Amber - Soul of the Tiger
Posted by Jie Chen on
Amber is hardened resin from ancient pine trees. The organic gemstone is typically yellow in colour, but varieties include brown, whitish yellow, red, cream, and orange. The most captivating properties of amber is that some pieces have insect or plant inclusions wrapped inside. Although found all around the world, the largest amber deposit regions are Europe's Baltic region, Dominican Republic, and Myanmar.
The transparency of amber also varies greatly depending on the composition of the gemstone. While some pieces are completely transparent, some are opaque. Opaque amber, also known as honey amber, experiences longer formation.
In Asian culture, amber is regarded as "soul of the tiger", and it is believed to bring courage to the bearer. It can also provide protection for safe journeys.
Amber is a stone of good luck, it grants healing properties. The stone is said to balance emotions, dissolve negativity, promote enlightenment, and developing patience.
To test if your amber is authentic, simply dissolve as much salt in boiling water as possible, and place the gemstone in the solution. Real amber will float as it has a lower density than saline water, and most plastics will sink.
