Classification: Amber (Succinite)
Terminology and Definitions
according to the
International Amber Association, IAA

1. Natural Amber (Succinite):

A gemstone that was only cut, grinded, polished, drilled or turned.

2.  Treated Baltic amber (Treated Succinite) 

A gemstone whose appearance, texture and durability were changed by human interference, e.g.: thermal treatment, thermal and high-pressure treatment, dyeing using dyes or other colour changing methods, controlled exposure entirely or partly to any physical factor, filling cavities and cracks, shaped Baltic amber.

3. Pressed Baltic amber (Pressed Succinite) –

A gemstone made of one Baltic amber stone or many pieces pressed in high temperature and under high pressure without additional components.

4. Bonded Baltic amber (Succinite) (doublet, triplet) 

A gemstone consisting of two or more parts of natural, modified or reconstructed Baltic amber bonded together with the use of the smallest possible amount of a binding agent necessary to join the pieces.

 

 

There is nothing considered wrong with the above changes to ambers as long as it is disclosed to the buyer.

The following abbreviations can be used
to describe gemstone modification degrees:
N – no modification
H – heating
HPHT – high pressure high temperature

Some of the more common names for resins:

 

  • Dominican amber - amber (not succinite) from the island of Hispaniola, in particular, the Dominican Republic
  • Baltic amber - amber from the Baltic region such as Poland, Germany and Russia
  • Sicilian amber- simetite (from the name of the River Simeto in Sicily)
  • Mexican amber- from the state of Chiapas by the Gulf of Mexico
  • Burman amber- burmite
  • Canadian amber- cedarite (from the name of Lake Cedar, where it occurs)
  • amber from Borneo - from Sarawak, the Malaysian part of the island.
  • Finally, for some individuals, amber is only Succinite and only from the Baltic regions. All other resins (see above) are not real amber, but resins from other areas. If you speak of amber, then it is the resin from the Baltic area only. Not everyone agrees with this interpretation, so this approach has caused many arguments in many different groups.

    The classification of Baltic amber gemstones was adopted by the Board of the International Amber Association on November 10, 1999, as amended. Last amended on September 05, 2021, unified text.

 

Copyright © 2024 Amberica West - All rights reserved.

(719) 258-9319

  • twitter logo
  • facebook logo
  • email logo