Baltic amber colours and types

Amber's colour comes from tiny air bubbles, inclusions and age. Some popular shades, such as cherry and most green, are made by heat treatment.

HoneyHoney
Clear golden yellow
Usually natural
LemonLemon
Pale clear yellow
Natural or lightly treated
CognacCognac
Clear golden brown
Often heat-treated
CherryCherry
Deep red-brown
Almost always heat-treated
GreenGreen
Clear green
Usually heat- and pressure-treated Baltic amber, or Caribbean amber
ButterscotchButterscotch
Opaque creamy yellow
Natural; air bubbles scatter the light
Milky / whiteMilky / white
Opaque white, often swirled
Natural; rare
BlackBlack
Opaque, very dark
Natural; contains soil and plant matter

Raw or polished?

  • Raw: matte surface, natural crust, earthy look.
  • Polished: smooth and glossy, shows the inner colour and clarity.

What makes one piece cost more?

  • Size: one large piece costs more per gram than small pieces.
  • Colour: white and butterscotch are rarer than cognac.
  • Category: natural is valued above modified, and modified above reconstructed.
  • Inclusions: a clear insect or plant inside adds value.

Shop by colour: Cognac · Cherry · Lemon · Green · Milky · Butterscotch · Black & white