Amber is sometimes called the "Jurassic gem" because its popularity soared following the release of "Jurassic Park," where scientists extracted DNA from an insect trapped in prehistoric amber. Most of the world's amber ranges in age from 30 to 90 million years old.

Amber is pine tree resin that fossilized. The two main sources in today's market are Baltic states and the Dominican Republic. Amber from the Baltic states is older and therefore preferred in the market; however, Dominican Republic amber is more likely to have insect inclusions (insects trapped in the pine resin and therefore fossilized with it), which became popular following the movie. The demand for amber is nothing new, however; artifacts have been discovered dating back to the Stone Age. It does wax and wane in popularity, however.

How to tell Amber from plastic

The commercial value of amber is derived from its scarcity, age, inclusions of extinct species and durability. Many people would love to buy real amber but aren't confident they can tell if it's genuine or plastic. Plastics are the most common amber imitations. However, it is possible to tell the difference.

A good test to separate amber from imitators is to float it in sea water or a salt-water solution (2 tablespoons of salt per 1 cup of water). Imitations of amber will sink in this solution, where amber will float. You can also try a rub test - amber becomes electrically charged when it is rubbed with a cloth and will attract small particles of dust, where imitations will not.

These two tests are best if you don't want to cause a blemish (or if the seller is nervous about blemish). Otherwise, you can perform a hot point test by holding a hot needle with tweezers and touching it to an unobtrusive part of the amber piece. Amber will burn and give off the odor of burning pine wood; imitations will smell somewhat like disinfectant camphor or carbolic acid. The hot point will make plastic sticky, but amber will become brittle and chip off.

Amber versus Copal

Some unscrupulous sellers will try to sell copal (an immature form of resin) as amber. Copal and amber are not the same thing. There are some tests you can perform to tell the difference.

If you put a drop of alcohol on the surface of copal, it becomes tacky; amber does not. Copal melts and liquifies when close to a flame; amber will soften and blacken on the surface, but not melt. Hopefully, a dealer would be honest about the origins and authenticity, whether copal or amber. If you like the look of amber but aren't particularly into it for the historical qualities, you might consider copal a less-expensive alternative for jewelry. However, you should never pay the higher price for amber if all you're getting is copal.

Caring for your amber

Amber has retained its beauty for millions of years. The polished luster can be retained indefinitely if a few precautions are observed.

Keep amber away from chemicals. Do not put amber jewelry on before applying hairspray or perfume. These will likely create a whitish coating on the amber that will be permanent.

Amber jewelry should not be stored where it rubs against metal or other jewelry; storage in a soft bag is best.

Never put amber jewelry in an ultrasonic or steam cleaner; it will shatter the gem. Never let amber come in contact with strong solutions: soaps, detergents, commercial jewelry cleaning solutions, perfume or hairspray. Don't shower, bathe, swim, go in a jacuzzi or spa or steam room while wearing amber. Keep amber away from items in the kitchen such as lard, salad oil, butter, and excessive heat of the oven and/or burners.

Do not place amber near heating ducts or in direct sunshine. Be aware that lighted showcases may place a high degree of heat on the objects in the showcase and ventilate accordingly if you are displaying your amber under lights. Avoid exposure to sudden changes of temperature, such as hot tubs, very cold water, reaching into a hot oven followed by cold water. Never wear valuable jewelry when cleaning, cooking or bathing or doing strenuous activities such as gardening or exercise.

Dust and perspiration can be removed from amber with lukewarm water and a soft flannel cloth. The amber can be dried and rubbed with olive oil, then rubbed with a soft dry cloth to remove excess oil and restore the polish.