Certificates
Amber & Gemstone company is located in Lithuania therefore when manufacturing Jewelry we only use Amber resources from Baltic Sea region. Due to this our products are classified as Genuine Baltic Amber Jewelry and we can 100% guarantee that we don’t use any cheaper imitations of Amber (Copal, plastic or glass).
We are a responsible and trustworthy company therefore we always try to inform our clients about origin of our products and possible manufacturing processes in jewelry making. It is our responsibility to provide Amber Authenticity proof (Certificates) when this information is requested by our clients.
We guarantee that Amber & Gemstones Company doesn’t manufacture or sell any Baltic Amber Jewelry that would be classified as Pressed or Bonded Baltic Amber. Our company’s goal is to provide consumers with Baltic Amber accessories that would have undergone as little manufacturing processes as possible. In order to ensure authenticity of our products we constantly send sample jewelry for testing into laboratory. Our recent jewelry testing results can be found bellow.
Certificate of Amber Examination #1,#2, #3 and #4.
Certificate of Amber Examination #5.
Classification of Baltic Amber.
Most laboratories testing Baltic Amber authenticity divide this gemstone into four different types. Characteristics and descriptions of these classifications can be found bellow.
Natural Baltic Amber.
It is the type of Amber that has undergone only mechanical treatment. This includes processes such as polishing, cutting and grinding. All these processes don’t affect natural properties of gemstone therefore this type of Amber is classified as Natural.
Modified Baltic Amber.
Some jewelry makers try to enhance Amber transparency or change its color. All this is being done by subjecting Baltic Amber to either high-pressure or thermal treatment. It allows artists to make more beautiful looking Baltic Amber Jewelry; however it is possible that these procedures might affect physical properties of Baltic Amber too. Due to these reasons this type of Amber is being classified as Modified.
Pressed / Reconstructed Baltic Amber.
This type of Amber is being made by pressing many small pieces of Baltic Amber. High temperature and high pressure allows to make larger Baltic Amber pieces. During this process only Baltic Amber pieces are being used (without any additional components).
Bonded Baltic Amber.
Bonded Amber is quite similar to Pressed Baltic Amber; however during the pressing procedure additional binding agents are being used. The amounts of binding agents are usually very small, but they are necessary in order to join separate Amber pieces together.
Baltic Amber Tests.
Since Amber Jewelry testing in laboratory is quite an expensive procedure some Baltic Amber Jewelry enthusiasts are looking for alternative methods to test authenticity of their jewelry. A few different tests are possible that can help to determine if your Jewelry is made from Baltic Amber or not. Some of the most popular methods are listed below.
Scratch Test.
Doing Scratch Test on Jewelry can help to separate Baltic Amber from imitations that are made from glass. Since Amber is not fully tough gemstone you would be able to scratch it and a small mark would be visible.
Salt Water Test.
This test is quite easy to implement and it only requires you to have some salt. Salt water test can help to separate Baltic Amber from jewelry imitations that are made from plastic or glass. Both Copal and Baltic Amber have the ability to float on water so this test is not useful when separating these types of Amber.
In order to prepare salt water it is recommended to add 1/3 part salt and 2/3 parts water. The solution should be mixed properly so that salt would be dissolved properly. In order to perform this test simply add Amber Jewelry or Beads in the prepared mixture.
When doing this particular test it is important to keep in mind that some Baltic Amber Jewelry might contain additional components like closure & string that are made not from this natural gemstone. This might result in not accurate results of Amber Jewelry testing since these additional components might make jewelry heavier and it will not float.
Rubbing Test.
Due to the fact that Baltic Amber has electrostatic properties it is possible to identify authenticity of this gemstone by doing a Rubbing Test. This particular test is useful when separating Baltic Amber from Copal. In order to perform this test you should wrap Amber Jewelry in a soft cloth and then rub it for some time. If the jewelry is made from Amber, it should become sufficiently charged (electrostatically) in order to pick a few small pieces of paper. Since Copal doesn’t have electrostatic features this test will not work on this stone and it might become even sticky after performing this test.
Heat Test.
Performing a Heat Test on Baltic Amber is also a common method to ensure that your jewelry is authentic. When heated, Baltic Amber creates an odor that is similar to pine resin (or Christmas Tree smell). This particular odor might be not appealing to some people; although it is different enough from burned plastic smell. In order to do this test most people use heated needle.
The main benefit of these tests is that they can be done at the comfort of your home; however a few of them might require you to scratch or use a hot needle on Amber pieces. This of course means that these tests might damage appearance of your jewelry and it can become unwearable afterwards.
When trying one of these tests it is also important to keep in mind that one tests might provide false results. This is especially true if a test is being done by non-professional. Due to this it might be necessary to perform at least a couple of these tests or consult with a professional in this area. While these tests are helpful, only a certified laboratory can provide undeniable conclusions of your Amber Jewelry authenticity.
In case you have any questions or doubts about our Jewelry authenticity do not hesitate to contact us at info@ambergemstones.com. If needed, we are always willing to help and provide additional information.