| The price of amber is determined by the different | | | | value and beauty. A pendant with inclusions is |
| life forms which are found in the stone. Intact | | | | guaranteed to get a good price in the market. A |
| insects, plants, flowers etc will increase the value of | | | | carved ring is also very highly priced in the market. |
| amber and these stones will be highly priced. | | | | A significant difference in the price of the amber is |
| Typically, an amber necklace with say, a trapped | | | | made depending on the period from which the amber |
| dragonfly, will have a high price and will enjoy a | | | | originates from. The older the gemstone, the higher is |
| heavy demand in the market. | | | | its price. However, it is not easy to identify the age |
| The prices of these gems can vary depending upon | | | | of the stone. Most gemological laboratories also do |
| the clarity, color, polish and size of the piece. The | | | | not often certify amber gemstones. The process of |
| prices mentioned in this article are in general for gems | | | | finding out the age of the amber stone involves |
| of fairly good color and good clarity. Usually, opaque | | | | identifying the inclusions present in the stone and |
| pieces of amber can be bought quite cheap - for as | | | | estimating the period in which it existed. |
| much as $0.10 to $1 for a carat or less. For pieces | | | | There is an interesting piece of news about a piece |
| around an inch in size and with insect inclusions, the | | | | of Dominican amber with inclusions. Recently, such a |
| prices can range from $50 to $60. An average stone | | | | piece with a large lizard trapped inside it was sold for |
| of a good size and with inclusions would cost around | | | | $ 75000. This figure cannot really give us a hint of |
| $195. | | | | how high the price of this gem can go to. |
| Good wholesale quality beads can also be purchased | | | | In fact, the amount of history associated with amber |
| for as low as $15. Shapeless and uneven pieces | | | | jewelry would only serve to increase its market |
| without any fossil inclusions ranging from 1 to | | | | value. Similarly, antique jewelry or a pendant with |
| 1.weighing 10 to 12 carats and around 5 inches in size | | | | insect is very highly valued in the market. |
| would cost anywhere between $30 to $40. Polished | | | | There are frequent attempts made in the market to |
| beads without any inclusions of about 1 centimeter | | | | sell amber 'simulants' as genuine amber. Simulants of |
| usually cost from $1 to $2 per carat. | | | | this gem include ambroid, copal resin, kauri gum, |
| Many a times, this gem is heated to give it an old or | | | | dammar, celluloid and plastic. These simulants would |
| aged look. These pieces usually cost less compared | | | | normally cost a fraction of what a real stone costs. |
| to a similar piece having the original color. | | | | Thus, we can see that the price of this gemstone |
| Amber pieces with unusual flora and fauna are a | | | | depends mostly on factors such as its age, the |
| collector's item. Fossils in this gem always increase its | | | | inclusions, its quality and its size. |