Featured Real Baltic amber ? pendant

Ref. to the discussion about the simple methods of testing, I decided to open a new thread about amber and salt water testing for it. Below is a pendant that have tested positive with this test. Maybe @Any Jewelry can judge from the photos if it is truly Baltic amber (no way to be other type of amber because of its history of acquisition).

Thanks in advance, Any, much obliged!

 

You answered your own question there, IvaPan.
But you're right, it is luscious Baltic amber, the colour is in the honey and cognac range.

 

I'd agree. But you do need a UV torch!

 

Thank you very much, Any Jewelry, it is actually a thing that laid in my Mom's house until recent, I had completely forgotten that I had bought it as a teen long ago. Now after she sadly passed away, I found it among her stuff together with a gorgeous Czech glass Aurora Borealis necklace which I vaguely remember that my Dad brought to her after visiting Czechoslovakia.

Ownedbybear, thank you! I know

 

Cheap enough on Amazon. I checked they are $6.99 for a small UV flashlight.

 

Pressed, melted amber is also natural, although it costs less. It is made from small amber chips, which are melted under pressure, and then the desired shape is cut out of the resulting tile and then ground and polished, like solid natural pieces.
Amber processing method - calcination. With the help of this processing method, amber is clarified and husks of “fish scales” appear inside the stone. The essence of this method is heating amber in sand at a temperature of 140-150 degrees.

 

Absolutely. I think both you and I covered that and other amber treatments in other posts in the past.

Maybe we should compose an amber information thread, with useful information posted over the years. I'm sure the moderators will pin it to the top of the jewelry forum.
Saves us from having to 'reinvent the wheel' all the time. When I am tired or have a lot on, I restrict myself to basics, which doesn't help the OP. Whereas the information is there all over the forums, and only has to be organised.
Too tired now though.

 

Thanks, guys!
I still think that it is more probable that the piece is natural (I mean collected as one piece somewhere in the Baltic SSR or around Leningrad) and was imported from USSR rather than to had been created with a (then) sophisticated imported technology which I doubt that we disposed anyway. It would have been much cheaper within the Comecon system. Cant't be sure though.

It reminds me of the USSR porcelain that is decorated with 22 Karat gold trims. And costed a few rubles a piece.

 

Treating amber is thousands of years old. It was done on an industrial scale in Yantarny, the main Russian amber mine, also during the USSR period. It is a completely acceptable way of making amber ready for use in jewellery or objet's d'art.

As Nathalie said, the 'spangles' are a sign of heat-pressing. Most Baltic amber is treated in some way, but it is still natural Baltic amber.

 

Thanks, Any, for the interesting information. I have never thought that it was such a big industry in the USSR. I see now:
https://www.ambermuseum.ru

I don't remember how much it costed but I doubt to had been expensive as my Mom wouldn't have allowed me to buy it. Probably a couple of Leva

 

AGE- Good Idea 'Maybe we should compose an amber information thread, with useful information posted over the years. I'm sure the moderators will pin it to the top of the jewelry forum.' Great idea,esp for absolute rookie 'jewlies' like me.Basic 'Folders' of info at the top of each Forum-so we don't have to search thru hundreds of ancient postings.
It will also save you overworked experts from answering dozens of redundant questions-sounds exhausting to get constantly 'tagged'.

 

I like helping people, but there are days that it is more difficult to find words. I still feel I have to reply, which is entirely my fault of course, not of those kind people who are looking for answers.

Having a specialised thread will help both people like Nathalie, Obb, and myself, and people who want to know about amber.
We can either refer to the thread, or copy and paste.

 

I think nowadays you can buy pendants like these for 10 - 20 euro overhere. At the time you bought this, and taking into account the trade relations between USSR and Bulgaria, I can imagine you would have bought it for a nice price.

 

AJ- You are very kind to answer ALL requests.You are also a human 'Wikipedia' on many subjects,that's why you get tagged constantly.
A blessing,a curse.

 

On the processed amber thing, it also gets dyed. Himself brought me some very nice pendants back from Moscow, in amber colours that are certainly not natural. it was labelled as such too.

 

The Russians are quite fond of green amber, which is treated. It is still Baltic amber.

 

Just to say "sorry" to Any Jewerly and Aznathalie for asking stupid questions and making them waste their time, it will be indeed good to have the amber basics pinned for reading and consultations, and not to bother knowledgable people here with silly questions.

P.S. Sorry for being indiscreet but is Aznathalie Bulgarian? Her nickname in Bulgarian means "I Nathalie"

 

Please don't apologize, IvaPan, you didn't waste our time, you asked a reasonable question, and had every right to ask it.
I apologize for making you feel that way, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have.

 

No, no, I understand you! It's pretty normal when someone has repeated something many times and still has to do it again, to get fed up and try avoiding this. It is a torture. So I do think making a thread with amber basics and pinning on the top is a good idea serving all.

B.t.w I have always felt sorry for teachers who are in similar situation. I wouldn't be able to survive this