Dear Blue Amber Lover,

The Caribbean rains have been merciless this winter, and the mines where Blue Amber is found are closed due to flooding. Therefore, the precious Blue has become scarcer than ever. 

Nevertheless, being aware of the financial situation around the world, we still wish to give our customers the possibility to obtain this rare stone. 

Therefore, we have decided to extend a series of special offers for some of our specimens, as a sort of end-of-the-year clearance sale.

We invite you to visit our catalogue at and see what gems are waiting for you…

Enjoy!

Greetings,

The Ambarazul.com Family

I promise I will refrain from making any snail jokes that involve their speed, or lack thereof. It’s a tired cliché and overused. So I will ‘slip’ straight into the subject at hand: Snails in Blue Amber.

Gastropoda

Snails are second only to the insects in abundance of number of species. They’re all over the place: from your own backyard, to the hottest deserts, the highest mountains and deepest oceans. There are so many, we even eat them, collect their shells and have use them for money. They are classified as mollusks, which make them relatives to squid, octopuses, oysters, scallops, and several other delicacies.

Snails and slugs (a slug is basically a snail with a housing problem) are the oldest species still around and fairly unchanged since their creation/phylogenesis in/during/around the Late Cambrian Era (aprox. 500 Million years ago), although their development to the form we know them today as, is pegged by malacologists (scientists who study them) at or around the Mesozoic Era, a time span extending roughly over 180 Million years.

If all these numbers sound a little vague to you it’s because they are: where phylogenesis and taxonomy are concerned, malacologists are still, er… slugging it out.

But all this scientific squabbling doesn’t stop the good ol’ snail from procreating to the point of plague. Most snails and slugs may behave as male for a while, then as a female. In their species that’s called hermaphroditism. In ours that would be called kinky. A few other species procreate through self-fertilization (where’s the fun in that?!).

Their shells are a whole psychedelic world unto themselves. They come in all shapes, shades and sizes, depending on the species and its location. It has several layers, and is typically made of calcium carbonate secreted by the mantle part of the body. Think of it as a body-covering fingernail. And the great part is, the shell can last for millions of years.

Blue Amber Snails

We know that there are no inclusions in blue amber — that is, there are no bugs – and we theorize that the heat caused any inclusions to be basically cooked. But there are shells.

The shells are generally never found inside the amber, but only stuck to the surface and/or partially submerged. Hence it’s a little hard to classify them as ‘inclusions’. What more, the amber itself must have been in an extremely liquid state when the empty shells came in contact with it, because it somehow managed to get all the way into the interior.

But the classification takes the cigar. As far as we can tell, all the snail shells found in blue amber are sea snails, probably of the genus Turritella. We know that amber rested at some point under the sea, but that it was still liquid enough to fill out the shell is an interesting tidbit. From hereon it seems the shell decided to take a ride out of the ocean and into the mountains. Think escargot on an elevator: the amber comes from the forests into the depth of the ocean, takes on a shell as passenger and goes back up into the mountains. The whole trip takes several million years of course, but what a ride.

Fossilized Turritella are nothing rare. Carbonate stone made from large quantities of Turritella shells are called Turritella Limestone, and if silicified, Turritella Agate. Especially the agate stones are used as jewelry and hailed as spiritual stones, capable of healing everything from fatigue to broken families. Germany even boasts the Turritella Plate of Ermingen, teeming with Turritella shells within its sediments.

But finding them in amber – more so, in Blue Amber – is not so common. So far less than a dozen shells have been found sitting on Blue Amber, and only about four are complete. How the shells got there in the first place is still a mystery. But wherever the snails were going, the amber was faster.

Sorry, I couldn’t help it.

Comment on this post here on the Blue Amber Forum!

Blue Amber is a true conversation piece. So let’s talk about it.

The Blue Amber Forum has opened on blueamber.com and the topic is Dominican Amber with special emphasis on Blue Amber. But whether its colors, inclusions or a simple shout out to the Amber community, all topics are open. The Board will be run by Moderators so that all your questions may be answered. All that is required to post is a quick sign-up here. Now go out there and exercise your First!

The Forum is here.

Sign-up is here.

Enjoy!

Another year, another show.

The past year has been eventful for the Dominican amber world.

In October the extra-tropical storm system Noel hit the island and caused major flooding. (A few videos on the subject… the flooding and the people and their plight…)

The amber mines were also affected, yet not so dramatically. The holes filled with water and for several weeks no amber could be mined. Miners took this and the closing days of the year to relax.

For 2008 would start with a main event.

It is time for the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show, (see a map) and Blue Amber will be present for the very first time! For anyone in the Arizona area and the many visiting the city of Tucson when it turns from a sleepy old pueblo at the foot of the Catalinas into the world’s biggest gem show, this is the moment to see Blue Amber.

We will be in the main show area at the Tucson Convention Center Arena on Feb 14^th to 17th, Booth 21E. You are cordially invited to look us up and check out the Beauty of Blue Amber with your own eyes.

Here are a few specimens and pieces we will have on display:

• A few high-grade pendant sets, like this one or this one.
• The Blue Mountain — one of the largest specimens found in recent years
• A few samples of selected Blue Amber Jewelry
• The controversial Bee-or-Wasp Nest
• And much, much more!

Also we will of course personally be present to field your questions and help you to learn more about the beauty that is Blue Amber.

For those who can’t make it, you can keep track of us on the show on this blog as well as the video entries we will make on blueamberchannel.com.

See you on the show!

The confusion arises as follows:

[…] One finds the amber in the sea of India, but no one knows where it comes from. One only knows that the best Amber is the one found at Berbera (East Coast of Africa) and up to the ends of the land of the Zang, and also at Sihr and its surroundings. That amber has the shape of an egg and is gray. The people of that region go to find it, riding on camels during the moon-lit nights; they follow the coasts. They ride camels who are trained for that and who know how to look for amber on the coast. When the camel finds a piece of amber, it kneels down and its owner goes to collect it.

One also finds pieces of amber floating on the water of a considerable weight. Sometimes those pieces are really big. […] One can find it among the perfume makers at Baghdad and Basra. The piece of amber which does not have the bad smell is extremely pure.

— Abu Zaid al Hassan from Siraf & Sulaiman the Merchant, Travels in Asia, 851 AD

Reading this ancient travel-report, anyone marginally familiar with amber will note several odd discrepancies. No one knows where it comes from? Found at the East Coast of Africa? Shape of an egg and is gray? Camels find it? Perfume makers? Bad smell?

After a brief logical consideration, anyone will conclude that the amber mentioned here is something entirely different than our beloved Amber – that yellow-golden-brown-colored fossil resin.

Indeed it is. What Abu Zaid was speaking of was of course ambergris, which is, bluntly put, ‘sperm whale vomit’. It is an oily perfumed substance secreted by the sperm whale and cast up on the shore, where it would then be found by the… erm.. camels. Our English word ‘amber’ derives from the old Arabic word ‘anbar () and refers quite obviously to this waxy but very valuable substance and not to the fossil resin. Puts the usage of ‘Amber’ as a female first name in shocking contrast, doesn’t it? Since fossilized amber was initially found on the shores much like ambergris, the linguistic confusion was complete. In addition, translated ancient documents, particularly those from Pliny the Elder’s work Naturalis historia may also pertain to the origin of the term amber as applied to the fossil resin (for a more complete etymology of the word ‘amber’, click here).

So besides this dodgy whale upchuck, are there any other types of gray Amber that float?

Now, it’s a well known fact that amber floats in saltwater. But with all the unique forms of amber that are found – Blue Amber, Insect Inclusions, Green Amber, Bony Amber, White Amber, Cognac Amber, etc – here is yet another one: Foamy Amber.

It can be classified alongside White Amber, Bony Amber and Cognac Amber, since their origin seems to be of a similar nature. The turbidity which is the key factor in defining these names given to amber is not the result of any chemical, or the affect of any inclusion trapped in the resin. The turbidity is a result of thousands of tiny air bubbles held in the amber. The size and density of the air bubbles results in different shading. The size of the air bubbles range between 0.00017 mm - 0.02 mm. The smaller air bubbles packed densely together, about 9,000,000 per square millimetre produces the bastard forms of amber.

Amber Collector Garry Platt — http://www.gplatt.demon.co.uk/properti.htm

Dominican Foamy Amber is probably of a similar origin. Its appearance is a brown-gray, very light mass, reminding more of a fossilized sponge than of amber. It almost floats on normal water due to its high content of air bubbles, yet still can be nicely polished. How all the air got in there is a matter of speculation. There is little information as to the formation of Foamy Amber, except that it must have developed pre-fossilization involving air, liquid sap and possibly water. This find is very rare in the Dominican Republic, since amber with such extreme air-bubble inclusions are mostly found in the Baltic. But it does make it appearance and is easily distinguishable from Baltic amber by its gray-brown color and spongy look. It is this uniqueness only found here on this hurricane-battered island that makes it a much prized collector’s item, sought after by many.

As suppliers of some of the finest Blue Amber around, it is at times awe-inspiring to see what some of our clients create. After spending many days and late nights selecting and categorizing the specimens in their raw conditions — basically handling what appear to be at first glance mere rocks — it is gratifying to see when so much beauty can be created. In the right hands an ordinary ‘rock’ of Blue Amber becomes a unique work of art.

Which inspired us to create a new section on our site dedicated to all those artists and their creations. We invite you to come and see this online exhibition and see just what happens when Art meets Blue Amber.

You can go here to the Art Gallery, or go directly to our current exhibition by Japanese artist Akira Obata. (Flash required)

Enjoy!

In other news…

Our catalog is now being updated once a week. Depending on what is found in the mines, we update starting every Wednesday with several new specimens. Check it out right now to see what we have found!

Featuring: Luis

The house was at the end of a dusty drive way in one of the middle-to-lower-class suburbs, complete with ancient friendly neighbors in rocking chairs, happy kids scampering about and chickens crossing roads for no apparent reasons. They’ve lived here for many years, and although the house did not look wealthy by western standards, it was a decent place to grow up in.

Out in the back sat the hut with a thick palm tree roof but no walls. This was Luis’s work shop. Luis is a nimble man in his early forties with a warm disposition and thick calluses on his fingertips. He began his career as an amber polisher at fourteen, helping out in a polishing shop at 18 cents a week. He spent ten years in said shop, upping his wages from 18 cents to nearly $2, which was a decent amount for the late seventies.

At first it was just a job for him to make some money and help his family. His father had left his mother when Luis was about 10 and, being the oldest of the 5 children, he became the “man” in the house. Unlike other kids that worked with him, he overcame the fear of holding his fingers close to a machine built to grind into rock. Soon he understood the importance amber had for the Dominican Republic, something only few realized at the time. With said realization came appreciation, and once appreciation became part of the job, the product quality rose. He quickly learned that good and conscientious work paid off and kept the clients coming.

Thirty years passed. Meanwhile, Luis had got married, set up his own shop and bought his house and car for himslef and a scooter for his wife — The Dominican Dream (same as The American Dream, only with lower mortgage rates and car payments). He now has a son and daughter, fourteen and eight respectively. After doing jobs during several years for an American amber dealer, he now works nearly exclusively for ambarazul.com — a few side gigs notwithstanding — and is one of the reasons why we can claim a rather high-grade of quality in our products.

Luis has done well for himself. Everyone says so. Compared to most other average-income wages — say, as a line worker in one of the many duty-free zones — he makes a better living. He also learned to be reliable, honest and handle his income carefully and cautiously. Unlike some others.

One of his own workers, a young man in his late teens, seems to slide dangerously over to the Dark Side. He comes in late for work or not at all, blows his polishing money at the whim of his peers and measures life by the hangovers. Seeing that his income is around US$40 a week, a fair amount for 2007, Luis is saddened to see how someone so young can throw his life out a window with both hands. Unfortunately, this young man reflects today’s youth. Youth has never been perfect, but nowadays it seems to have hit rock bottom and begun to dig.

It may be ironic that Luis — himself a young man at 43 — thought this would be a great chance to begin a second life: he decided to return to school and now actually studies at the university to become a lawyer. He also participates in social-politic activities and might stand a chance in the future political arena. He still intents to continue his Amber business on the side, but hopes to become a legal advisor. It is not uncommon around here for a man heading towards middle-age to start a second career. Luis proofs that life does begin at 40. At least it can begin again. And you can polish it up to a shine.

As much as it would seems obvious, “Quality” is still a debated subject, regardless the context. Definitions abound, especially in business: according to ISO 9000 it’s a ‘degree to which a set of inherent characteristic fulfills requirements.’ The American Society for Quality elegantly sidesteps the question by defining it as: ‘A subjective term for which each person has their own definition.’

It all boils down to the perception of the degree to which a product meets a customer’s expectations.

Hence ‘Quality’ in its purest definition is entirely perceptual, conditional and somewhat subjective. Philosopher Robert M. Pirsig even elevated ‘quality’ to a metaphysical concept that cannot be defined because it empirically precedes any intellectual constructions.

The same holds true for Blue Amber quality.

At first glance one would assume that the more blue a stone is, the higher the quality. The more it reflects the sunlight as the color blue, the higher the grade.

But as the various interpretations above point out, quality cannot be defined since everyone has his own definition based on use and personal perception.

As the age-old axiom states, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

And, oddly enough, it also depends on nationality. On some continents for example the more popular coloration is the yellow/light-blue variation that focuses more on transparency and pureness in addition to a bluish hue as can be seen in the image. It is the unique glassy look that appeals in this case.

In other parts of the world, the color variation mostly desired is the strong and definite color. Blue amber ought to be blue. As we know, this is due to the density of the aromatic molecules in the resin. But it also is emphasized by the inclusions which already reflect the light inside the amber. In this case, the inclusions are desirable. Matter of fact, for many, inclusions and variations of color are a proof of genuineness and authenticity.

Other aspects are the kind of inclusions a piece holds as well as the play of different shades, the form of the specimen, the thickness of the hull and its color, the size, the mine of origin, the age, and so on and so forth.

So what is high grade, high quality Blue Amber? It really depends on everyone’s own taste, opinion or purpose he has for it. Therefore, when it comes down to it, quality is your choice.

Ordinary Amber itself has multiple uses besides ornamental. Some may surprise you. Others may just freak you out.

The value of amber has risen and fallen over the years, much due to recent developments of fake amber. But it is still prized in the range of gold. People still travel thousands of miles to find the gem, be it to the Baltic, the Dominican Republic or some trade show in Tucson.

Often the use of the word ‘amber’ does not reflect our beloved fossilized resin at all. Amber Oil for example does not necessarily mean ‘oil made from fossilized amber’. The original amber oil was made of gray amber (ambergris) which has nothing in common with amber as we know it. In fact, ambergris is a rare waxy substance found floating on the ocean, initially of unknown origin. Later it was determined that ambergris was nothing more than sperm whale… erm… regurgitation. Sometimes amber oils or essences are made of a semi-solid mass of tree resins or gums mixed with essential oils, bees wax and fragrant plant powders. One metaphysical website refers to amber oil as “a nice resin and floral combination used in love spells and all things related to the Sun.”

Uh… yeah.

But there is also amber oil that can be made from fossilized Baltic amber. Also known as Spirit of Amber, it was procured from amber by pulverizing and distilling it using a sand bath. Today it is known as Succinic Acid (also butanedioic acid). The so called Oil of Amber on the other hand is a thin, colorless or pale-yellow oil, procured from spirit of amber. According to King’s American Dispensatory (1898) it was once used as an antihysteric and emmenagogue, being very fluid and penetrative. Today little uses can be drawn from Amber Oil made of fossilized amber, although there are unconfirmed reports of Baltic fossilized amber oil being used in balsams and colognes.

One contemporary ‘medicinal’ use for Baltic amber seems to be an old recipe fellow writer Jack King points to: bottle 98% spirit over 20 - 40 grains of Baltic amber. Cap. Wait five days. The result would be closest thing we have on earth to a Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster. In fact, Amber Vodka has been around for a few years and is said to be a cure for everything. A very creative use for low grade amber and amber dust, I would say.

The uses for Dominican Amber are less imaginative, although the metaphysical department has picked up on it very quickly. Mystical Amber Stones are flooding the market, promising everything from pure health, success in business and life, to enlightenment and things also written on the cover of Viagra packs. Some like to add amber into their daily cup of tea, preferably with inclusions for the above reasons.

The most common use for Dominican Amber is still as ornaments and not talismans, while the more valuable enclosures and colorations become collector’s pieces. Most of our Blue Amber specimens for example have become priced exhibition pieces both in private and public collections all over the world.

A favorite in Hong Kong and Japan for sculptures, Blue Amber has been masterfully worked into artistic carvings. Others have used Blue Amber to make rings, brooches and necklaces that can be worn in clubs and discos for its natural fluorescence under UV lights.

In the Muslim world Dominican Amber and particularly Blue Amber beads have found their way into another use as a mesbaha or mesbah — a string of worry beads probably of Persian origin which are traditionally used by Muslims and Sufis, although some claim that the Prophet Muhammad never used something like them. Today most mesbah, much like the Greek kombolói, seem to be used mostly as fashion accessories and status symbols. Many upper-class Muslims spend a considerable amount of time and money in acquiring the perfect beads and have large collections of different mesbah — much like Westerners and their neckties.

All this comes to show that Amber is a gem priced, valued and revered all over the world by multiple cultures and denominations: the perfect earthly ambassador.