Basic Introduction to Danish Amber
Apart from fairy tales, amber is the most beautiful thing in Denmark, referred to by locals as “the mermaid's tears.” Danish amber is very precious and requires millions of years of transformation to form.
Product Characteristics
Mostly irregular granular, lumpy, stalactite-like, and loose granular forms. Sometimes it contains fossils of plants or insects. Colors range from yellow, brownish-yellow to reddish-yellow. Streaks are white or pale yellow. Has a resinous luster. Transparent to opaque. Fracture is shell-like and very distinct. Hardness 2-2.5. Specific gravity 1.05-1.09. Extremely brittle. Becomes electrically charged through friction.
Historical Folklore
Denmark is said to be the first country in the world to have discovered natural amber. As far back as the 14th century, Denmark was at its peak of power and prosperity, when most of the Baltic Sea coastal countries were ruled by Denmark. At that time, amber circulated as currency in Nordic markets and was also used as the most precious gemstone jewelry, presented to the illustrious Roman Empire. It is said that one piece of amber was worth the price of a slave. Europeans liked to wear amber for protection. They made sacred objects, crosses, and shrines out of amber. It was believed that crosses could only be made of amber, as it was considered a holy relic on earth.
Today, amber remains a traditional gemstone for Europeans, as valuable as gold and silver. For a wedding, the most precious gift given to the bride is a necklace made of large amber beads. Amber is also an amorous token exchanged between lovers. As the birthplace of amber, Denmark has established a famous amber trade route known proudly as the “Amber Road.” According to records, the “Amber Road” extended from Jutland in northern Denmark, passing through Baltic Sea ports, all the way to the Mediterranean, Persia, India, China, and beyond. It is said that amber was often included in gifts Westerners presented to Chinese emperors. In the Danish Amber Room Museum, hundreds of rare amber treasures are privately collected and showcased, with some illustrations and texts providing detailed introductions to natural amber. Through viewing amber crafts, visitors learn about the origin of amber and understand that it is the fossilized resin of prehistoric pines, which underwent transformations over millions of years to become amber.
Authenticity Testing
1. Experiment: Natural amber is very light. When you place it (unmounted) in water, it will sink to the bottom. However, there's no need to worry. If you add concentrated saltwater, when the concentration of salt is more than 1:4 (1 part salt, 4 parts water), real amber will slowly float, while fake amber will not rise.
2. Sound: An unmounted amber chain or beads gently rubbed in your hand will emit a soft, slightly muffled sound. If it's plastic or resin, the sound will be crisper.
3. Scent: Unpolished raw amber, when rubbed in your hand and heated, will give off a faint, special fragrance. The scent of white amber is stronger than other common types of amber, hence it's called “aromatic amber.” Generally, finely polished or carved amber makes it difficult to smell the fragrance through hand rubbing.
4. Visual