The Colors of Amber

The colors of amber

The most popular is the transparent amber; however the transparency and amber color depend on its inner structure. Gas inclusions produced by volatile substances trying to escape during resin hardening cause the opaqueness of amber.

The color and the degree of transparency depend on the size and pattern of trapped bubbles. In general, the greater the density of gas bubbles the whiter the color or amber piece. In the Middle Ages it was believed that white amber had the best healing powers and it was the most expensive type of amber.

The weathering and the environment also play important role in amber coloration. Usually the outside is darker than the inside. The natural amber comes in a variety of colors including cognac, honey, cherry, green, milky, white and even blue.