I've read about amber washing up on the beaches after a storm. Several Questions: Is it easy to distinquish amber from the other stones that wash up? Has anyone had much luck finding pieces of amber? How do you clean it up to look like amber - stone tumbler or is amber too soft? Also interested in good amber museum exhibits. Thank you.
Posted by
Seattle, USA
990 posts
I've only been to the beach near Gdansk one afternoon, and saw no evidence of anything that looked like amber. At least to me, keeping in mind that I have no knowledge about semi-precious stones. Sounds, though, like you do. There is a nice exhibit of amber at Malbork Castle in Gdansk.
Posted by
Tulsa, OK
276 posts
The chances of finding amber on the beach are said to be better,as you said, after a storm, usually in the winter. Maybe September will be late enough in the year to find something. There's a more accessible beach to explore in Sopot which is a little resort town just a few miles up the coast from Gdansk. I didn't find anything, but I was there in early May a few years ago. As for an amber museum, I don't know of any, but St. Bridget's Church in Gdansk has an enormous amber alter.---If you love amber, you won't be disappointed in Poland; Gdansk, Krakow, and Warsaw all have amber, amber everywhere!