:: All prices listed are wholesale to shops :: Retail prices to individuals are twice those listed ::
Amber is a fossilized/polymerized resin, exuded from extinct trees related to modern day conifers (and some flowering tree species) over 20 million years ago.
It is primarily found in the Baltic regions, but also appears in the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Burma, Italy, Romania, Borneo, New Zealand, the Middle East, Alaska, Canada, and even in the United States.
Clear, white, yellow, orange, red, brown, black, and even blue or green hues are all possible, while opacity can range from translucent, clear, or spotted, to milky or dark with inclusions.
There are many plastics and younger resins (copals) which can emulate amber. There are some tests that are available to distinguish between the materials; one simple test is friction: amber is an easy conductor of static electricity. Another can be done with a black light; genuine amber fluoresces an amazing green-blue under UV light.
Amber is a gorgeous material used from antiquity as body jewelry, in the form of pendants, amulets, and for piercings. Amber seems to capture sunlight and allow it through the body. Burmese hilltribe women such as the Kachin wear long, crayon shaped pieces of the unique dark orange-red burmite amber found there. The Aztecs utilized amber for incense and body jewelry (earplugs and labrets). They even had a word for an amber ear plug: apozonalnacochtli (after apozonalli: amber; and nacochtli: ear pendant, ear plug).
Click these links to jump ahead to the various items found on this page:
Amber plugs are made in millimeters (and random sizes in the case of Mexican amber), so may not be exactly on the mark with Western measurements. Gauge or inch sizes can be requested as we can easily translate into these measuring systems.
We do not recommend amber body jewelry 8ga or smaller as amber tends to be quite brittle, and may break at those sizes, especially if it has inclusions. We have tested it; it's true! We keep getting asked, so we'll be specific: we do not have, and do not plan to carry, any 8ga, 10ga, 12ga, 14ga, or smaller amber.
Amber plugs are priced partially on weight, partially on the amount of waste it takes to get a solid pair of large plugs. We have had requests for things such as amber spiral shapes. While they're not a good idea due to the brittle nature of amber, they're double jinxed due to the fact that a very large piece of amber will need to be utilized: though you may be wanting a 0ga spiral, in reality a piece of amber the size of the entire overall dimensions will have to be carved, thus costing quite a pretty penny. Hollow amber would need very thick walls to not be extremely fragile; additionally, we consider the creation of hollow amber plugs a tragic waste of the glory that is ancient amber, and thus do not carry them. We've also had requests for quite large amber plugs. The prices for amber go up in a logrithmic curve as the diameter (and thus weight and difficulty in finding workable rough) increases. For reference, anything 1-1/4" and over will be upwards of $200/pair. Expect 1-1/2" or larger pairs to exceed $300 on up.
Body jewelry made from amber should be kept from extreme heat, as it may soften, darken, burn, break down, fracture, or craze. Amber tends to burn rather than melt. Amber may break down or lose luster (become dull) when in contact with certain solvents. Please visit our care instructions and material information page for more details.
Baltic amber
Baltic amber saddles and cylinders are generally a scrumptious dark honey color, sometimes referred to as "cognac" colored. They are translucent, and most have "sun spangle" (lily pad or disc shaped) inclusions, which we believe are formed by the traditional process of heat treating that- along with darkening the outside surfaces from quickened oxidation- creates these circular and flat radial fracture inclusions from tiny air bubbles. This appears to be a bit of a trade secret, as many prominent books on amber will state that this is a natural phenomena, and it is only through extensive research that this process has come to light.
Note the different hues: amber plugs can vary quite a bit! Most are an orange to yellow 'cognac' color.
This just goes to show the range of color and inclusions that is typical in Baltic amber (succinite).
Amber is made in millimeters, so some exact gauge and inch conversions may be a bit off as noted.
Large Baltic amber saddles sell out rapidly, so call right away if you are interested!
We'll be happy to place you on a wait list if you're interested in sizes that are out of stock.
The inconsistent supply of rough Baltic amber has made it extremely difficult to obtain finished pieces.
Due to the rising cost of the raw materials, prices for 00ga and larger pairs will be increasing.
We'll do our best to keep costs as reasonable as possible.
Singles are occasionally available at half of the pair prices - feel free to ask.
When we list singles only, we really mean it! No two pieces look anything close to pairs; they will be very different in lengths, color, or inclusions. In some cases we only have exactly one piece left.
Our current stock of Baltic amber saddles includes the following:
PAIRS of saddle shapes (plugs with two flares)
The following are currently available
Order soon before they run out again, as supply is very limited!!!
SPRING 2008: Our amber has arrived!!! Please call ASAP.
7ga..............................$10/pair
6ga..............................$8/pair (discounted) Ask us about discounts available on 6ga pairs due to quality issues, such as minor indentations (divets), texture on the faces, not quite round flares, or >6ga with flares a bit larger than normal, at around 3ga.
6ga..............................$10/pair
5ga..............................$10/pair
<4ga............................$12/pair
4ga..............................$12/pair
≥2ga............................$15/pair
<7/16".........................$25/pair old prices (only one pair left!)
7/16"...........................$25/pair old prices (only one pair left, with different lengths...)
<1/2"...........................$30/pair old prices (only a few pairs left; some quality issues)
<9/16".........................$40/pair old prices (only one pair left!)
9/16"...........................$40/pair old prices (only a few pairs left!)
5/8".............................$50/pair old prices (only a few pairs left!)
3/4".............................$75/pair old prices (we MAY have a pair left...)
1-1/8".........................$175/pair old prices
1-1/2".........................$305/pair old prices
SPRING 2008: Our amber has arrived!!! Please call ASAP.
We are currently OUT of the following sizes...
The best bet to get a pair in these sizes is to call us and ask to be placed on our waitlist...
When we get in more pieces in the larger sizes, they will most likely all be immediately reserved for people on our waitlists before they could ever make it onto this page, so if you are serious, and plan to stay at one size for awhile, please let us know!
<0ga............................$18/pair (only singles left, one is oval!)
00g..............................$20/pair old prices (only one single left!)
1/2".............................$30/pair old prices (only one single left!)
7/8".............................$105/pair old prices
1"................................$135/pair old prices
The following are currently available
SINGLE saddle shapes (plugs with two flares)
Several new singles have arrived in 7ga through 1/2"...
9mm (≤00ga).........................$8/each piece (only three singles left!)
12mm (btwn 7/16" and 1/2").$20/pair
Cylinder shapes (plugs with no flares) in pressed amber
4mm (≤6ga)............................$6/pair (possibly pressed amber; cosmetic light scratches on ends)
5mm (<4ga)............................$?/pair (possibly pressed amber; cosmetic light scratches on ends)
7mm (>2ga but <1ga).............$?/pair (possibly pressed amber)
14mm (9/16")..........................$30/pair
16mm (>5/8")..........................$30/pair
18mm (btwn 11/16" and 3/4").$40/pair
20mm (btwn 3/4" and 13/16").$40/pair
Mexican amber
Mexican amber is generally a lighter yellow to orange, with wide variations of inclusions, some are transparent, while others are spotted, streaked, or mottled, or with botanical debris (specks of dirt or moss-like inclusions). Some pieces are so filled with inclusions that they are opaque almost completely black. Amber fluoresces in a black light, and Mexican amber in particular gives off an amazingly bright blue-green color.
Mexican amber saddle shaped plugs, labrets, septum shapes, and tapers, hand carved in Mexico, are occasionally available. The Mexican amber saddles shown above have sold, but please scroll down to see available pairs, as well as a few more sold plugs which are posted to show the range and style of what is possible. This includes saddles and conch plugs with fancy carvings, such as flower and shell shapes, as well as Aztec style labrets (oval backing discs). Since they are rather hard to get, it may be some time before we have more. Please check back here or visit the new page for updates!
Carved Mexican amber plugs: IN STOCK
A pair of 0ga yellow Mexican amber one-flares.
A > or =5ga Mexican amber light yellow labret
with a wide oval Aztec style backing disc - $70/single.
Carved Mexican amber plugs: SOLD
All of the amber plugs in this grouping have SOLD OUT; however, we are keeping them posted here to show examples of designs that we can offer periodically. We can get more if you are interested, just ask!
Three different plugs with 3-D flower carved ends - $80/pair (all SOLD).
The yellow pair is >00ga and are one-flares. You can see an area of 'pitch skin' near the back side of one. I used to call this 'amber bark' before I heard this more-used term. This is what amber looks like when it is first found - it has a darker sometimes greyish looking surface from being oxidized or buried.
The dark pair of one-flared plugs is 7/16", with a length of 3/8", making them suited for conches. SOLD
The right-hand dark amber saddle shapes are between 00ga and 7/16"; with a <1/2" back flare. SOLD
7/16" oval-backed labret with ant-like bug and amazing natural swirl/flow pattern! ($90/single-SOLD)
>1/2" plugs with right-angled flares: both pieces have insects, plus a wing or leaf section!!! ($120/pair-SOLD)
Click on the highlighted text to view super close-ups of the listed inclusions!
00ga Mexican amber saddle shapes with huge carved front flares in the shapes of flowers ($60/pair-SOLD)
Two pairs of Mexican amber one-flares
with 3-D flower carved front flares:
front and side views are shown.
The left-hand pair is between >5/8" and <11/16",
while the right-hand concave pair is <11/16"
These went for $90/pair-SOLD.
The saddle shaped shells measure >2ga (17-18/64") on the wearing surfaces and were also $50/pair-SOLD.
This large pair of >11/16" plugs had carved flowers
in a light yellow colored Mexican amber and were $100/pair-SOLD.
These dark one flares with flowers and rounded ends might work in conch piercings, but can be utitilzed however you see fit. They are >2ga but <1ga (18/64") and were $50/pair-SOLD.
< or =0ga tapered to 0ga at the front Mexican amber labret
with 11/16" wide Aztec style (oval) back - $70 (SOLD).
The amber flower plugs on the left with pointed backs
measured < or =7/16" and were $70/pair-SOLD.
Left: between 0ga and 00ga reddish amber saddles with flower-carved faces and 7/16" flares ($70/pair-SOLD)
Right: > or = 0ga yellow amber one-flares with flower-carved faces ($60/pair-SOLD). Close-ups are shown below.
Old Burmese Amber Plugs
Old Burmese amber (Burmite) patlokan plugs in the traditional shape that is similar to giant crayons!
These are often attributed to the Hkakhu tribe of Burma. The tips have some damage. $200/pair. SOLD
Traditional Burmese amber earplugs;
slightly tapered cylinders. $120/pair.
Old Burmese amber plugs, collected from Assam.
Between 1/2" and 9/16" $80/pair.
Baltic Amber Specimens
Large specimens of Baltic amber. They range in overall shapes and sizes,
and average $2/gram (with a $25 minimum). They all have lots of bubbles and inclusions.
As shown in this first scan, they include:
23 grams (spider plus two flying insects)-$46 sold?,
11.1 grams (one tiny bug)-$25 SOLD, and
6.1 grams (two mosquitoes?!? plus others)-SOLD.
Please click on this scan for a close-up view of the first piece.
This piece is 10.8 grams ($25-SOLD);
a close-up of it's flying insect inclusion is shown at the top of this page.
Other amber specimens are still available.
These baltic amber specimens have bugs! They are in little plastic cases with magnifying tops, as shown.
The small ones are $10/each, while the large one is $20/each. NEW: tiny amber chunks with insect inclusions, in small magnifying boxes-$8/each.
Copal specimens
Polished raw copal, with bugs and other inclusions, is available for $1/gram. Great for displays!!!
This is an inexpensive option and a great way to see some preserved insect specimens while avoiding the much higher cost of amber. These pieces are not meant to be made into body jewelry.
The example shown above is 12 grams, thus $12. Both smaller and much larger pieces are available.
Copal is within the continuum of fossil tree resins: it starts as resin; several thousand years later it is considered copal; twenty million or more years later it is considered amber. The word is derived from the Nahuatl (Aztec) word copalli, meaning 'incense.' It is softer and more brittle than amber, is soluable in acetone, alcohol, or ether (a drop applied to the surface makes the copal become soft or sticky), and has a lower melting point than amber, tending to actually melt rather than burn.
Amber Stash Boxes
Sterling silver stash boxes, topped with large baltic amber cabochons, which could be used as double flared plugs. The top snaps open and shut to reveal the hollow interiors.
These measure >1-1/16" with flares at >1-3/16", and are $125/pair.
Please note, we have this size only; these are not available in any other size.
Bug in Amber Photo Poster
A photo poster with extreme close-up of an insect inclusion in amber,
shot with the aid of a microscope. $35. 16" X 23.5". Small additional shipping fee may apply.
Amber, Jade, and Ambroid Dice
Baltic amber dice ($20/pair smaller than shown) or British Columbian jade dice ($25/pair as shown).
Large ('normal') sized pairs typically run around $25/set, depending upon weight.
We are currently sold out of the large amber sets; feel free to let us know if you'd like to be on a wait list to be contacted when these become available again.
Pressed amber, aka ambroid dice! We've searched high and low for more regular amber dice, and no one seems to be able to supply them anymore. Though we do still have some little amber ones in stock, these ambroid ones are the only close to standard sized dice we've been able to find. Pressed amber does not have anything but amber in it, but has less value compared to regular, unpressed amber.
Thus these dice are only $15/pair!
As many have asked, here are some answers about availability of various types of amber products:
Colors: We do not have green amber plugs...
Incidently, most of the green Baltic amber that is available as finished jewelry is an effect created by painting the back of an amber cabochon black, which gives the amber a greenish tint. It's a trick of refraction! Green amber does occur naturally, though rarely, in both Mexican and Baltic amber, as does many other shades such as opaque white, yellow, and black, red, green, and blue amber. We do not have plugs made out of these colors of amber, and do not anticipate being able to carry them in the future. Red, green, and blue rough amber is very expensive and it is extremely difficult to get large enough pieces without fractures to make carvings such as plugs or other body piercing jewelry, even in the small sizes. Most examples of these colors are sold as specimen pieces to collectors.
Insects: We do not normally get any plugs with bugs in them.
When found by our suppliers, these pieces are polished and sold to museums and collectors as specimens (see some of our examples in amber and copal above!).
We do not carry earplugs with insects artificially inserted in them.
Shapes: We do not carry amber spirals, CBR's, or anything with dramatic curves like c-shaped claws. Amber is just too brittle in small sizes, and these shapes would compromise it's structural soundness.
We do not carry hollow amber: thin walls are too brittle, and it's a complete waste of amber.
Consider also that to create, let's say, a spiral shape that is 1-1/4" in overall diameter (in whatever gauge), the piece of amber required would have to be as big as a chunk that could make a 1-1/4" plug.
In other words, ridiculously expensive, as amber is priced on both weight and on waste.
Beads/balls: We do not carry amber beads for CBR's or amber barbell ends with threads set in them.
Other types of amber jewelry (non-piercing):
We DO have some amber pendants and necklaces such as those found on the Twilight page, and
bracelets which can be found on the bracelets page. Both are often first showcased on the new page.
We tend to carry pieces combined with silver featuring Nordic or Celtic designs.
Jet: We also carry some examples of jet jewelry.
Jet (aka lignite) is a type of highly mineralized wood, largely made up of carbon which imparts a rich black color. Indeed, this is the material that started the phrase 'jet black.' Amber deposits have been found in jet, leading some people to believe that in these examples, the jet was formed from the wood of the tree that actually produced the amber. Neat! It's pretty hard to classify... it's no longer wood, yet it has not quite petrified to be thus deemed stone (the cells have not been completely replaced by minerals). It is most closely related to coal, and yet it is often intimitely associated with amber. A beautiful enigma!
:: All prices listed are wholesale to shops :: Retail prices to individuals are twice those listed ::
7/16" oval-backed labret with 
Left: between 0ga and 00ga reddish amber saddles with flower-carved faces and 7/16" flares ($70/pair-SOLD)
