Baltic amber: its origin, its virtues and its authenticity!

What is amber ?

Amber is a fossilized resin of conifers from the tertiary era.
40 million years ago, the regions of central and northern Europe were covered with forests in which there were many ancestors of our pines and spruces.
10 million years later, these forests were partly engulfed by water. This explains why the Baltic coast is rich in amber.

There are many sources of supply, but amber from the Baltic Sea is the oldest and is therefore the most famous.

Amber has been present throughout human history since Antiquity.
Indeed, 2000 years before J.C. the pharaohs knew the amber jewels. Homer, for his part, mentions it in the Odyssey as a princely present. An ancient writer writes that amber is the juice of the setting sun which coagulates in the waves and which is deposited on the beach.
The Romans sent armies to conquer the regions producing amber. Under the reign of Emperor Nero, a small statuette of amber can exceed the price of a slave in full force.

The benefits of amber, a belief ?

According to some, real amber from the Baltic Sea has unsuspected virtues and would even relieve the pain associated with all throat problems: angina, laryngitis, pharyngitis, etc.
The list of reported benefits is longer :

-         Pain relief for babies related to teething

-         Reinforcement of immune defenses

-         Activation of blood circulation

-         Muscle pain relief

-         Help in the fight against fatigue

-         Fight against stress and depression

However, no scientific study has corroborated these claims so far.

Watch out for copies !

Amber is an expensive material, and it is not uncommon for dummy parts to be found everywhere on the market or on the net. To remedy this, amber must be examined under a microscope to verify its authenticity.
Some concealers do not hesitate to cover fake resin, resembling amber, with a light layer of real amber so as not to arouse suspicion.

So-called pieces of amber are often found with inclusions of insects or plants. Unfortunately, genuine parts are rare and very expensive. To obtain it, you will have to go to a specialized jewelry store or to a recognized supplier.

The Balticway brand is a professional producer who offers real amber bracelets and necklaces. You can discover their many models via this link on our website.