Two amber countries.

          There are few countries where amber is traditional trade. Regarding the Baltic amber it is Russia, Poland and Lithuania. It is logical because Russia has world largest deposit of amber and Poland and Lithuania are the closest neighbours. The rough amber, mined in Yantarniy village of Russian Federation, is travelling, not always legally, to closest Baltic States. The Polish and Lithuanian craftsmen make beautiful amber articles such as jewellery, beads, and accessories and trade them further to the west or sometimes back to Russia. Each country has developed its own way in the amber trade. Traditionally strong in jewellery trade the polish artisans are, beyond a doubt, leaders in amber and silver jewellery. There are hundreds of companies, they produce a lot of different quality silver and amber jewellery. Every year on early march in polish city Gdansk ( Danziga) takes place huge trade fair “amberif”.  Gdansk has reputation as a world amber capital city. Huge variety of amber rings, earrings, pendants and other articles is being presented there, the prices are different but as rule they are very competitive. Thousands of merchants from over the world are coming to buy some amber jewellery.

   In Lithuania the amber trade has different way. Maybe because of lot of regulations related to precious metals, maybe because the niche is already occupied, but Lithuanians do not work a lot with silver or gold. Although the items without metal such as bead necklaces, collies, stretch bracelets are developed to very high standard. Amber accessories such as jewellery boxes, compact mirrors, miniature sculptures are very common. The Lithuanian craftsmen sometimes use a joke:”we can make even amber teeth”. It is some truth in this joke, there possible to find almost everything made of amber, and I have seen an amber inlayed mobile phone. The best place to buy amber is market in Palanga- a small town on the seacoast. If you will manage to get there at 6 a.m. you can buy directly from craftsmen and pay three times cheaper than in retail store. In there you can buy not only amber jewellery or accessories but amber with insects, rare specimens, and rough material as well. But if you will manage to wake up at 4 p.m, and get on the seacoast after storm, well possible to find some beautiful amber absolutely for free.