That warm, glowing "stone" in your jewellery box isn't a stone at all. It's the sap of a tree that was growing tens of millions of years ago.
Amber is one of the oldest materials ever worn as jewellery, and it comes with some of the strangest facts in the gem world.
Read to the very end for the everyday word you use all the time that comes from amber.
───────────────────────────────────────────────
A tree's sap, frozen in time
Amber is fossilised tree resin. Baltic amber, the most famous kind, is commonly dated to around 40 to 50 million years old.
Because it started out sticky, little pieces of the ancient world sometimes got caught inside. 🐜 Insects, spiders, plant fragments and even tiny air bubbles have been found preserved in amber, like a snapshot from a lost forest.
Amber Sterling Silver Bird Necklace — £75
───────────────────────────────────────────────
The room made of amber
In 1716, Prussia's king reportedly gave Russia's Peter the Great a set of wall panels made of amber. Over time they grew into the famous Amber Room, a dazzling chamber near St Petersburg.
During the Second World War the panels were taken from the palace and then vanished. 🕵️ Their fate is still a mystery. A painstaking reconstruction was completed in 2003.
Orange Amber & Marcasite Sterling Silver Ring | Size O ½ — £250
───────────────────────────────────────────────
Amber's quirky party tricks
🪶 It's incredibly light, and Baltic amber is often said to float in salty water, which is partly why pieces wash up on Baltic beaches.
🔥 It feels warm to the touch, unlike cold glass or stone.
⚡ Rub it on cloth and it can pick up tiny scraps of paper with static. Hold that thought, because it matters at the end.
Orange Amber Sterling Silver Super Chunky Ring | Size R — £149
Yellow Butterscotch Amber Sterling Silver Marquise Cut Ring — £28
Need a different ring size? Send us a resize enquiry here.
───────────────────────────────────────────────
What amber is often associated with
In crystal traditions and folklore, amber is often associated with:
• Warmth and positivity
• Protection
• Calm
• Energy
───────────────────────────────────────────────
Keep that honey glow
🪶 Amber is wonderfully light and warm to wear, and so easy to look after
💄 Perfume and hairspray first, amber last
🧽 A soft, damp cloth brings its glow straight back
👛 Give it its own pouch between wears
───────────────────────────────────────────────
Amber FAQs
Is amber a gemstone?
It's an organic gem material rather than a mineral, because it comes from fossilised tree resin.
How can you tell real amber from plastic?
The easiest way is to buy from a jeweller you trust. Ask us in store and we'll happily show you what makes real amber so special.
Does amber have to be orange?
No. It ranges from pale lemon and butterscotch to deep cognac and honey tones.
───────────────────────────────────────────────
What our customers say
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Louise McCormick
"A fabulous little shop! Lots of lovely & unusual things from all over the world & the ladies provide a great, personal service. Would highly recommend a visit here!"
───────────────────────────────────────────────
The word amber gave us: electricity
The ancient Greek word for amber was elektron. The Greeks noticed that rubbed amber attracted light objects, and when scientists later studied that static effect, they built a new word from it.
⚡ That word became electricity. Every time you flick a switch, you're using a word that began with a piece of fossilised tree sap.
───────────────────────────────────────────────
A piece of prehistory to wear every day
Amber is part gem, part time capsule, and a very wearable piece of history. Browse our amber pieces online or pop into our Kirkcaldy boutique. Curious about other materials? Read why some jewellery turns your skin green.
Dreaming of something one of a kind? Have a look at our bespoke commission work.
───────────────────────────────────────────────
Visit or contact Eloise Jewellery
📍 Eloise Jewellery
156 High Street
Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland, KY1 1NQ
✉️ eloisejewellery@hotmail.co.uk
🕒 Monday–Saturday: 9:30am–5:30pm
───────────────────────────────────────────────
Please note: the spiritual properties described in this article come from crystal traditions and folklore. They are not scientifically proven and are not a substitute for medical advice.