The Incredible Story of the Largest Piece of Amber in the World
The largest piece of amber ever discovered was found in Romania, a country in Eastern Europe. This massive amber stone was displayed in a museum in Buzau for years, but its backstory reads like something straight out of a movie.
For years, an elderly woman in the region used this enormous piece of amber as a doorstop. At one point, thieves broke into her home and stole her gold jewelry, but they ignored the amber, assuming it was just a simple rock.
Weighing an astonishing 7.7 pounds, the amber eventually came into the possession of the state after a relative of the woman realized its true value. Officially classified as a national treasure, it now belongs to the Buzau County Museum.
This amber stone, now estimated to be the largest in the world and valued at over a million euros, was used as a doorstop by the woman for decades before it found its place in the museum.
Buzau County is well-known for its amber deposits, and this remarkable discovery was made in the village of Colt. According to the woman's relatives, she was once robbed by thieves who stole her necklace but left behind the million-euro amber, unaware of its value. Experts believe the amber is around 70 million years old.
Why Amber is Precious
Amber, formed over millions of years, originates from the resin of ancient trees, particularly those that once thrived in tropical and subtropical forests. As the resin seeped from the trees, it often trapped organic materials such as insects, plants, and small animals. Over time, the resin hardened and underwent polymerization and fossilization, resulting in the creation of the beautiful material we know as amber.
Amber has been highly valued in jewelry for thousands of years, prized for its warm, rich colors and unique inclusions. Its lightweight nature, combined with the ability to polish it to a smooth, glossy finish, makes amber ideal for both bold statement pieces and delicate designs.
Often set in silver or gold, amber's natural beauty is enhanced, and pieces containing well-preserved inclusions, like insects, are especially prized for their rarity and uniqueness.
Throughout history, amber jewelry has been believed to bring warmth, healing, and protection to those who wear it.
Amber has been highly valued in jewelry for thousands of years, prized for its warm, rich colors and unique inclusions. Its lightweight nature, combined with the ability to polish it to a smooth, glossy finish, makes amber ideal for both bold statement pieces and delicate designs.
Often set in silver or gold, amber's natural beauty is enhanced, and pieces containing well-preserved inclusions, like insects, are especially prized for their rarity and uniqueness.
Throughout history, amber jewelry has been believed to bring warmth, healing, and protection to those who wear it.
