Amber, one of the earliest-used gem materials, is a warm and silky golden stone that has been worn since prehistory. Amber is the fossilized resin of pine trees that thrived 50 million years ago. Its appearance ranges from transparent to nearly opaque. In its natural state, amber often contains insects and lichens, which have been trapped since the resin was still in a liquid state, millions of years ago. Trapped air also forms inclusions in the stone. The status of natural amber has risen recently in comparison to synthetic varieties, which were popular during the 20^th century.

The most notable source of amber is the Baltic region. Other producers of amber include the Mediterranean near Sicily, Norway, Denmark, Northern Myanmar, Romania, Dominican Republic, Mexico, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, the United States, and Canada.

The application of a hot needle can be used to distinguish natural amber from a synthetic imitation. If the stone is authentic, the needle will produce incense-smelling smoke. Plastic look-alikes will melt and the needle will leave a dark mark.

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Ancient Egyptian civilization began around 3150 BC, and it developed over the course of the next three millenia. Egypt left behind a well-known legacy of art and architecture. The proponents of this legacy, artists and artisans, were of higher status than farmers were, but were under state control in a highly stratified society. Social status was displayed in obvious ways.

The landscape of Egypt was rich in building and decorative stone, copper and lead ores, gold and semiprecious stones. There were extensive gold mines in Nubia, where one of the first known maps details a gold mine. During the Ptolemaic and Roman periods, emerald mines were a major feature in Wadi Sikait, and amethyst mines dominated Wadi el-Hudi. Natural resources enabled Egyptians to build monuments, sculpt statues, create tools, and fashion jewelry.

Ancient Egyptians expressly valued hygiene and appearance. Clothing was made from basic linen sheets bleached white. Men and women of the upper classes wore wigs, jewelry, and cosmetics. Artistic standards dictated simple lines, shapes, and flat areas of color in combination with flat figures projected with no spatial depth indications. These aspects together created order and balance within creative compositions. Belief systems, centered on the divine and in the afterlife, were woven throughout the fabric of ancient Egyptian civilization. The divine right of kings was the basis of pharaonic rule.

Innovations in the creation of jewelry were evidence of the brilliance of ancient Egyptians. Ornamentation was a loved aspect of personal appearance. Fine jewelry was valued for beauty, and equally important were magical and spiritual protection. Many anthropologists believe there were no purely ornamental jewelry adornments. Metals and minerals were associated with specific deities, and therapeutic spiritual properties. Gold bore a relationship, for example, to the solar deity.

Popular resources included amethyst, jasper, carnelian, quartz crystal, and onyx; all of these are currently considered to be in the semiprecious category of stones. Many periods in Egyptian history rendered silver more valuable than gold, because it was scarcer. Many stones required great effort and expense in order to be obtained. The prized and spiritually significant lapis lazuli was usually imported from the region that is now Afghanistan.

Egyptian artisans became talented at creating glass bead renditions of precious stones. It can be difficult to tell the difference between the simulations from authentic stones, even when dealing with emeralds and pearls. Glass was used for body ornamentation, almost without exception. Some believe the fear of tomb raiders, disturbing the venerated and exquisite graves of the departed, was the inspiration for the trickery of worthless reproductions being commonplace. Others believe Egyptians prized and valued glass artistry in its own right. Among the living, even the wealthiest of women wore beautiful but valueless fashion jewelry, in order to escape unwonted attention. Precious gems were then reserved for guarded and special occasions.

There are several well-known shapes and forms to which ancient Egyptian jewelry conformed. The beetle scarab symbolized rebirth and the power of the rising sun. The ankh was an emblem symbolizing life. A cartouche was a good luck charm in ancient Egypt, worn only by Pharaohs to ward off evil spirits in this life and the hereafter. Amulets were worn for protection from harm, and aversion of danger. Like the talisman and the charm, the amulet was believed to dispel evil. Amulets could be hung from the neck or strapped to the arm or leg. Lastly, earring wearers were present in all social classes, men and women alike, during the New Kingdom. So widespread was the use of earrings, Akhenaton introduced the pierced ear in royal statuary. Akhenaton also believed in asking important questions.

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