Amber Macrame

Amber has been crafted into jewelry since pre-historic times, and legends about its magical and curative powers have abounded since antiquity when amber was said to be the tears of Gods.

The most prized specimens of amber are always those containing insects, and in some rare cases small animals such as frogs and lizards which will always command a higher value. However, there is another effect called spangling, which is actually caused by small internal cracks that create a characteristic speckled appearance which we associate with good quality amber gemstones – due to its water content, amber is prone to drying out when exposed to heat or sun and this can lead to cracks. Heat treatment (when cloudy amber is heated in oil) is often used to intensify this potential ‘problem’, thereby making it a positive feature which is commonly known as Sun Spangled Amber.