About Amber
"The Gold of the North"
Amber has a long long history and was highly valued by the Greeks, Phoenicians and Romans because it was not only said to bring good luck but it was also believed to have magical properties and was used to fend off asthma, rheumatism and other diseases.
Fossilised tree resin, probably from trees related to the pine tree of today and dating back 40-60 million years, rough or raw amber is rock like and is usually opaque and light in colour.
Entrapped in amber are microscopic bubbles, plants and sometimes insects. To bring out the lustre, warm feel and its distinguished look, amber, when cut can present the clear, milky and opaque colours. The cognac colour, clarity and detail of the fossilised elements comes from the amber being subject to extreme high temperatures and pressures and even further polishing. Further heating thereafter can give the effect of small explosions taking place within the amber.
Green amber is achieved through a simple process of painting the backside black and the gentle mix of black, yellow and brown give the green effect.
Amber used in the Henryka jewellery range is direct from the renowned Polish Baltic coastal areas and is one of the few areas world wide that amber can be found. Unique in its look and appearance amber is truly recognised, even today, as the gold of the North.
Cut and polished amber showing entrapped insects from millions of years past.