What are the categories of amber?

Amber is a gem formed by the resin dripping from plants such as Coniferae, Leguminosae, and Araucariaceae 45-99 million years ago. It was buried underground for tens of millions of years and petrified under pressure and heat, so it is also called “rosin fossil”. Today, let’s take a look at this mysterious amber. What are its categories?

Amber is buried deep underground. Tens of millions of years of sedimentation have formed its unique charm. But it is covered with a mysterious veil, hiding its beauty, and no one has discovered it. Until today, it was mined from the ground by people. After research by scholars and scientists, identification by appraisers, and finally fine carving by craftsmen, amber showed its true face to the world, its incomparable beauty. It was not until today that we really began to know amber, an organic gem. So, what are the categories of amber covered with a mysterious veil?

Blood amber, a type of amber, is red or dark red in color, like the color of wine. The main place of origin is Myanmar. It is a good product for wearing, gifting and collecting, which can protect yourself and your family for peace, good fortune, health and happiness. Mexican amber will show a beautiful deep red color when backlit, and Indonesian amber will also have a red glow when backlit. Blood amber jewelry is bright and transparent, with uniform blood threads, and is the best among natural blood amber. Most natural amber contains impurities.

Golden amber refers to golden transparent amber. A category of amber divided by the depth of color. Transparent amber is called amber, and opaque amber is called honey wax. From a professional perspective, the yellow series is called golden amber. In the Ming Dynasty, Xie Zhaozhe wrote in “Wu Za Zu·Wu Bu Si”: “Amber, blood amber is the best, golden amber is the second, and wax amber is the lowest.” Golden amber was called “wealth stone” in ancient times. Its color is bright, luxurious and attractive, and has the beauty of wealth. Its golden glow will bring you wealth and blessings, and will also bring more and better opportunities to get along with people.

Insect amber is a type of amber. Hundreds of millions of years ago, some trees that were traumatized by nature or had broken trunks and could secrete resin continued to secrete resin. The fossils formed after the resin dripped were amber. Insect amber is the inclusion of insects in amber. When plants are stimulated by external factors, they will discharge the secreted resin from the resin duct to fill the wound, sterilize and reduce inflammation. After the resin is discharged and adheres to the tree trunk, it will slowly flow or drip down. In this process, it may engulf unexpected small creatures, such as insects, and thus form insect amber.

Blue amber is a general term, which refers to amber varieties that show a variety of colors such as gold, green, blue-green, sky blue, blue-purple, etc. under light other than ultraviolet rays. “Blue amber” mostly refers to amber produced in the Dominican Republic and Mexico. Sky blue and blue-purple are the unique colors of Dominican blue amber. Blue amber is called the national treasure of the Dominican Republic. It comes from the leguminous plant resin 30 million years ago. There are many different opinions on the cause of its special blue color. The widely recognized theory in the scientific community is that the high temperature of volcanic lava flowing over the surface causes the amber in the stratum to undergo a qualitative change due to heat. Dominican blue amber is one of the few extremely precious ambers.

Water-filled amber is a type of amber. The formation of water-filled amber in amber is similar to the formation of water-filled agate and water-filled crystal in other gemstones. Scientists claim that water-filled amber is a resin that has not yet formed amber and wraps raindrops in it and is buried underground. With the movement of the earth’s crust, the resin containing raindrops gradually changes and finally petrifies. The raindrops in the resin are fortunately preserved. The fossil containing raindrops is the current water-filled amber. Water-filled amber is quite rare in amber, and its probability of formation is basically the same as that of insect amber.

Amber has always been a precious variety of amber and beeswax, and has been recorded for nearly a thousand years. But it was first called “Yupei” together with amber in “Classic of Mountains and Seas”, and later in Wang Chong’s “Lunheng” it was called “Dunmu”. It was not until “Compendium of Materia Medica” and “Ge Gu Yao Lun” that the status of amber was further clarified, especially in the 37th volume of “Compendium of Materia Medica” that it was recorded that “amber is the best of all ambers”. At the same time, in “The Jewelry Chapter” of “The Exploitation of the Works of Nature”, it was said that amber is the most expensive among ambers, and its price is five times that of gold. Only then did people really begin to realize the value of amber. The characteristic of amber is that it appears black when viewed vertically with the naked eye, and appears as a bright red spot under light. Because amber is the only symbol of nobility and auspiciousness, it has always been regarded as a treasure by dignitaries and wealthy people. Making Buddhist beads with it is the best sacred object for Buddhist disciples and believers to offer to Buddha.

Flower amber is a kind of amber with various colors and uneven colors, and contains sawdust, flowers, grass, etc. The fragrant aroma of amber can strengthen people’s souls and bring strength and courage. In ancient China, amber jewelry was the favorite of royal relatives and noble ladies. Amber was also regarded as a lucky object; newborns wearing it can bring good luck and peace throughout their lives; newlyweds wearing it can keep their youth forever and have a harmonious and happy marriage. Just like the preciousness of blue amber, Fushun flower amber is also unique and beautiful, so it is more precious.