All About Amber

Genuine Baltic Amber

A gemstone full of natural beauty and warmth, amber is a fossilized tree resin, millions of years old. More than 55 million years ago, lush conifer forests grew along the southern areas of present-day Scandinavia and nearby regions of what is now the Baltic Sea. The warm climate caused the conifer trees to exude their resin, which flowed down the trees and hardened. These resin deposits eventually washed into rivers and out to sea. Over millions of years, the pine resin fossilised and achieved a stable state through oxidation. This is what we know as the gemstone, amber.

While it can be found in other parts of the world, one of the largest deposits of this natural gemstone exists in the Baltic region. Amber from this region is generally considered the highest quality in the world.

All Azendi amber comes from this Baltic region and we are proud to be able to say that all our amber is certified by the International Amber Association. This is a guarantee of the authenticity of the amber.

Amber Droplets Necklace, £45

A Mythical Gemstone

Due to its warm and vibrant tones, the ancient Greek name for amber was “elektron”, meaning “made of the Sun”. An Athenian historian, Nicias (c. 470–413 BC), wrote “amber is a liquid produced by the rays of the sun; which is carried off by the tides of the Ocean, and thrown up upon the shores.”

A mythical legend about the origin of amber tells that the Baltic goddess of the sea, Jurate, fell in love with a mortal fisherman, Kastytis. The god Perkunas couldn’t bear the thought of a mortal touching the Queen and angrily threw down a bolt of lightning which shattered the queen’s amber palace, scattering millions of pieces into the sea, and drowning Kastytis. Ever since, fragments of amber have washed up on the shore and have earned the name “Jurate’s tears”.

Silver and Amber Cuff Bangles, Silver £85, Vermeil £95

The Gold of the North

Since Palaeolithic times, amber was used as a method of payment between merchants and traders. Amber was so important as a precious commodity it found its way across continents, from the Baltic Sea, through the Roman Empire and to Africa. Ancient Roman traders built 'the Amber Road' from Italy to North Poland, the best secured and well-kept trade route of that time. The powerful Hanseatic League (a confederation of merchants controlling the trade on many desirable goods throughout the late Middle Ages) built their success from the trade of amber. 

Cherry Amber and Rose Gold Vermeil Pendant, £45

Unique History in Every Gem

The magic of amber is that each piece is entirely unique – the gem displays natural inclusions and microscopic bubbles that shimmer with every movement. Each piece of amber is wholeheartedly individual and cannot be replicated, harbouring a unique story in the history of the stone itself.
Amber is available in a variety of shades; cognac, yellow, red, green, and those which are much rarer such as white, blue, and black. At Azendi, we use cognac amber (a warm orange), cherry amber (a deep, wine-hued colour), green, and yellow. We carefully combine these different colours of amber with sterling silver or gold vermeil settings to best bring out the rich tones of the amber gems.

Three Colour Amber Pendant, £75

All Azendi Amber Jewellery can be viewed here: Our amber collections