Aquamarine & Baltic Amber Draped Chain Necklace
Aquamarine & Baltic Amber Draped Chain Necklace
2mm faceted Aquamarine, light yellow Baltic Amber discs, & double draped sterling silver chain, sterling clasp, 18.5” long.
Aquamarine (Latin for 'water of the sea') is a blue/green v variety of beryl, found mostly in Brazil (the largest specimen of gemstone quality came from Brazil in 1910 and weighed 243 pounds!). The coloring agent that makes it such a lovely blue is iron. History records it’s first use in Greece sometime around 400 B.C. and in ancient lore it is said to be a treasure of mermaids, used as a talisman by sailors to bring good luck, fearlessness, and protection. It was also valued as a stone of eternal youth and happiness. Aquamarine is the birthstone for March and it promotes cooling, soothing, and clear communication.
Amber is a natural material made up of fossilized tree resin. It varies in color from yellow to brown to red and is often transparent with plant or insect inclusions. Baltic Amber, which is usually considered to be the finest, was formed from the resins of coniferous trees 30 to 60 million years ago but younger Ambers exist and are known to come from the Dominican Republic. Amber can be ignited by a match and smells like incense and when rubbed with a cloth it becomes electrically charged and can attract small particles. The largest deposit in the world is in Kaliningrad, Russia and only 15% of what is mined is suitable for jewelry. There are also large reserves on the seabed of the Baltic. After heavy storms it is common for Amber have washed up on shore or to be found in shallow waters.