Jewelry and Artistic Potential of Amber
Amber’s versatility in design makes it a favorite among jewelers. Wholeamber’s collections feature amber paired with silver, gold, ivory, wood, and other gemstones. This unique gemstone can be the focal point or a subtle enhancement in jewelry pieces like rings, pendants, bracelets, and earrings, adding elegance and charm to any design.
One of Wholeamber’s best-selling items is the amber necklace. These necklaces feature beads in various shapes—round, elongated, decorative, and faceted. Over 200 bead designs exist, differing in color, size, and number of facets. Each bead shape follows the natural contours of the original amber, making each necklace unique.
Round beads are straightforward to create, involving simple polishing and drilling for threading. Faceted beads, however, require more skill. A jeweler rotates each bead against a sharpened steel rod to form edges and facets. Finally, the beads are polished with felt on a rotating wheel, giving them a warm, glossy glow. This meticulous process allows Wholeamber’s amber necklaces to captivate customers worldwide.
Amber Processing: Craftsmanship Secrets
While Wholeamber does not manufacture products directly, we ensure that all amber we supply is thoroughly prepared by skilled artisans. Raw amber undergoes a rigorous preparation process before it can be used in jewelry. First, it is washed to remove the brown crust from oxidation. The amber is then polished and sorted based on quality and appearance, making it ready for businesses to create exceptional jewelry or decorative pieces.
Amber grinding involves two stages:
- Rough grinding – which uses an abrasive machine to remove larger imperfections.
- Fine grinding and polishing – which utilizes fine-grain sandpaper, felt, or buffing wheels coated with a special paste made from amber dust, paraffin, and chalk. This step brings out the stunning colors, tones, and natural patterns within the amber, enhancing its beauty.
Crafting Amber Jewelry: Processing Stages
For amber to be ready for jewelry-making, each fragment undergoes a careful selection process. Wholeamber’s suppliers examine the amber for inclusions—fragments of other minerals, plants, flowers, or insects—that add unique value. Thin slices are cut, polished, and examined to reveal any unique features, guiding further processing steps.
The initial stage of amber processing, “debarking,” removes the hard crust (patina) that formed over millions of years. Sandpaper or files take off this layer, revealing the stone’s pure and transparent side, often featuring intricate colors and textures that add aesthetic value to the final product.
After debarking, the amber is shaped using traditional tools. The artisan outlines the contours, silhouette, and volume of the planned piece, whether it’s a bead, pendant, or earring.
Once shaped, the amber undergoes smoothing with medium-grit sandpaper, removing scratches from previous steps. The fine grinding stage then uses fine, water-dampened sandpaper to achieve the desired shape and prepare the piece for polishing.
Polishing Amber is the final stage, done exclusively by hand. Felt, leather, or flannel wheels rotate up to 6,000 RPM to polish each piece with a paste of chromium oxide, tin, or even regular chalk. Wholeamber’s suppliers may also use an ancient “mirror effect” technique, known since Egyptian and Asian times, to achieve a highly reflective finish.
Once complete, each piece reveals its radiant colors and delicate glow. Wholeamber proudly supplies finely processed amber to wholesale businesses looking for unique and high-quality products. We ensure that all items are stored under optimal conditions, preventing dust and moisture exposure before they reach our clients.
As one of the top amber suppliers, Wholeamber supports businesses by providing premium amber that will serve as the centerpiece of any jewelry or art collection.
