Hold a piece of amber up to the light and you may notice tiny specks, wisps, bubbles or cloudy areas inside it. These details are often called inclusions. They can give an amber bead a distinctive appearance, but they also raise questions: What are they? Are they flaws? And do they prove that the amber is real?
Amber began as tree resin
Amber formed from ancient tree resin. As the sticky resin flowed, it could enclose tiny particles from its surroundings. Over a very long time the resin hardened and became amber, preserving some of those details within it. That is why two beads can share a similar colour while looking quite different when viewed closely.
What might you see inside amber?
Tiny bubbles are common. Many small bubbles together can give amber a cloudy or milky appearance rather than a clear one.
Plant fragments and organic debris may appear as threads, flecks or darker shapes. In some specimens, a leaf, flower part or other recognisable plant material is preserved.
Insects and other small animals can occur, but they are not present in every piece of amber. A dark speck in a jewellery photo should not be described as an insect unless it has actually been identified.
Are inclusions defects?
That depends on the piece and on what you enjoy. Some customers prefer clear amber that lets light shine through. Others like cloudy textures or visible fragments that make a stone feel individual. Collectors may value a clearly identifiable plant or animal inclusion, but a piece does not need one to be attractive jewellery.
At shavys.be we recommend looking at the close-up photographs of the particular necklace or bracelet. Compare its colour, transparency, bead shape and visible details as a whole. Natural-looking variation is part of the appeal.
A closer look makes every piece more interesting
Whether you love clear golden amber or a bead full of tiny visual details, inclusions invite you to slow down and look closely. They can tell part of amber's story and make one piece stand apart from another. The best choice is the piece whose colour, form and visible character you enjoy wearing.
Explore shavys.be amber jewellery and use each product's photographs and measurements to choose the style that suits you.