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What Is The Actual Cost Of An Amber Gemstone?

By Mithun Rao

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Published: 03Nov2008
Word count: 500
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The price of amber, to a large extent, depends on the life form that is preserved in it. Pieces with intact insects, plants flowers etc are considered very valuable and are highly priced. For example, a necklace with insect trapped inside it, such as a dragonfly, will be very heavily demanded in the market.

The prices of these gems can vary depending upon the clarity, color, polish and size of the piece. The prices mentioned in this article are for stones of a fairly good color and clarity. Usually, opaque pieces of amber can be bought quite cheap - for as much as $0.10 to $1 for a carat or less. For pieces around an inch in size and with insect inclusions, the prices can range from $50 to $60. An average stone of a good size and with inclusions would cost around $195.

Good wholesale quality beads can also be bought for as low as $15. Uneven and shapeless pieces which are without inclusions ranging from 1 to 1.5 inches in size and weighing around 10 to 12 carats would cost anywhere between $30 to $40. Polished beads without any inclusions of about 1 centimeter usually cost from $1 to $2 per carat.

Many a times, this gem is heated to give it an old or aged look. These pieces usually cost less compared to a similar piece having the original color.

Amber pieces with unusual flora and fauna are a collector's item. Fossils in this gem always increase its value and beauty. A pendant with inclusions is guaranteed to get a good price in the market. A carved ring is also very highly priced in the market.

The period from which the amber originates can make a significant difference in its price. The older the gemstone, the higher is its price. However, it is not easy to identify the age of the stone. Most gemological laboratories also do not often certify amber gemstones. The process of finding out the age of the amber stone involves identifying the inclusions present in the stone and estimating the period in which it existed.

There is an interesting piece of news about a piece of Dominican amber with inclusions. Recently, such a piece with a large lizard trapped inside it was sold for $ 75000. This figure cannot really give us a hint of how high the price of this gem can go to.

In fact, the amount of history associated with amber jewelry would only serve to increase its market value. Similarly, antique jewelry or a pendant with insect is very highly valued in the market.

There are frequent attempts made in the market to sell amber 'simulants' as genuine amber. Simulants of this gem include ambroid, copal resin, kauri gum, dammar, celluloid and plastic. These simulants would normally cost a fraction of what a real stone costs.

Thus, we can see that the price of this gemstone depends mostly on factors such as its age, the inclusions, its quality and its size.

Mithun Rao holds a professional degree in gemology and has spent more than 10 years in the industry. He manages his own jewelry business and takes out the free time to write and maintain his site on natural gemstones and jewellery industry. Click here to read more on amber gemstones .

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