Organic Amber
The allure and beauty of amber is obvious, its charm is unmistakable, and it's been that way for thousands of years. But what makes amber so dramatically different from other precious stones?
The answer lies in its organic roots, and when we say roots, we mean it! Amber is one of few gemstones that has organic origins instead of mineral origins. Check out this fun blog post about how amber is formed. Amber reflects the natural beauty of the earth and the trees that created the amber, and each piece has its own formation story, making amber an intensely individual gemstone.
Amber comes in a wide variety of colors. Here at The Russian Store, we describe our amber as green, cherry, cognac, honey, citrine, or butterscotch, but all of those colors feature an enchanting array of possible hues. Over 200 different shades have been identified, but each piece consists of unique variations in color swirls of darker colorings and clouds of microscopic bubbles causing spots of opacity, making each and every piece of amber one-of-a-kind. People have always been attracted to amber because of its warmth, beauty and seemingly magical properties.
Moreover, amber was probably the first gemstone to be worn as jewelry. It was recorded to have been used in adornment making as far back as the Neolithic epoch of the Bronze and the Iron Ages. Archeologist have discovered and cataloged large amounts of amber artifacts that are thought to have been produced in the 17th and 18th centuries. These artifacts are often pieces of jewelry or other small artistic items such as display figurines. Later in history, amber made its way from being worn on people to being elaborately shown in homes. People would often decorate the interior of their home with an amber trim if they could afford it. The Amber Room in the Palace of Ekaterina the Great in Tsarskoye Village (now the town of Pushkin) was the most extravagant example of interior decorating with fine Baltic amber. Unfortunately this modern marvel was lost during World War II as a result of Nazi plundering. However, splendid collections of historical amber are still exhibited today in Hermitage and the Armory. Shop around The Russian Store to find that perfect amber piece that is sure to be cherished in your family for years to come.
