Here at Nova Silver we have a huge collection of amber in
all colours such as Lemon, Cherry, Green and Cognac ranging from small dainty
pendants and rings to big statement pieces!
Amber is by no means a mineral or a rock, in fact it is the
fossilized remains of hardened tree resin. There are beliefs that amber was the
resting place of departed souls due to the preserved insects in the thick
resin, therefore it is worn for good luck and protection from the evil. The
oldest piece of amber was believed to be discovered approximately 320 million
years ago (in the Carboniferous period). A good quality piece of Amber is said
to glow from within and will quickly create warmth in the hand.
Amber is formed
from resin exuded from tree bark, however it is also produced in the heartwood.
Resin protects the trees by blocking gaps in the bark to prevent further damage.
Once resin covers a gash or break caused by chewing insects, it hardens and
forms a seal. Resin’s antiseptic properties protect the tree from disease, and
its stickiness will catch insects as it flows. Eventually, after the trees
fell, the resin-coated logs were carried by rivers and tides to deltas in
coastal regions, where they were then buried over time in sedimentary deposits.
Most of the amber you see today did not originate in the place where it was
found. Most often, it was deposited and found at a distance from where the
resin-producing trees grew.
They can easily float in water bodies which is why you’ll find
amber across seashores, especially the ones in Northern Europe. Amber is more
commonly found in seashores after a massive storm. During thesestorms, the rough seas almost immediately dislodge these
resins from the interiors of the sea which leads them to the shore.
