In the world of cultural playthings, there is a wealth of items with rich cultural significance. For instance, there is a plethora of knowledge and history concerning these playthings, as well as specialized terminology associated with them. These terms are not commonly heard or understood outside of this community, but to navigate within it, one must be familiar with them. Amber enthusiasts, in particular, have their own set of specialized jargon. If you do not understand these terms, you will not comprehend what sellers are saying, and you may be easily deceived. Today, we have compiled a list of specialized terminology related to amber to help you at least pretend to be an experienced player and avoid being tricked.
I. Terminology Related to Amber Characteristics: When referring to raw stones, it generally means natural amber that has not been polished or carved, and the skin has not been removed; it is also known as ‘naked stone’ in some places. Old Amber refers to amber that has been passed down and has a long history, which has developed a patina through handling. Cracks refer to the surface cracks of amber, a term also heard in the jade and jadeite communities.
Water head is a term used in the jadeite community to describe the purity, moisture, and translucence of amber. Patina refers to the oily oxide layer that forms on the surface of amber after long-term handling. Carving techniques include ‘intaglio’, which is a method where the design or text is carved out, creating a recessed pattern, and ‘relief’, which is the opposite, where the background is removed, and the design is raised.II. Terminology Related to Amber Transactions: ‘Picking up a bargain’ is a term used by all cultural plaything enthusiasts, referring to the purchase of very valuable natural amber at a low price. ‘Medicine’ refers to the purchase of worthless amber at a high price, or being deceived. ‘Open door’ means that the amber is clearly genuine, with very obvious characteristics. ‘Bugs’ here does not refer to insects but to one’s most prized possessions in their collection, the most satisfying items in the amber circle. ‘Banding’ refers to insisting on a high price and not lowering it during transactions. ‘Having a look’ is similar to ‘open door’, but with a difference; it means that one cannot immediately determine the authenticity at first glance and needs to take a closer look.
Have an expert take a look: Asking others to help examine amber or other items is called asking for an expert opinion.
Polishing amber: In the amber community, ‘polishing amber’ has a similar meaning to ‘polishing’, but it is not jade that is being polished. Instead, it refers to rubbing amber with hands or other parts of the body to allow oils to adhere to the amber and form a patina after oxidation. Repair: When amber cracks or breaks due to certain reasons and is restored by craftsmanship, it is called repair. Avoid: ‘Avoid’ means staying away from all amber’s natural enemies, such as hard objects, strong acidic liquids, and strong alkaline liquids. These are the three major categories of professional terminology related to amber. Some are common professional terms in the collectibles community, but when applied to amber, the meanings may be slightly different. Everyone should pay attention. After understanding these terms, when communicating with sellers, you will probably understand what they mean when they say certain things, and you will have a better understanding.