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IAA AMBER LABORATORY

INDEPENDENT SCIENTIFIC EXPERTISE

 

The IAA Amber Laboratory offers testing of products made of Baltic amber or with its participation, together with the issuance of a document confirming the results of the tests - a certificate or examination report.


What can be tested at the IAA Amber Laboratory?

Baltic amber - succinite

  1. Jewelry pieces made of amber and/or decorated with amber. In the case of items containing other stones, only the item made of Baltic amber will be assessed.

  2. Jewelry raw materials and semi-finished products made of Baltic amber.

  3.  Natural specimens containing Baltic amber.

  4.  Artistic objects using Baltic amber - in particular works of art, sculptures, installations, and unique jewelry pieces.

  5. Historical/antique objects containing amber - e.g., historical jewelry, decorative elements, souvenirs, and museum pieces containing Baltic amber.

  6.  Objects with inclusions – including all of the items listed above, if they contain inclusions (e.g., plant or animal remains in amber).
     

Fossil resins (ambers) of the world

We study natural specimens of other fossil resins from around the world, as well as products containing them. These include Dominican amber, Mexican amber, burmite, and glessite.

                                                                                

Identifying imitations and counterfeits

We identify amber imitations and forgeries made from plastics, synthetic resins, and other materials.

We also recognize subfossil resins, often referred to as copals, to distinguish them from Baltic amber and other ambers worldwide.
 

What documents do we issue?

The documentation of the tests carried out at the IAA Amber Laboratory is a CERTIFICATE or EXAMINATION REPORT.

 

CERTIFICATE

Published exclusively in English. Contains a description of the object and the material identification result. Issued for Baltic amber and fossil resins worldwide.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    CERTIFICATE ISSUED FOR OTHER NATURAL RESINS:

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    EXAMINATION REPORT

    Issued in Polish or English for Baltic amber, fossil resins (ambers) from around the world, imitations, and forgeries.

     

                                                                        

     

    The description of the material is based on the CLASSIFICATION OF GEMSTONES FROM BALTIC AMBER. and is prepared by IAA AMBER APPRAISERS.

     

     

    Amber Origin Certificate - green certificate of origin

    The Amber Origin Certificate is a special certificate of amber origin, marked with a green stripe, issued by the IAA Amber Laboratory for items made from natural, unmodified Baltic amber. This certificate confirms that the raw amber was purchased transparently from a mine participating in the program and that it underwent double testing at the IAA Amber Laboratory – first as raw material and then as a finished product. The Amber Origin Certificate is available to amber craftsmen participating in the program and provides additional confirmation of the origin and authenticity of the Baltic amber used.

                                                                      
     

    Important information about multi-element products

    Multi-component objects of uniform color and degree of transparency, for which analysis reveals material modification, even in one element, are classified as modified Baltic amber.

    In the case of multi-component objects with varying degrees of color and transparency, the stones are described according to the CLASSIFICATION OF GEMSTONES FROM BALTIC AMBER.

     

    What are the steps of testing at the IAA Amber Laboratory?

    1. Contact and Determining the Scope of the Test

    The client contacts the IAA Amber Laboratory (by email, phone, or in person) and specifies the objects they wish to test and the required documentation (certificate or examination report).

    2. Delivery of Objects to the Laboratory

    Items for analysis can be delivered in person to the IAA office in Gdańsk or sent by post/courier to the Amber Laboratory address.

    International Amber Association

    IAA AMBER LABORATORY

    ul. Heweliusza 31

    80-861 Gdańsk

    POLAND

    All shipments must be insured for the duration of delivery to the IAA, the period the objects remain at the Laboratory, and the return to the client.

    3. Testing

    The Laboratory conducts macroscopic and microscopic evaluations in visible and ultraviolet light, followed by spectroscopic examinations in the mid-infrared range (FTIR) using an ATR attachment with a diamond crystal. Based on the recorded FTIR spectrum and microscopic observations, the type of material (Baltic amber, its modifications, other natural resins, or imitations) is identified.

    4. Results Processing and Document Issuance

    Wynik badań jest opracowywany w formie certyfikatu (w języku angielskim) lub świadectwa badania (w języku polskim lub angielskim). Dla bursztynu bałtyckiego zgodnie z klasyfikacją kamieni jubilerskich z bursztynu bałtyckiego przyjętą przez MSB. Dla innych materiałów zgodnie z nomenklaturą gemmologiczną i terminologią fachową.

    The test results are prepared in the form of a certificate (in English) or an examination report (in Polish or English). For Baltic amber, the CLASSIFICATION OF GEMSTONES FROM BALTIC AMBER is adopted. For other materials, the classification is in accordance with the gemological nomenclature and professional terminology.

    5. Registration in the Certificate Database

    Each certified product receives a unique number, which allows the authenticity of the document to be verified in the IAA online certificate database.

    6. Return of Objects to the Client

    After completion of testing and issuance of documents, the objects are returned to the client in an agreed-upon manner (personal collection or return shipment), in accordance with insurance policies.

     

    Expert consultations

    Within the scope of its experts’ competences, the IAA Amber Laboratory also provides expert consultations for individual clients and institutions, including scientific ones.

     

    Consultations may include, in particular:

    · risk assessment related to the purchase of collections or individual objects containing Baltic amber or other fossil resins,

    · initial verification of the authenticity of items and specimens before commissioning full laboratory testing,

    · interpretation of test results and classification of Baltic amber and other natural resin gemstones,

    · advice on preparing object descriptions for museums, auction houses, galleries, and private collections.

     

    If you have any questions regarding testing, the facility registration process, or the types of documents issued, please contact us. We will be happy to answer your questions, explain the testing process, and help you select the appropriate scope of services.
     

    Before using the service, please read the IAA AMBER LABORATORY REGULATIONS