The Amber Guide
Have you ever found amber on the beach? If so, you're truly lucky! The Jewel of the Baltic, as this unique gemstone of plant origin is often called, is becoming increasingly rare to find during a walk along the shore. In Gdańsk, the amber capital, you can discover it in galleries and jewelry stalls, in museums, and even… in a unique Alba1913 cosmetic product.
The name Gold of the Baltic, another popular term for amber, comes from the stone's honey-colored appearance. The ancient Greeks believed that this fossilized resin from coniferous trees was formed from the tears of the daughters of Helios, the sun god. The Chinese regarded amber as the fourth attribute of Buddha and continue to appreciate its healing properties to this day. The Slavs called amber "jantar" and used it to make amulets, believing that wearing them could improve one's well-being.
We recommend three places in Gdańsk where you can discover the beauty and versatility of amber:
Amber Museum in Gdańsk
Undoubtedly, one of the city's true gems is the newly opened Amber Museum (16 Wielkie Młyny Street). A walk through the three floors of its spiral gallery will take approximately an hour (or probably much longer if you're fascinated by amber!).
The circular corridors take you on a journey through history, starting at the very beginning. They transport you 40 million years into the past, when the areas of present-day Scandinavia and the Baltic Sea were covered with amber forests, consisting of various species of coniferous trees, including pines.
The exhibition leads visitors through a gallery of natural amber formations recovered from the Baltic Sea and explores their presence in art. Amber has inspired the creation of religious objects, decorative boxes, cabinets, chessboards and, of course, the jewelry mentioned earlier!
Mariacka Street in Gdańsk
Gdańsk has long been known for its numerous artisan workshops creating artistic amber jewelry and exporting it around the world. If you're searching for exquisite amber treasures, head to the Amber Fifth Avenue, which includes Mariacka Street, Długa Street and Długie Pobrzeże.
Prisma SPA at PURO Gdańsk
After immersing yourself in the fascinating world of amber, be sure to discover its beauty benefits at Prisma SPA in the PURO Hotel (26 Stągiewna Street), just a few turns away.
Our mechanical facial scrub, "Velvety Polisher," is used there during facial treatments. The main ingredient responsible for its "sandy" texture is amber dust! It is nothing more than finely ground Baltic amber.
But why amber?
When developing the product's formula, we wanted its ingredients to be as natural and environmentally friendly as possible. Amber, like pearls and coral, belongs to the group of organic gemstones.
Interestingly, it is also a natural exfoliating ingredient of plant origin. Amber particles are naturally gently rounded, allowing them to delicately exfoliate the facial skin without causing micro-injuries!
This characteristic of amber was particularly important to us. We wanted exfoliation with "Velvety Polisher" to be as comfortable as possible and suitable even for sensitive skin.
Every piece of amber, formed millions of years ago, captivates with its natural beauty. In Alba1913 cosmetics, its purpose is to care for yours.
There is one more feature that reveals the Baltic treasure "hidden" inside our mechanical facial scrub. You'll notice it the moment you first unscrew the glass jar – the natural scent of pine resin, a distinctive characteristic of genuine Baltic amber.
And if you still haven't had enough amber, there's only one thing left to do – ask at the SPA reception for a glass jar of amber dust and take a little piece of the Baltic home with you!
