Amber is fossilized tree resin, and resin remembers being alive. It warms in the hand, holds static, and asks for gentler treatment than stone. The rules are few and absolute.
The Rules
- Keep it from heat and strong sun. Resin is soft (2-2.5 Mohs) and thermoplastic in the extreme: a hot car dashboard, a windowsill in August, or a radiator can cloud, crack, or deform it. If you remember one rule, this is it.
- No chemicals, no perfume, no solvents. Alcohol, perfume, and household cleaners dull and can craze the surface. Put amber on after skincare, not before.
- No ultrasonic cleaners and no steam. The vibrations and heat reach the resin where it is softest.
- Clean with a soft, dry cloth. That's the whole cleaning kit.
The Good News: Patina
Amber that darkens with decades of wear hasn't been damaged. It has been lived in. Oxidation deepens honey ambers toward cognac, and the surface develops a soft luster that polish can't imitate. Old Baltic amber collectors call this the only certificate of love that can't be faked. When a piece arrives from us bright and new, know that its best-looking years are ahead of it, in your keeping.
Storage and Restringing
- Store in a pouch apart from harder stones and metals. Amber scratches easily and nothing scratches it back gently.
- Restring every year or two if worn daily. Knotted strands protect the beads from each other.
- Raw and rough-cut amber (like our Earth & Ember piece) needs the rules doubled: more surface, more softness, more care.
🔗 Our amber pieces: Beeswax Amber Bracelet · Blood Amber Rough-Cut Bracelet · Earth & Ember · Golden Hour Amber Bracelet Related: Amber · Authenticity Guides · Storing Jewelry · Caring for Your Piece