The reigning gem of summertime, amber preserves evidence of extinct life, presenting us with history, magic and decorative appeal.

The resin that millions of years ago oozed out of conifers in the Baltic countries and leguminous plants in Santo Domingo captured insects, leaves and other organic fragments in its passage. As geological time progressed it fossilized and was transformed into amber, a solid and translucent material, ranging in color from pale yellow to reddish brown, and prized as a real gemstone. For some, its fascination lies in the evidence of primordial life (insects, spiders, tiny reptiles, flowers, pollen) it preserves in its inclusions. For others, and for most women, its most alluring aspects are color, size and the fact that it is warm to the touch. Its characteristic sun-drenched nuances make it the reigning stone of summertime. It's not surprising that amber is widely used for jewelry, with increasingly imaginative solutions. Besides the "classic" long necklace with irregular boules that Ambra Greco offers in a rare and mysterious blue shade, there are also multicolor combinations with gold and hard stones or an eye-catching fashion mix, such as Leaderline's shell pendant.