Amber is a gemstone that has a warm golden-yellow or orange-brown color. But is it considered a red or a brown? The answer is not so straightforward, as amber can exhibit shades ranging from light yellow to deep orange-red. Determining whether amber is classified as a red or brown depends on several factors. In this article, we’ll explore the science, history and common perceptions around amber’s color to answer the question – is amber a red or a brown?
The Science of Amber’s Color
Amber is fossilized tree resin that is millions of years old. The soft, sticky tree resin oozed out of ancient coniferous trees and eventually hardened into a polymer substance we now call amber. Amber’s distinctive warm golden colors come from chemical changes that occurred as the resin fossilized over eons.
The main chemical responsible for amber’s range of yellow to orange-red hues is an organic compound called trans-abscisic alcohol. This alcohol has light-absorbing properties that make amber appear yellow to red when viewed in white light. The greater the concentration of this compound, the redder the amber’s color.
Other factors like impurities and structural defects in the amber also tune its precise shade. For example, sulfur compounds produce deep oranges and cloudy opaque amber. Overall, the relative concentration of trans-abscisic alcohols compared to other trace compounds determines where amber falls along the yellow-to-red color spectrum.
Amber’s Color Range
Amber ranges from pale lemon yellow through golden orange to deep cherry red. Here is a summary of amber’s diverse color varieties:
Yellow Amber
– Buttery yellow
– Lemon yellow
– Golden yellow
– Honey yellow
These ambers contain more yellow pigments than red ones. They transmit more green and yellow light compared to red frequencies.
Orange Amber
– Light orange
– Golden orange
– Red-orange
Orange amber has an even mix of yellow and red compounds. It absorbs more blue light while transmitting red and green frequencies.
Red Amber
– Ruby amber
– Cherry amber
– Deep red-orange
Red amber has a high concentration of red pigments like trans-abscisic acid. It strongly absorbs green light while letting more red light pass through.
Amber Color Analysis
Here is a table summarizing the light absorption properties across amber’s color spectrum:
| Amber Variety | Absorbed Light Frequencies | Transmitted Light Frequencies |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | Violet, Blue | Green, Yellow, Orange, Red |
| Orange | Violet, Blue, Some Green | Yellow, Orange, Red |
| Red | Violet, Blue, Green | Orange, Red |
This table shows that red amber absorbs the most light frequencies, especially green, while transmitting warmer orange and red wavelengths. In contrast, yellow amber absorbs the least, mostly violet and some blue, passing more light overall.
Amber in History and Culture
Historically, amber has been perceived as both a red and brown gemstone.
Amber as Red
In ancient times, amber was associated with the warmth of red. Greek writers described amber as having an erythros or “red” color. This stemmed from how translucent red amber resembles ruby. The Chinese also viewed red as the color of life force and paired amber with their vermilion red pigment in art.
Amber as Brown
During the Renaissance and Baroque periods in Europe, amber became fashionable in jewelry. Gem cutters would skillfully shape opaque amber nodules that highlighted amber’s warm brown tones. Writers like Shakespeare coined phrases like “amber brown” that cemented amber as a brown gem in many people’s minds.
So whether amber was considered a red or brown depended on the cultural context and which amber varieties were most familiar. Both views have validity when considering amber’s diverse color range.
Is Amber Scientifically a Red or Brown?
From a technical perspective, amber spans a continuum between yellow, orange and red. But is it scientifically classified as a reddish color or brownish one?
Characteristics of Red
Reds are colors at the long wavelength end of the visible spectrum, around 700 nm. They exhibit:
– Warm undertones
– High light absorption in the green wavelengths
– Low absorption of red light
Characteristics of Brown
Browns are composite neutral colors made by mixing reds, yellows and blacks. They exhibit:
– Muted dark tones
– Absorption of some violet, blue and green wavelengths
– Transmission of yellow, orange and red light
Comparing these properties, translucent red amber scientifically aligns more closely with red while opaque brown amber fits better as a brown:
– Red amber absorbs green light and transmits orange/red wavelengths.
– Brown amber mildly absorbs some blue and green, passing yellow, orange and red undertones.
So from a physics perspective, amber is both a red and brown gemstone, spanning the spectrum between the two.
Common Perception of Amber as Red or Brown
What about the average person’s perception of amber – is it seen as red or brown?
Some surveys have tried to answer this by showing people different amber samples. The results show:
– Translucent orange-red amber is usually described as a red color.
– Opaque dark yellow-brown amber is overwhelmingly called brown.
– Lighter translucent yellow amber elicits more variable responses of yellow, orange or light brown.
So the strongest patterns are:
– Translucent ruby amber = red
– Opaque muddy amber = brown
– Lighter amber = yellow to light brown
But there are still many individual differences in how amber’s intermediateorange and yellow-brown hues are categorized as red, brown or orange.
Conclusion
In summary, amber straddles the line between red and brown due to its mix of yellow, orange and red compounds. Translucent ruby amber chemically and perceptually fits as a red while opaque muddy amber is universally seen as brown. But lighter yellow and orange amber elicits more variable categorization as red, orange, yellow or light brown. So in the end, whether amber is classified as a red or brown depends on the exact shade and viewer’s individual color interpretation. There is no single right answer across all types of amber. The question “is amber a red or brown?” is nuanced, situated in the eye of the beholder, and illuminated by understanding amber’s science and history.
