Amber has historically been thought of as Lithuania's gold. This part of the Baltic has always been a source of the precious aromatic substance so valued by the civilizations of the eastern Mediterranean. Always passed through so many traders' hands, no one was ever really sure where it came from.

Amber is actually the fossilized resin of pine trees belonging to forests, which flourished in this region before the Ice Age around some 35 million years ago. Back then the subtropical climate cultivated trees with an abundance of resin, which eventually seeped from the trees and coagulated on the ground. Insects, plants and the hair of animals were often embedded in the resin, remains of which are now highly valued and of scientific interest. When the Ice Age came, the resin was buried where it hardened into amber, lying in sheets on the bed of what is today the Baltic Sea.

The substance was mined commercially in Lithuania for many centuries. Lumps of amber can still be found washed up on the coastal beaches after a storm.

Amber deposits were discovered in 1854 at the coastal resort of Juodkrante during dredging for a ship channel. W. Stantien, a business man from Klaipeda, became interested and organized a firm called "Stantien and Becker", which from 1860-90 obtained good raw amber by dredging and diving. About 75,000 kg were recovered annually, although during some years production amounted to 500,000 kg. In this operation special ships equipped with machines were used, and up to 500 emplyees were engaged in the work.

The discovery of large amber deposits in the Courish Lagoon at the end of the 19th century caused further growth in the amber industry. There was a large demand in the world market for amber products. The craftsmen of the amber commercial centers at Palanga and Klaipeda were in competition with the craftsmen of Koenigsberg" (now Kaliningrad) "and Gdansk ("German "Danzig). Before World War I up to 500 workers were engaged in the amber industry at Palanga. They processed approximately 20,000 kg of raw amber. Similar work was carried on at Klaipeda ("German "Memel).

During World War I the amber industry was almost destroyed in Palanga and Klaipeda, but during the period of Lithuanian independence (1918-39) it gradually recovered. About ten artisan shops, the largest being in Palanga, Klaipeda and Kretinga, attempted to satisfy domestic and foreign demand. Several hundred people were employed, and as much as 10,000 kg of raw amber were processed each year. About half of this amount was imported from Germany. But the remnants left from the craftsmen's work, which were exported to Germany for use in chemical plants, about equaled the amount that had been imported.

During World War II the amber industry was again nearly destroyed, but it recovered" again. "After the war shops for processing amber were gradually opened at Palanga, Kaunas, Klaipeda, Plunge and Vilnius. Several hundred craftsmen were engaged in the work, processing up to 10,000 kg of raw amber annually. Later, in 1963, the amber mines and pits of Palvininkai (German Palmnicken, Russian Iantarnyi) were incorporated into the Lithuanian amber industry. These century old mines, the largest in the world, are located on the Baltic Sea coast of the Samland (Sambia) Peninsula northwest of Kaliningrad. They have produced about 500,000 kg of raw amber annually. This output amounts to more than 90% of the world's amber production. Only about 20% of all amber produced is suitable for making fine jewelry and for artistic work. Pressed amber or amberoid is made from good fragments and dust and is used in the manufacture of inexpensive items, such as costume jewelry and smoking articles, and for electrical insulation. Dark, unattractive, impure pieces are used by chemical factories in the production of amber oil, amber acid, amber varnish and other products."

In the Middle Ages amber beads were even worn for the treatment of jaundice. It was believed that the magic force of this yellow stone could absorb unhealthy yellowness of the skin and the weakness of the organism. Terms Oleum succini (amber oil), Balsamum succini (amber balsam), Extractum succini (amber extract) were often used in the recipes and records of the alchemists of those times.

As could be seen from legends and myths Prussians also used amber in the manufacture of incenses. In former times Lithuanian tribes employed such incense to drive away evil spirits from the dead and help the soul travel to good spirits. The newly born babies were fumigated so that they could grow faster, the newly-weds - that they could live happily and those going to war so that they could return with spoils of victory.

Before World War I amber was still used for treatment of various diseases, e.g. tincture made of pieces of amber and vodka was thought to increase sexual potency of men. In Lithuania and in tsarist Russia nannies had to wear amber beads to protect themselves and babies from diseases. As late as before World War II, especially in Germany, amber beads were put on babies to make the eruption of teeth less painful and make the teeth grow stronger.

Even now in Lithuania many women suffering from goitre purchase curative amber beads made of unpolished pieces of amber to wear around the neck. At least nobody would be able contradict the fact that amber beads collect an electrostatic charge when touched and the oxidised surface contains the highest amount of succinic acid. It is a biostimulant that has a positive effect on the nervous system, the heart, and the kidneys and stimulates recovery processes.

1. Keep your jewellery away from too high or too low temperature. Never leave your amber under direct sunlight, otherwise it will melt or damage the piece of amber.
2. Always apply your hairspray and perfume before wearing the jewellery with amber.
3. Do not cook or clean your house with household cleansers while wearing an amber product.
4. Try to avoid swimming pools, because it contains chlorine, which can be harmful to the amber.
5. To distinguish real amber piece from the fake one take a pin burn it and sting it into the stone. If you smell the resin aroma you can be sure that this is real amber.
6. Never wash dishes or do laundry with your jewellery on.