luminescence effect. In natural sunlight, amber may appear to be ordinary brown, but at the right angle it reveals its unusual blue hue.

In the case of Baltic amber, the blue tint is unlikely to occur. We can only find amber with a delicate, blue glow, which is the result of the presence of pyrite molecules that give it this characteristic glow.

Black

Black amber, although less popular, is also found in nature. Its dark color comes from large amounts of inclusions of organic matter, such as charcoal, which were absorbed during the amber formation process. The processing of black amber is a difficult craft, due to its delicacy and fragility.

Colors and value

The color of amber is of great importance for its value. Rare colors such as blue or white are more desirable and can achieve higher prices in the market. Factors such as transparency, presence of inclusions and modification processes also affect the final value of amber. However, it is worth remembering that each piece of amber is unique, and its value is not always associated only with the color, but also with the history and beauty that it hides in itself.

For amber lovers, collectors and anyone who wants to know its uniqueness, the richness of its colors is an endless source of inspiration and delight. Whether you are new to the world of amber or an experienced collector, there is always something new to discover in the palette of colors that it offers us.

Illustrations:

1. Dominican blue amber

2. Gold plated Milk Amber necklace. Prod. Brazi Druse Jewelry

3. sounds of amber. Author: Piotr Frankowski — S&A Design Studio.

4. Jewelry by S&A Design Studio.

5. Bahia Black Dress Necklace. Aut. Wojciech Kalandyk, Maciej Rozenberg

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