Baltic amber colours explained

Updated · Delmara Baltic Living

Baltic amber ranges from clear lemon and honey to deep cognac, and from opaque milky butterscotch to rare royal white. Translucent colours come from the resin itself; opaque milky amber gets its look from countless microscopic air bubbles. Cherry and green amber are usually made by heat treatment. Natural opaque white and large even honey stones are among the most prized.

The main amber colours

ColourWhat you seeWhat causes it
LemonPale, clear yellowNatural, translucent resin
HoneyWarm golden orange, often with inner sparkleNatural, translucent resin
CognacDeep amber brownNatural; darkens with age and oxidation
Milky / butterscotchOpaque, creamy yellow to egg-yolkCountless microscopic air bubbles
Royal whiteOpaque white to ivory, sometimes veinedVery dense bubbles; among the rarest
CherryDark redUsually heat treatment
GreenOlive to bright greenUsually heat and pressure treatment

Clear, cloudy and opaque

Most amber starts out cloudy. The cloudiness comes from tiny bubbles of air and water trapped in the resin: a few bubbles give a soft, foggy look; millions of them make amber completely opaque, as in milky and royal white amber. Clear amber has few or no bubbles, or was clarified by heating.

Golden disc-shaped flashes, known as sun spangles, are small stress cracks created when amber is heated. They are pretty, but they mean the stone has been treated.

Which colour to choose

Honey and cognac are warm and classic, and suit gold tones and autumn colours. Lemon is light and modern. Milky butterscotch and royal white feel soft and are the collector's choice. Since every stone is one of a kind, the best advice is to choose the piece whose colour you like, then check the dimensions.

Amber bracelets

Amber necklaces

Questions and answers

What is the rarest colour of Baltic amber?
Natural opaque white, often called royal white or bone amber, is among the rarest. Natural blue-tinted and green amber also occur, but most green and cherry amber on the market has been heat-treated.
What is milky amber?
Milky amber is opaque because of countless microscopic air bubbles trapped in the resin. Shades run from royal white and butterscotch to egg-yolk yellow.
Does amber change colour over time?
Yes, slowly. Exposure to air and light oxidises the surface, so amber gradually deepens towards a darker, warmer tone over many years.