On this page
UnderstandWhat it is, what people ask, how far this page goes
Natural organic and biogenic materials · Organic or biogenic material · Natural identity; treatment status unknown
Amber
An organic material formed by the fossilization of tree resin, not itself a mineral; Pressed Amber, copal and plastic imitations must be labelled separately. This page compares how the major standards and institutions name it, what must be disclosed when selling it, whether it can be worn every day, how it is treated and identified, and which source each conclusion comes from.
Price, rarity and origin are outside the scope of this wiki.
Questions people ask about Amber
Every sentence below is followed by the registered fact it rests on; answers add no new facts and promise no outcome.
Q1How is real amber told apart from plastic, resin or pressed amber?
Not by colour or feel: amber and its worked or treated forms, such as pressed amber, can pass for natural rough and for plastic imitations, and colour and feel alone do not settle whether a piece is natural or has been pressed, heated or dyed.CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022Identification and any treatment ruling require examination by a qualified gem laboratory.CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022No synthetic amber is commercially available.CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022Plastic has been used to imitate amber, and in one laboratory case a so-called blue amber was glass with a specific gravity of about 2.50 against amber's 1.08.GIA Introduction to Imitation Gems · G&G Fall 2019Pressed amber is listed by CIBJO among composite stones, and resin processed by heat and pressure may no longer allow the starting material to be identified.CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022 · LMHC Information Sheet #10Whether one particular bead is natural, treated or synthetic — only a laboratory report can settle that.What this page can answer
Q2What is the difference between amber and copal?
Age: amber has to be older than one million years, while copal is younger, typically about a hundred thousand years old.GIA Amber DescriptionBoth are fossilized tree resin, but copal is far younger and therefore is not classified as amber.GIA Amber DescriptionOnce resin has been treated with heat and pressure, as with green amber, a laboratory may no longer be able to determine whether it began as amber or copal.LMHC Information Sheet #10
Q3What colours does amber come in?
Amber is most familiarly yellow to orange, with reddish colour rare, and abundant gas bubbles can make it look cloudy.GIA Amber DescriptionIts recorded colours are light yellow, yellow to dark brown-red, white and, rarely, green.GB/T 16553—2017Laboratory reports note that amber and copal colours change naturally with time.LMHC Information Sheet #10
Q4Is amber safe with water, and how should you clean it?
The only safe way to clean amber is warm water with a mild soap.GIA Gem Encyclopedia (care guide)It dissolves on contact with solvents such as nail varnish remover, so it should be kept away from all solvents and other strong chemicals, and it must not be cleaned ultrasonically.CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022Steam cleaning should be avoided as well.Gems & Gemology 1987 (Martin)It burns at fairly low temperatures.GIA Gem Encyclopedia (care guide)
Q5Is amber too fragile for everyday jewellery?
It needs care: amber is softer than most gem minerals and many organic gems, at Mohs 2 to 2.5, with poor toughness, so it should be worn with care to avoid scratches and knocks.GIA Gem Encyclopedia (care guide)It scratches easily and chips and cracks easily.CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022Prong and bezel settings call for extreme caution, and flush, channel and pavé are best avoided.Gems & Gemology 1987 (Martin)
Q6How does tree resin become amber?
Amber is an organic gem that came into being tens of millions of years ago, as sap from ancient trees set hard and turned to fossil.GIA Amber DescriptionWhile the resin hardens it can trap animal or plant fragments, which become inclusions.GIA Amber DescriptionSome amber remains in the ground, while other material has been freed and carried by tides onto beaches or near-shore areas such as the Baltic coast.GIA Amber Description
Q7Is amber heated, pressed or dyed?
Yes: amber may be heated to improve its appearance, produce sun spangles or deepen its colour, and such pieces need special care, away from chemicals.AGTA Gemstone Information Manual, 17th ed.Pressure may be applied as well, to deepen the surface colour, to produce disc-like burst fissures commonly called water-lily leaves or sun spangles, or to change the transparency.GB/T 16553—2017Dyed or surface-coloured amber needs special care because the colour fades, so it should be kept from heat and long sun exposure.AGTA Gemstone Information Manual, 17th ed.Irradiation can give it orange-red and similar colours, and this is hard to detect.GB/T 16553—2017
Q8What makes good-quality amber?
According to GIA, for colour, reddish amber is rated above golden amber, and golden above yellow.GIA Amber Quality FactorsTransparent amber is preferred to cloudy material, and an interesting plant or animal inclusion raises a specimen's standing.GIA Amber Quality Factors
Q9Are amber teething necklaces safe for babies?
The US Food and Drug Administration has warned against using necklaces, bracelets or other jewellery marketed for teething pain because they can cause serious injuries including strangulation and choking, and it reported an 18-month-old child strangled by an amber teething necklace during a nap.FDA Safety Communication (2018)The FDA also states that the safety and effectiveness of teething jewellery for teething pain have not been established.FDA Safety Communication (2018) · FDA Consumer UpdateNaming, disclosure and labelling information on this site is reference material and does not constitute legal advice. Actual labelling duties follow the regulations in force in each jurisdiction and the testing certificates that accompany the goods; verify independently or consult a professional before relying on it.What this page can answer
Q10Does amber relieve pain or have other healing powers?
There is no scientific evidence that amber has healing powers: the UK advertising regulators ASA and CAP state that they have not seen evidence that crystal therapy can treat medical conditions.ASA/CAP guidance (UK)Its recorded cultural role in birthstone lists is as an alternative for February on the chart of the U.K. National Association of Jewellers.Cultural recordsMuseum objects show amber used for beads and inlays in West Asia and the Mediterranean by the first millennium BCE, with an Iranian bead from about the 9th century BCE among the earlier examples.The Met 65.163.79 · The Met 26.60.43 +3
Sources cited in these answers ASA/CAP guidance (UK)
What this page can answer
This page covers
- How Amber forms and what gives its colourFormation setting, process and timescale, each finding graded and sourced
- How to identify AmberIdentification points from the research literature; how far lab testing can go and whether a synthetic exists
- Treatments and enhancements of Amber5 registered treatments: status, stability, how common they are and identification leads
- Caring for and wearing AmberCleaning, heat, chemicals and light, as the cited sources give them; durability indicators and wearing advice
- Hardness, density and refractive index of AmberEach value with its source and check date
- Amber in English, Chinese and Japanese; national standard namesNames in four languages, the GB/T standard name and the suggested listing name, names in national standards; and: Which of GIA, FTC, CIBJO and Gem-A have a name for it on record, and do those agree?
- Name origin and history of AmberWhere the name comes from; how people have used it, with museum objects
- Listing and disclosing AmberThe listing name to use; what must be disclosed before sale; how lab reports word it
- Standard clauses that define AmberWhich clause defines it, each cross-checked
What we cannot conclude
- Whether one particular bead is natural, treated or synthetic — only a laboratory report can settle that.
- Geographic origin, unless an origin report accompanies the item.
- Price, rarity or investment value: this wiki covers naming and disclosure only.
Material research: formation, causes and history
What authoritative sources say about how this material forms, what causes its colour and optical effects, where its name comes from and how people have used it. Each statement carries an evidence grade and its sources; it describes the material in general, not any specific piece.
How it forms
Amber is an organic gem: such gems are produced by living or once-living organisms and by biological processes. Amber came into being tens of millions of years ago, as sap from ancient trees set hard and turned to fossil. Plant or animal fragments may be caught in the setting resin as inclusions, making a kind of time capsule. Amber is best known as yellow to orange, with reddish material being rare; some types lie in the ground, while others have been freed and washed by the tides onto beaches or into near-shore areas. A related but far younger resin fossil is copal, less than one million years old.
Scope: Covers natural organic gem material formed by the hardening and fossilisation of tree resin; identification of fossil resin must take age into account, and copal is not classed as amber because it is too young.
Sources GIA Amber Description
Where it forms
Ancient forests, where trees exude resin that later hardens and fossilizes into amber.
Sources GIA Amber Description
Some amber remains in the ground; other material has been freed and carried by tides, accumulating on beaches or near-shore areas such as the Baltic coast.
Sources GIA Amber Description
How it forms, step by step
Ancient trees exude resin (sap).
Sources GIA Amber Description
While the resin hardens, animal or plant fragments may be trapped, forming inclusions.
Sources GIA Amber Description
The resin hardens and fossilizes over tens of millions of years, becoming amber.
Sources GIA Amber Description
Link to appearance
Amber is most familiarly yellow to orange with reddish color rare; abundant gas-bubble inclusions can give it a cloudy appearance, and trapped plant or animal fragments form time-capsule-like inclusions.
Sources GIA Amber Description
Timescale
The timescale given by the source is this: amber came into being tens of millions of years ago, and amber must be older than one million years, whereas copal is younger, typically about a hundred thousand years old.
Sources GIA Amber Description
Related base materials
- Ancient tree resin (sap): Amber forms from resin secreted by ancient trees through hardening and fossilisation
Supporting findings
Amber, an organic gem, came into being tens of millions of years ago, as sap from ancient trees set hard and turned to fossil.
Evidence grade BScope: This is a gemological-institute (GIA) description and gives no specific locality or numeric age.
Sources GIA Amber Description
While the resin hardens it can trap animal or plant fragments, forming inclusions in amber.
Evidence grade BScope: This describes the trapping mechanism for inclusions; the source does not address species identification.
Sources GIA Amber Description
Amber has to be older than one million years, while copal is younger, typically about a hundred thousand years old; this is what separates the two.
Evidence grade BScope: The age threshold is a working distinction; the source does not discuss borderline cases in detail.
Sources GIA Amber Description
Recorded localities
This is an organic material; its localities are the harvest or culture areas (waters or species ranges) recorded by authoritative sources.
Asia
- MyanmarSource only mentions reddish amber from Myanmar
Sources GIA Amber Description
Europe
- Baltic coast (Germany, Poland, Russia)Still an important source of amber
Sources GIA Amber Description
North America
- Dominican RepublicSource only gives the origin of one lizard-inclusion specimen
Sources GIA Gem Encyclopedia
These are localities recorded by authoritative sources, not an origin finding for any individual piece. The CIBJO Gemstone Book (2022, §4.2.3) says a place of origin names where a gem was mined or harvested, is a matter of opinion, does not imply a level of quality, and that cutting, processing or exporting centres must not be used to imply origin. See how far testing can go on this page, the origin determination guide and the overview of recorded localities.
Where the name comes from
The CIBJO Gemstone Book names pressed amber among its examples of composite stones. Natural fossil resin that has been processed by heat and pressure can show modified physical properties that may prevent identification of the starting material, and laboratory report wording then states that the resin has been processed by heat and pressure.
Evidence grade AScope: Describes how the cited standard or laboratory body defines the name; trade usage and other bodies may differ, and whether a given stone qualifies can only be decided by laboratory testing.
Sources CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022 · LMHC Information Sheet #10
Human use and museum objects
Earlier amber ornaments in the catalogue include The Met 65.163.79 (ca. 9th century BCE, Iran, Iron Age II), 26.60.43 (7th–5th century BCE, Italic) and 96.9.317 (7th century BCE, Etruscan, bronze fibula with an amber segment), 13.225.29 (7th century BCE, Etrusco-Phoenician, gold necklace with inlaid amber); amber as bead and inlay material in West Asia and the Mediterranean goes back to the first millennium BCE.
Evidence grade AScope: Catalogue objects attest only to the existence and dating of those individual pieces; they are not evidence that the material was in common use in antiquity, nor do they attest to the origin, naturalness or treatment of any modern sample. Cultural attributions follow the museum's records and are not extended.
Sources The Met 65.163.79 · The Met 26.60.43 · The Met 96.9.317 +2
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art — Bead (65.163.79)
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art — Bead (26.60.43)
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art — Bronze fibula (safety pin) with amber segment (96.9.317)
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art — Gold necklace with inlaid amber (13.225.29)
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art — Medallion with the Face of Christ (2011.503)
The Met 2011.503, a medallion with the face of Christ (ca. 1380–1400, Baltic amber, Polish), shows Baltic amber used as a carving material in European medieval religious art; the catalogue record does not establish the origin or treatment of the samples concerned.
Evidence grade AScope: Catalogue objects attest only to the existence and dating of those individual pieces; they are not evidence that the material was in common use in antiquity, nor do they attest to the origin, naturalness or treatment of any modern sample. Cultural attributions follow the museum's records and are not extended.
Sources The Met 65.163.79 · The Met 26.60.43 · The Met 96.9.317 +2
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art — Bead (65.163.79)
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art — Bead (26.60.43)
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art — Bronze fibula (safety pin) with amber segment (96.9.317)
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art — Gold necklace with inlaid amber (13.225.29)
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art — Medallion with the Face of Christ (2011.503)
Datable early amber ornaments include The Met 65.163.79 (bead, ca. 9th century BCE, Iran, Iron Age II), 26.60.43 (bead, 7th–5th century BCE, Italic), 96.9.317 (bronze fibula with an amber segment, 7th century BCE, Etruscan) and 13.225.29 (gold necklace with inlaid amber, 7th century BCE, Etrusco-Phoenician), showing amber used for beads and inlays in West Asia and the Mediterranean by the first millennium BCE. A later example, 2011.503 (medallion with the face of Christ, ca. 1380–1400, Baltic amber, Polish), shows its carving use in European medieval religious art.
Sources The Met 65.163.79 · The Met 26.60.43 · The Met 96.9.317 +2
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art — Bead (65.163.79)
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art — Bead (26.60.43)
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art — Bronze fibula (safety pin) with amber segment (96.9.317)
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art — Gold necklace with inlaid amber (13.225.29)
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art — Medallion with the Face of Christ (2011.503)
Scope: Catalogue objects attest only to the existence and dating of those individual pieces; they are not evidence that the material was in common use in antiquity, nor do they attest to the origin, naturalness or treatment of any modern sample. Cultural attributions follow the museum's records and are not extended.
Objects cited
- The Met 65.163.79Amber
- The Met 26.60.43Amber
- The Met 96.9.317Bronze, amber
- The Met 13.225.29Gold, amber
- The Met 2011.503Baltic amber with traces of paint
Cultural records for this material: Birthstone list.
How it is identified
Amber and its worked or treated forms, such as pressed amber, can pass for natural rough and for plastic imitations; colour and feel alone do not settle whether a piece is natural or has been pressed, heated or dyed. Identification and any treatment ruling require laboratory examination by a qualified gem laboratory, and no reader should attempt to identify a specimen from this entry.
Evidence grade AScope: Applies to amber, its treated forms and imitations; identification and any treatment call require testing at a qualified gem laboratory.
Sources CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022
Plastic has been made into convincing imitations of organic gems including amber, though it is not a durable imitation. In one laboratory case, an object offered as blue amber was artificial glass: its heft did not fit amber, its specific gravity was about 2.50 against amber's 1.08, and the microscope showed gas bubbles.
Evidence grade AScope: Describes identification features reported by a laboratory or educational source; it is not a test that a reader can rely on, and any single piece can only be identified by a gemmological laboratory.
Sources GIA Introduction to Imitation Gems · G&G Fall 2019
Other research findings
Copal and amber are both fossilized tree resin, but copal is far younger and therefore is not classified as amber.
Evidence grade BScope: This is a nomenclature and age-boundary matter and does not cover other resin-like imitations.
Sources GIA Amber Description
For amber colour, reddish amber is rated above golden amber, and golden above yellow. Transparent amber is preferred to cloudy material, and an interesting plant or animal inclusion raises a specimen's standing.
Evidence grade BScope: Quality factors as described by one educational source; not a grading standard and not a statement about the value of any piece.
Sources GIA Amber Quality Factors
In a safety communication, the US Food and Drug Administration warned against using necklaces, bracelets or other jewellery marketed for relieving teething pain, stating that such use can lead to serious injuries including strangulation or choking. The FDA reported receiving a report of an 18-month-old child strangled by an amber teething necklace during a nap.
Evidence grade AScope: Summarises the FDA Safety Communication dated 20 December 2018 only. It is not medical, safety or legal advice, and it is not an assessment of any particular product. Not legal advice.
The same FDA communication states that the safety and effectiveness of teething jewellery for treating teething pain have not been established. A current FDA consumer update repeats that the agency has received reports of death and serious injuries to infants and children, including strangulation and choking, caused by teething jewellery.
Evidence grade AScope: Summarises the cited regulator's text only. It is not medical, safety or legal advice, and it is not an assessment of any particular product. Not legal advice.
Sources FDA Safety Communication (2018) · FDA Consumer Update
- FDA Warns Against Use of Teething Necklaces, Bracelets, and Other Jewelry Marketed for Relieving Teething Pain or Providing Sensory Stimulation: FDA Safety Communication (U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2018-12-20; Internet Archive snapshot of 2019-01-02)
- Safely Soothing Teething Pain in Infants and Children (FDA Consumer Update)
Limits of this research
- Research status: Formation, occurrence or other material-specific findings found in authoritative sources
- The cited source is a GIA descriptive overview and does not explain the chemical mechanism of resin hardening or provide a specific rate.
- The source gives no numeric formation age for a single locality, only qualitative 'tens of millions of years' and an age threshold.
Methodology
- Origin determination and its limits
- Quality grading and value factors
- How gemmology became a technical discipline
Evidence grades
- A
- Standards bodies, government geological surveys, peer-reviewed research and museum records
- B
- Institutional educational material
- C
- Specialist databases or cautious readings
A statement is never graded above its strongest source.
This section is LumaLark's own factual restatement of public authoritative sources, credited item by item; it contains no verbatim excerpts, images or third-party logos.
DecideListing name, disclosure, care and treatments
- Suggested listing name
- Amber
GB/T 16552—2017 Table A.3 “Amber” · CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024 §7.2.2.1 “Amber”
Construction or treatment status
Natural identity; treatment status unknown
Treatments recorded for this material: Heated / Heat-treated, Filled / Fracture-filled, Coated, Irradiated, Dyed
Related:Disclosure and cautions
This page cannot answer
Natural? · Origin · Price
A lab report settles these; this wiki covers naming and disclosure.
Related:What this page can answer
Answer at a glance
Not a mineral; pressed amber, copal and plastic imitations must be labelled separately.
What this means for you
Before buying, check the recommended listing name "Amber" and any disclosed treatments on this page, and ask the seller for a grading report if in doubt.
Known uncertainty
- Last reviewed
- 2026-09-01
Care and wear
Normal care for every gemstone (CIBJO Gemstone Book §6.1), in brief:
- Handle it gently.
- Store pieces apart when not worn, so they cannot scratch each other.
- Clean with warm soapy water and a soft brush.
- Use ultrasonic cleaners only with caution.
The §6.1 wording and the full list of §6.2 special-care letters cited on this page are on the general gem care page.
Care
care (cleaning)2 sources compared
Amber — care (cleaning): ultrasonic and steamer: avoid; note: strong solvents attack it.
Gems & Gemology 1987 (Martin)
- Treatment state
- untreated
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- Martin, “Gemstone Durability: Design to Display”, Gems & Gemology, Summer 1987: pp.66–67 fold-out chart, Amber row, CLEANING column (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Amber — care (cleaning): The only safe way to clean it is warm water with a mild soap.
GIA Gem Encyclopedia (care guide)
- Treatment state
- any treatment state
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- GIA Gem Encyclopedia — Amber Care and Cleaning Guide: Section “Cleaning” (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Amber — care (heat): It burns at fairly low temperatures
GIA Gem Encyclopedia (care guide)
- Treatment state
- any treatment state
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- GIA Gem Encyclopedia — Amber Care and Cleaning Guide: Section “Stability” (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Amber — care (light): The dyes used on it are unstable and can shift or fade in some conditions.
GIA Gem Encyclopedia (care guide)
- Treatment state
- treated
- Only after these treatments
- dyeing
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- GIA Gem Encyclopedia — Amber Care and Cleaning Guide: Section “Treatment and durability considerations” (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Amber — care (light): Long exposure to light may darken it
GIA Gem Encyclopedia (care guide)
- Treatment state
- any treatment state
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- GIA Gem Encyclopedia — Amber Care and Cleaning Guide: Section “Stability” (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Amber — care (wear): softer than most gem minerals and many organic gems (Mohs 2 to 2.5), with poor toughness, so wear it with care to avoid scratches and knocks.
GIA Gem Encyclopedia (care guide)
- Treatment state
- any treatment state
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- GIA Gem Encyclopedia — Amber Care and Cleaning Guide: Section “Hardness and toughness” (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Amber — care (special care): dyed or surface-coloured: special care (SC); the colour fades, so avoid heat and long sun exposure.
AGTA Gemstone Information Manual, 17th ed.
- Treatment state
- treated
- Only after these treatments
- dyeing
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- AGTA Gemstone Information Manual, 17th edition (August 2026) (AGTA): p.VII, Gemstone Information Chart, Amber D, CARE REQUIRED / SPECIAL ADVICE (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Amber — care (special care): colour-changed or aged by heat and pressure in an autoclave: normal care, but avoid chemicals.
AGTA Gemstone Information Manual, 17th ed.
- Treatment state
- treated
- Only after these treatments
- high pressure high temperature treatment
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- AGTA Gemstone Information Manual, 17th edition (August 2026) (AGTA): p.VII, Gemstone Information Chart, Amber HP, CARE REQUIRED / SPECIAL ADVICE (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Amber — care (special care): Heated to improve appearance, produce 'sun spangles' or deepen colour: special care (SC); avoid chemicals.
AGTA Gemstone Information Manual, 17th ed.
- Treatment state
- treated
- Only after these treatments
- heating
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- AGTA Gemstone Information Manual, 17th edition (August 2026) (AGTA): p.VII, Gemstone Information Chart, Amber H, CARE REQUIRED / SPECIAL ADVICE (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Amber — care (setting): prong and bezel: use extreme caution; flush, channel and pavé: avoid.
Gems & Gemology 1987 (Martin)
- Treatment state
- untreated
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- Martin, “Gemstone Durability: Design to Display”, Gems & Gemology, Summer 1987: pp.66–67 fold-out chart, Amber row, SETTING column (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Amber — care (repair): polishing and thermal shock: use extreme caution; jeweller's torch and pickle pot: avoid; note: has a low ignition point, is attacked by acids, and abrasive polishing compounds should be avoided.
Gems & Gemology 1987 (Martin)
- Treatment state
- untreated
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- Martin, “Gemstone Durability: Design to Display”, Gems & Gemology, Summer 1987: pp.66–67 fold-out chart, Amber row, REPAIR column (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Amber — care (display): artificial light: use caution; heat in the display case and sunlight: use extreme caution; note: it may darken with age.
Gems & Gemology 1987 (Martin)
- Treatment state
- untreated
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- Martin, “Gemstone Durability: Design to Display”, Gems & Gemology, Summer 1987: pp.66–67 fold-out chart, Amber row, DISPLAY column (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Each row's “Source & check” expands to the full source; the date beside it is the fact check date.
Common care questions and matching entries
CleaningCan Amber go in an ultrasonic or steam cleaner? Martin, Gem DurabilityAccording to Martin, Gemstone Durability: Design to Display, untreated Amber should not be cleaned ultrasonically or by steam and is also attacked by strong solvents; according to the GIA Gem Encyclopedia, in any treatment state the only safe cleaning method is warm soapy water. Heat and chemicals: in any treatment state Amber has a fairly low ignition point and burns in flame or high heat; for untreated material, polishing and thermal shock need extreme caution, the jeweller's torch and pickle pot should be avoided, and it is attacked by acids (Martin, Gemstone Durability). General careHeat-treated Amber needs special care (marked SC) and should be kept away from chemicals, while material treated by high pressure and high temperature can take general care but should also be kept away from chemicals (AGTA Gemstone Information Manual, 17th edition). Light: the dye in dyed material is unstable and may change colour or fade under certain conditions, and in any treatment state prolonged exposure to light may darken it (GIA Gem Encyclopedia). Wear: in any treatment state Amber is softer than most gem minerals and many organic gems (Mohs 2–2.5) and has poor toughness, so take care to avoid scratches and knocks.
This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.
Care entries by treatment state
The same entries grouped by the treatment state each applies to; each links to its full wording and source. Letters are CIBJO special-care codes, explained on the gemstone care page.
untreated
- ultrasonic and steamer: avoid; note: strong solvents attack it
- prong and bezel: use extreme caution; flush, channel and pavé: avoid
- polishing and thermal shock: use extreme caution; jeweller's torch and pickle pot: avoid; note: has a low ignition point, is attacked by acids, and abrasive polishing compounds should be avoided
- artificial light: use caution; heat in the display case and sunlight: use extreme caution; note: it may darken with age
any treatment state
- The only safe way to clean it is warm water with a mild soap
- It burns at fairly low temperatures
- Long exposure to light may darken it
- softer than most gem minerals and many organic gems (Mohs 2 to 2.5), with poor toughness, so wear it with care to avoid scratches and knocks
treated (Only after these treatments: dyeing)
- The dyes used on it are unstable and can shift or fade in some conditions
- dyed or surface-coloured: special care (SC); the colour fades, so avoid heat and long sun exposure
treated (Only after these treatments: high pressure high temperature treatment)
treated (Only after these treatments: heating)
Durability and wearing
Toughness
Poor toughness
Sources GIA Gem Encyclopedia (care guide)
Treatments and identification leads
One row per treatment, with three standards side by side: how often it occurs and how stable it is (CIBJO), its category in GB/T 16552—2017 Table B.1 (this site's paraphrase) and how the JJA/AGL 2025 table lists it. Each CIBJO value links to its entry under “Testing and market”, where the wording and source are given in full.
This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.
| Treatment | Market frequency (CIBJO) | Stability (CIBJO) | GB/T 16552 category | JJA/AGL listing | Identification leads |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| heatingStatus: treated | commonly | stable | Optimization | heating (yellow, brown); heating under pressure (yellow, green); heating under pressure (yellow / green) | See identification leads |
| dyeingStatus: treated | rarely | unstable | Treatment | — | See identification leads |
| fillingStatus: treated | — | — | Graded — see §5.4.1, Table 1 | — | See identification leads |
| irradiationStatus: irradiated or dyed | — | — | Treatment | — | See identification leads |
| coatingStatus: treated | — | — | Graded — see §5.4.1, Table 1 | — | See identification leads |
| Colour change by heating under pressure | — | — | Treatment | — | — |
| colouring and heating | — | — | — | colouring and heating (red) | — |
Where each treatment acts (schematics): Heated / Heat-treated · Dyed · Filled / Fracture-filled · Irradiated · Coated
“—” means the cited source gives no value for that item, not “none”. Source: CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022 · GB/T 16553—2017; GB/T 16552—2017 Table B.1; JJA/AGL 2025
Whether a treatment has to show in the name differs between the two rule sets (this site’s paraphrase):
- GB/T 16552—2017: a method classed as treatment has to be stated in the name itself — the method put before the name, or added in brackets after it; a method classed as optimization does not need to appear in the name, though one marked “Optimization (annotation required)” still has to be noted in the quality documents. Source: §5.4.2.1 a), b); §5.4.2.2 a)
- CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022: no longer splits treatments into ones that need specific disclosure and ones that need only general disclosure: every treatment is to be disclosed, and the seller tells the buyer which treatment was used and what special care it calls for. Source: §4.2.5 Note 2, §4.2.5.1, pp.14–15
What this table covers
What this page can give
- Registered treatments, their stability and how often they occur (see the table above)
- Identification leads for each treatment, for use when sending a stone for testing
How lab reports word it
Amber — how lab reports word it (treatment wording): Amber or copal heated without pressure gets just this line
LMHC Information Sheet #10
Wording on the report: Indications of heating.
- Case
- heated without pressure
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- LMHC Information Sheet #10, Version 3, December 2011 (LMHC): p.1, “Heating without pressure” (Information Sheet #10) (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Amber — how lab reports word it (treatment wording): This line means the resin was treated with heat and pressure (as with green amber); whether it began as amber or copal may no longer be determinable.
LMHC Information Sheet #10
Wording on the report: Indications of heating, this resin has been processed by heat and pressure
- Case
- heated with pressure
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- LMHC Information Sheet #10, Version 3, December 2011 (LMHC): p.1, “Heating with pressure” (Information Sheet #10) (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Amber — how lab reports word it (durability note): a reminder that amber and copal colours change naturally with time
LMHC Information Sheet #10
Wording on the report: the colour of amber and copal may naturally alter over time
- Case
- all cases
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- LMHC Information Sheet #10, Version 3, December 2011 (LMHC): p.1, “Note” (Information Sheet #10) (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
VerifyNames, standards, technical facts, clauses and sources
Names
Besides Amber, the name register records "Amber", for which no restriction on use as a name is recorded; 7 further names in non-Latin scripts are listed in the name register below (6 with no restriction recorded on use as a name, 1 that must not be used as a name).
Standard and listing namesThe Chinese formal name of Amber comes from GB/T 16552—2017 Table A.3, and the suggested listing name is Amber. Names in four languagesThe four-language names are the Simplified and Traditional Chinese names, English Amber and the Japanese names, the Japanese name also being the GSJ (Japan) formal name. Candidate search termsThe JJA/AGL Gemstone Nomenclature 2025 also records a Japanese transliteration, as a search candidate only. Trade and mineralogical namesThe trade name or synonym is Amber, and the English market name Amber is matched automatically; the mineralogical name is fossilized tree resin, an organic material. Candidate search termsRoot amber, brown amber, water-bubble amber, mineral amber and tea amber are narrower names from the GB/T 16552 revision draft for comment (2023, not in force), used as search candidates only; “Baltic amber” is a name not to be used, as GB/T 16552—2017 states that origin must not form part of the name of a natural organic gem. National standard namesGermany (RAL) uses Bernstein, the European Union Amber and France (DGCCRF) Ambre. Institution usageGIA and the CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024 record Amber; the FTC text on file has no wording for this name (checked), and Gem-A is unchecked; bodies without a recorded wording show the entry's own English name, which does not represent their position.
Name register
Every name recorded for this entry, with how it is classified, whether it may be matched to this entry automatically, whether it may be used as a product name, and the clause it rests on.
This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.
| Name | Type | Matching | Use as a name | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| no restriction recorded (7) | ||||
| AmberEnglish | market name | matched automatically | no restriction recorded | editorial ruling (no clause cited) |
| こはくJapanese | transliteration | search candidate only | no restriction recorded | JJA/AGL Gemstone Nomenclature 2025 p.11 |
| 根珀Simplified Chinese | narrower name (variety or subtype) | search candidate only | no restriction recorded | GB/T 16552 revision draft for comment (2023, not in force) Table A.3; GB/T 16552—2017 Table A.3 “Amber”; Note: Draft standard for comment, not in force. |
| 棕珀Simplified Chinese | narrower name (variety or subtype) | search candidate only | no restriction recorded | GB/T 16552 revision draft for comment (2023, not in force) Table A.3; GB/T 16552—2017 Table A.3 “Amber”; Note: Draft standard for comment, not in force. |
| 水胆珀Simplified Chinese | narrower name (variety or subtype) | search candidate only | no restriction recorded | GB/T 16552 revision draft for comment (2023, not in force) Table A.3; GB/T 16552—2017 Table A.3 “Amber”; Note: Draft standard for comment, not in force. |
| 矿物珀Simplified Chinese | narrower name (variety or subtype) | search candidate only | no restriction recorded | GB/T 16552 revision draft for comment (2023, not in force) Table A.3; GB/T 16552—2017 Table A.3 “Amber”; Note: Draft standard for comment, not in force. |
| 茶珀Simplified Chinese | narrower name (variety or subtype) | search candidate only | no restriction recorded | GB/T 16552 revision draft for comment (2023, not in force) Table A.3; GB/T 16552—2017 Table A.3 “Amber”; Note: Draft standard for comment, not in force. |
| not to be used as a name (1) | ||||
| 波罗的海琥珀Simplified Chinese | market name | matched automatically | not to be used as a name | GB/T 16552—2017 5.1.2.3 c); Note: GB/T 16552—2017 §5.1.2.3 c) uses it as the example of a rule: origin must not form part of the name of a natural organic gem (a counter-example, not a trade name). |
How each authority words this name: see Names › Authority wording.
- GSJ (Japan) formal name
- アンバー／琥珀
- Chinese formal name
- 琥珀 (GB/T 16552—2017 Table A.3)
- Mineralogical name
- Fossilized tree resin, organic material
Four-language names
- 简体中文
- 琥珀
- 繁體中文
- 琥珀
- English
- Amber
- 日本語
- アンバー／琥珀
National and regional formal names
- Germany (RAL)
- Bernstein
- European Union
- Amber (Baltic amber = "Baltischer Bernstein" is protected designation in some contexts)
- France (DGCCRF)
- Ambre; "ambre véritable" = naturel; "ambre reconstitué" = pressé
See also: Misleading and prohibited trade names · Supplementary name index
Classification
- Origin
- Natural materials
- Material domain
- Natural organic and biogenic materials
- Browsing family
- Amber and natural resin materials
- Identity tier
- Organic or biogenic material
- Mineral chemical class
- Not applicable
- Construction or treatment status
- Natural identity; treatment status unknown
Treatments listed by standards
GB/T 16552-2017, Annex B, Table B.1
Table B.1, row “Amber” (p.18):
This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.
| Method | Effect | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Heating | Improves colour and other aspects of appearance | Optimization |
| Filling | Improves or changes durability and appearance | Graded — see §5.4.1, Table 1 |
| Coating | Improves or changes lustre, colour and other aspects of appearance | Graded — see §5.4.1, Table 1 |
| Irradiation | Changes colour | Treatment |
| Colour change by heating under pressure | Changes colour | Treatment |
| Dyeing | Improves or changes colour | Treatment |
What Table B.1 is, and how the “see 5.4.1” grades are defined: see the GB/T 16552: optimization vs treatment page.
JJA/AGL (Japan) table of principal gem names, 2025
This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.
| Gem name | Species | Colour | Listed in the table | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amber | Amber | white, yellow, brown and others | an untreated tier is listed | the Japanese name may also be written in katakana, with the kanji for amber, or as the loanword for amber; all are acceptable |
| Amber | Amber | yellow, brown | the source lists no untreated tier; heating (Heated / Heat-treated) | |
| Amber | Amber | red | the source lists no untreated tier; colouring and heating (Dyed, Heated / Heat-treated) | |
| Amber | Amber | yellow, green | the source lists no untreated tier; heating under pressure (Heated / Heat-treated) | |
| Amber | Amber | yellow / green | the source lists no untreated tier; heating under pressure (Heated / Heat-treated) | the Japanese name may also be written in katakana, with the kanji for amber, or as the loanword for amber; all are acceptable; the species column of this row reads “Amber/Copal”; the source does not explain the distinction |
JJA/AGL definitions and nomenclature (2025 revision), table of principal gem names, p.11, 12
How to read the JJA/AGL table: see the Gem treatments page.
What it is and how it's identified
Registered material facts for Amber: its composition consists mainly of C, H and O, with possible trace elements including S, Al, Mg, Ca, Si, Cu, Fe and Mn, and its structure is amorphous; Mohs hardness is 2–2.5, with no cleavage. Density is 0.96–1.1 g/cm³; the register notes that this range is derived from the cited clause value of 1.08 with an allowed deviation of +0.02/−0.12. The refractive index is 1.54; the register notes that this is the reading commonly obtained with the spot method, a typical value rather than an absolute limit; the clause also has finer sub-ranges, and the overall value is taken. There is no birefringence; it is optically isotropic, and strain often causes anomalous extinction and interference colours in amber. Untreated amber has a resinous lustre; rubbing can give amber an electrostatic charge.
Registered material facts
Each row carries its own source and check date and can be cited on its own; “—” means the cited source gives no value, not “none”.
Definition
Amber — composition (chemistry): built chiefly of C, H and O; S, Al, Mg, Ca, Si, Cu, Fe and Mn can occur in trace amounts.
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.5 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Structure
Amber — structure (overall): amorphous (not crystalline)
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.5 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Durability
Mohs hardness2 sources compared
Reference points on this site: Talc 1–3, Fluorite 4, Apatite 5–5.5, Orthoclase 6–6.5, Topaz 8, Diamond 10 (Source: GB/T 16553—2017); Gypsum 1.5–2, Calcite 3, Quartz 7 (Source: Handbook of Mineralogy); Corundum 9 (Source: GIA Gem Encyclopedia (care guide))
Amber — Mohs hardness: 2–2.5
GIA Gem Encyclopedia
Source & check 2026-09-20
- Source
- GIA Gem Encyclopedia — Amber (Gemological Institute of America): Section “FACTS”, “Mohs Hardness” (locator checked 2026-09-28)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-20
Amber — Mohs hardness: 2–2.5
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.5 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Amber — cleavage: none
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.5 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
stability2 sources compared
Amber — stability: low hardness, so it scratches easily; chips and cracks easily; dissolves on contact with solvents such as nail varnish remover, so keep it away from all solvents and other strong chemicals; no ultrasonic cleaning; pieces with superficial colour or surface layers are not suitable for re-cutting or re-polishing.
CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022
CIBJO Gemstone Book §6.2:special-care code a, special-care code b, special-care code i, special-care code j, special-care code m
- Treatment state
- untreated
Source & check 2026-09-25
- Source
- CIBJO Blue Book — Official Gemstone Book (Coloured Stone Commission 2022) (CIBJO): §8 Annex C, Amber, p.32; §6.2 a, b, i, j, m (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-25
Amber — stability: may melt on contact with a hot needle, giving off an aromatic smell.
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- untreated
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.5 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
For Amber, the stability of heating is “stable”.
CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022
- Treatment state
- treated
- Treatment
- heating
Source & check 2026-09-22
- Source
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-22
For Amber, the stability of dyeing is “unstable”.
CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022
- Treatment state
- treated
- Treatment
- dyeing
Source & check 2026-09-22
- Source
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-22
Physical properties
Amber — density: 0.96–1.1 g/cm³
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
- Qualification
The clause we cite gives 1.08, with a stated tolerance of +0.02 / -0.12. The range shown here is worked out from that.
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.5 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Amber — triboelectricity: may become electrically charged when rubbed
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.5 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Optical
Amber — optic character: isotropic, but stress often gives anomalous extinction along with interference colours.
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.5 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Amber — refractive index: 1.54
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
- Qualification
The clause we cite gives this as a value commonly read by the spot (distant-vision) method. It is a common value, not an absolute limit.
- General note
- the clause has finer ranges
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.5 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Amber — birefringence: none
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.5 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Amber — pleochroism: none
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- untreated
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.5 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Amber — fluorescence (long-wave UV): weak to strong, blue, blue-white, violet-blue, yellow-green to orange-yellow.
GB/T 16553—2017
UV fluorescence (long-wave UV)blueblue-whiteviolet-blueyellow-greenorange-yellowweak–strongDots are illustrative colours built from the colour names, not measured values
- Treatment state
- untreated
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.5 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Amber — fluorescence (short-wave UV): none to weak
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- untreated
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.5 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Amber — spectrum (UV-visible): non-characteristic
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.5 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Amber — spectrum (infrared): Diagnostic mid-IR bands come from vibrating functional groups (radicals) within the organic material.
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-22
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.5 (locator checked 2026-09-22)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-22
Amber — magnification: bubble, flow lines, pinpoint inclusions, flake crack, mineral inclusions, trapped insects, embedded plant or animal matter (whole or in fragments), other organic and inorganic inclusions.
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- untreated
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.5 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Amber — body colour: light yellow, yellow to dark brown-red, white and green (rare).
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- untreated
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
- Qualification
In chapter 5 of GB/T 16553—2017, the colour entries of Brucite, Prehnite, Balin Stone and other variety clauses also name yellow or a yellowish colour.
- General note
- colour alone is not identity
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.5 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Quality factors
Amber — quality factor (lustre): resinous
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- untreated
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.5 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Each row's “Source & check” expands to the full source; the date beside it is the fact check date.
This material (RI / SG midpoints): 1.54 / 1.03; Closest values: 1Turtle Shell 1.545 / 1.31, 2Plastic 1.58 / 1.3, 3Jet 1.66 / 1.32, 4Black Coral 1.565 / 1.71, 5Mammoth Ivory 1.53 / 1.75
Show the full chart (330 registered materials)
Outside the full chart's range, drawn as triangles at the edge (RI / SG midpoints): Hematite 3.045/5.12, Synthetic Rutile 2.76/4.26, Rutile 2.753/4.23, Synthetic Moissanite 2.67/3.22
Testing and market
The tests the CIBJO laboratory protocol requires for this material, and what each method means, are in the protocol table on the laboratory testing page: §6.2.1.
How far testing can go
Amber that has undergone dyeing can be identified by the following features: Under magnification the colour is unevenly distributed and mostly concentrated between fissures or in surface hollows; exposed to long- and short-wave UV, the dye may show a distinctive fluorescence; wiping with acetone or absolute ethanol can remove the colour.
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- colour treated
- Does this standard apply
- can be followed as a reference only
- Treatment
- dyeing
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.5 (dyeing) (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Amber that has undergone filling can be identified by the following features: Under magnification the surface luster of the filled part differs from that of the amber itself and gas bubbles are visible in the filled area; under long- and short-wave UV the filled part mostly fluoresces differently from the rest of the amber; infrared spectra show characteristic absorption bands of the filler; luminescence imaging (such as a UV fluorescence viewer) shows how the filler is distributed.
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- treated
- Does this standard apply
- can be followed as a reference only
- Treatment
- filling
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.5 (filling) (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Amber that has undergone irradiation can be identified by the following features: Irradiation can give it orange-red and similar colours; hard to detect.
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- irradiated or dyed
- Does this standard apply
- can be followed as a reference only
- Treatment
- irradiation
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.5 (irradiation) (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Amber that has undergone heating can be identified by the following features: Pressure may be applied as well, to deepen the surface colour of the amber; or to produce disc-like burst fissures inside it, commonly called water-lily leaves or sun spangles; or to change the transparency of the amber.
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- treated
- Does this standard apply
- can be followed as a reference only
- Treatment
- heating
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.5 (heating) (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Amber that has undergone coating can be identified by the following features: Under magnification the surface luster is abnormal; where a coloured film is applied the colour is unevenly distributed and mostly concentrated in fissures or in surface hollows; the film can be seen peeling off in places and there is no colour transition between the coloured film and the amber body; refractive index readings may be abnormal; infrared and Raman spectra show characteristic peaks of the film.
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- treated
- Does this standard apply
- can be followed as a reference only
- Treatment
- coating
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.3.5 (coating) (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Amber — synthetic counterpart on the market: No synthetic counterpart of this material is commercially available
CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022
- Treatment state
- any treatment state
Source & check 2026-09-22
- Source
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-22
For Amber in trade, the reported frequency of heating is “commonly”.
CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022
- Treatment state
- treated
- Treatment
- heating
Source & check 2026-09-22
- Source
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-22
For Amber in trade, the reported frequency of dyeing is “rarely”.
CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022
- Treatment state
- treated
- Treatment
- dyeing
Source & check 2026-09-22
- Source
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-22
Amber — what the CIBJO laboratory protocol says to watch for: clarity enhanced, dyed, heated (with pressure), pressed, reconstructed (encased in plastics), faked insects, recent resins.
CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024
- Treatment state
- any treatment state
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Amber — notes on test methods in the CIBJO laboratory protocol:
| Test method | What the protocol notes for it |
|---|---|
| Microscope: | Acetone reaction, thermal reaction test |
CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024
- Treatment state
- any treatment state
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Each row's “Source & check” expands to the full source; the date beside it is the fact check date.
Clause-level definitions
Amber is defined directly in CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024 under the entry name Amber, as an amorphous organic material consisting of fossilized tree resin; the cross-check result is that it is defined directly by CIBJO and also appears in the GB/T annex.
This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.
| Term | Clause | Definition | Cross-check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amber | 7.2.2.1 | Amber is an amorphous organic material consisting of fossilized tree resin Distinction criteria | Defined directly by CIBJO; also present in the GB/T annex. |
Evidence and sources
Authority basis and clause sources
Sources
- CIBJO – The World Jewellery Confederation. Gemmological Laboratories Book (Blue Book), Gemmological Commission 2024-1.
- CIBJO – The World Jewellery Confederation. The Gemstone Book (Blue Book), 2022.
- SAMR / SAC (China). GB/T 16552—2017 Gems — Nomenclature.
- GIA – Gemological Institute of America (United States). Gem Encyclopedia: Amber Description.
Further reading
Recorded cultural contexts
The U.K. National Association of Jewellers chart lists Amber as an alternative for February. This records trade-association convention only; it does not establish material identity, natural origin, treatment, provenance, or effect.
This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.
| Publisher or holder | Region | From / period | Source and locator |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Association of Jewellers | United Kingdom | — | National Association of Jewellers, “Zodiac Birthstones Jewellery: Star Signs, Gemstones and Their Meaning” (web page, consulted 2026-08-22) Zodiac birthstone chart, February row: Amber (Alternative) |
Related entries and topic cluster
Parent entry and related pages on this site. Rows marked “Planned” are suggested new content and have no link yet.
Related-entry tree for Amber on this site: 10 entries listed by this site's parent-entry links; synthetic, treated and similar entries carry their recorded state after the name; this page (Amber) is marked.
- Amber
This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.
| Page | Content | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Browsing family | Amber and natural resin materials | Live |
| Treatments recorded for this material | Heated / Heat-treated, Filled / Fracture-filled, Coated, Irradiated, Dyed | Live |
| Related articles | To be added (placeholder) | Planned |
Who maintains this page
The material facts in the Amber entry are maintained by the LumaLark wiki and matched one by one to the standard clauses or institutional sources they cite: every fact carries its source (with a clause or page locator) and a check date, so it can be traced back to the original; clause-level definitions also carry a cross-check result. The entry exists so that buyers and sellers can check naming, disclosure and material facts item by item.