Solid amber or pressed amber?
Both are amber, but not the same thing. The difference and why it matters.
Solid amber is a single piece of fossilised tree resin. Pressed amber is made by fusing small pieces of amber with heat and pressure.
Both are amber. The difference is whether a bead is made from one piece or from pieces joined together. That is why collectors keep them in separate classes.
In short
Solid: amber in one piece. Pressed: amber pieces fused together. Both are real amber, but collectors do not put them in the same class.
How each one forms
Amber forms when resin that flowed from trees millions of years ago hardens underground. A solid amber bead is carved from one such piece.
For pressed amber, pieces and chips too small to make a bead are heated and fused together under pressure. This way, even small pieces can be used.
Why is it hard to tell by eye?
In pressed amber, the places where pieces meet sometimes show as fine lines or flow marks. But these marks are not visible in every bead, and colour and shine can mislead.
Home tests with salt water or a hot needle do not answer this question: pressed amber is amber too, so both can behave the same way. A hot needle also leaves a permanent mark on the bead.
If you want to be sure
Take the beads to a gemmology laboratory. The laboratory examines them and gives you the result in writing.
How to care for amber beads
Amber is a soft material and scratches easily. A few small habits keep the beads beautiful for a long time.
- Keep perfume, cologne and products containing alcohol away from the beads; they can dull the surface.
- Do not leave them in direct sunlight or a hot place for long.
- Wipe them with a soft, dry cloth.
- Store them apart from hard stones and metal objects.
