Amber
JewelryWiki Editorial·3 sources·Reviewed 2026-08-04
Fossilised tree resin, not a mineral. Specific gravity near 1 means it floats in saturated saltwater — the classic field test.
Properties
| Property | Value | Authority |
|---|---|---|
| Refractive index | 1.539–1.545 [1] | — |
| Specific gravity | 1.05–1.09 [1] | — |
| Common treatments | Heated in hot oil — linseed, for example. This darkens the inherent body colour and clears the material, and it also produces the spangled, glittery internal discs that many buyers assume are natural. GIA’s illustration of “spangled” amber is of a heat-treated stone. [3] | — |
| Care cautions | NEVER use an ultrasonic cleaner. GIA groups this with the organic gem materials — pearls, coral, tortoise shell, ivory, shell cameos, jet and amber — which are porous and can be damaged both by the heat of an ultrasonic and by the chemicals in most cleaning solutions. Warm soapy water only. [2] | — |
Sources
- International Gem Society — reference charts (Mohs hardness, specific gravity, refractive index) — International Gem Society (IGS reference charts)
- GIA — Ultrasonic Cleaners for Gems: What You Need to Know — Gemological Institute of America (GIA 4Cs, Ultrasonic Cleaners for Gems)
- GIA — An Introduction to Gem Treatments — Gemological Institute of America (GIA, An Introduction to Gem Treatments (Robert Weldon))