Colours

Baltic amber is usually yellow or yellowish, however, the colours range from white, yellow, and brown to red. Green, blue, grey and even black amber are not unknown. Whatever the colour, amber can be absolutely transparent or absolutely opaque. But amber is not always one-coloured: combinations of two or more colours and shades, and patterns (sometimes forming the most brilliant compositions) can be found. For these reasons amber becomes attractive, charming and unique.

Tree resins are the main amber material. They are transparent, bright yellow-the colour of fresh honey. This colour (clear amber) remains after the resin is transformed into amber, however variations in the resins could affect it:

Resins were made turbid by volatile elements, which had been evaporating (colour shades can change from yellow to absolute white).

Various admixtures that got into resins could make their own alterations (blue, green, black, and brown).

Oxidation could darken, concentrate previous colour (red, black, rich yellow).

Various admixtures and main structural amber elements-very small turpenine gas bubbles change the colour of amber. In a certain density and form they defract the light, which is seen as some kind of colour.