Types Of Amber Beads
About the various types of most popular amber beads.
There are only two types of calibrated amber beads. They are 1) carved/cut and 2) formed under pressure. Read What is a pressed amber.
We both types but only carry those types in the top three grades of amber beads as classified by the International Amber Association, Gdansk, Poland.
This page contains visual information about the various types. For a detailed explanation of each type, read Amber Bead Types.
Calibrated Beads
Beads are classified in accordance with the classification guide below.
The Commission of Experts of the International Amber Association of Poland, have developed principles of classification of Amber gemstones. Those classifications are as follows.
Natural Baltic amber (Succinite) – gemstone which has undergone mechanical treatment only (for instance: grinding, cutting, turning or polishing) without any change to its natural properties. Look at examples at Beads Hand Carved From One Stone
Modified Baltic amber (Succinite) – gemstone subjected only to thermal or high-pressure treatment, which changed its physical properties, including the degree of transparency and color, or shaped under similar conditions out of one nugget, previously cut to the required size. Look at examples at Amber Beads Formed From One Stone
Reconstructed (pressed) Baltic amber (Succinite) – gemstone made of Baltic amber pieces pressed in high temperature and under high pressure without additional components. Look at examples at Amber Beads Made From Two Stones
Bonded Baltic amber (Succinite) (doublet, triplet) – gemstone consisting of two or more parts of natural, modified or reconstructed Baltic amber bonded together with the use of the smallest possible amount of a binding agent necessary to join the pieces. International jewelry and gemology organizations recommend providing customers with exhaustive information on the gemstone modifications applied.
For a detailed explanation of each type, read Amber Bead Types.
If you need more information about anything in this page, have questions or comments, you are invited to contact us.