Amber

Amber is one of the most expensive gems around. It is a bit different from other gems, however- while it's value IS held by it's size and color, it is also held by the specimen encased within it- that's right, amber usually hardens around bugs. Depending on the type of bug and the size of it, amber can get very expensive.

 A piece of amber with a queen ant in it sold for $568 on the site Amberica West. Another piece from the same site of the queen ant sold for 100,000 dollars! Who would pay THAT much for something that ugly??? I would NEVER pay that much for just a little bug I could watch outside. I'd get nightmares from the stupid thing anyway!!!

So where does amber come from?

Well, amber doesn't come from where most other gems come from. Amber isn't formed by rock, but by a tree! Sticky pine resin dripped from the trees, and small bugs and other objects got caught in the sap (explaining how the bugs got in). Dirt would cover the sap, and constant heat would harden it into amber. Judging from some of the objects found in amber, scientists are lead to believe that amber dates back over 1,000,000 years ago.

Amber is a very soft gemstone, ranking a 2 1/2 on the Mohs scale of Hardness. It is easily scratched and has to be worn and cleaned with care. To prevent frequent damage, most gems are reconstituted before being set into rings, bracelets, earrings and necklaces. Processed and reconstituted amber usually is unscratchable and has no natural inclusions.