Amber Teething Necklace

Amber is not a stone at all, though it has been treasured as one for longer than almost anything we would call a crystal. It is fossilised tree resin, hardened over tens of millions of years, and a good piece can hold within it a bubble of ancient air, a fleck of bark, or occasionally a whole insect caught in the moment the resin fell. Warm to the touch in a way mineral stones never are, it ranges from pale honey-gold to deep cognac and rare reddish browns. The Greeks called it elektron and noticed that when rubbed it drew small things toward it, the first recorded brush with electricity, and amber travelled the trade routes of ancient Europe from the Baltic coast southward for thousands of years. Pliny the Elder catalogued its virtues at length.

It is associated with the Sacral Chakra and the Solar Plexus Chakra in the Hindu and Vedic tradition, the warm lower centres of vitality, creativity, and personal strength.

In the modern crystal healing tradition, amber is known as a warming, protective stone that draws off heaviness and supports the body's own vitality, long carried for healing and worn for protection. The same tradition links it to the work of the digestive organs and the body's glands, the warm centres of nourishment and balance, and it has a long, tender place in the soothing of teething infants. It is the stone people reach for when they need to feel warmed from the inside.

Amber surprises people with how light and warm it is, no mineral cold to it at all, just a faint warmth that grows the longer it is held. Hold a clear piece to the light and the gold seems lit from within; sometimes there is something ancient suspended inside it, which never fails to stop a person mid-sentence. We tend to sell amber to people drawn to its warmth and its great age equally, and it is a particular favourite with those buying a first meaningful piece for a child.

Amber often becomes a worn stone rather than a kept one, set into pendants and beads where its warmth sits against the skin. Many people choose it for comfort and protection during recovery from illness or through low, depleted seasons. It is traditionally given to children and babies in some cultures, though for infants it is worn for comfort and never given as something to chew. Some keep a piece on a sunny windowsill where the light brings the gold alive, and others carry a small tumble through draining days.

Amber is very soft (Mohs 2–2.5) and easily scratched, so store it apart from harder stones and keep it from knocks. Cleanse with smoke or moonlight only; avoid water, salt, heat, perfume, and solvents, all of which can damage the surface. Wipe gently with a soft, dry cloth.