Interview: Director of ME “Volynpryrodresurs” Anatolii Kapustiuk Talks About Exclusive Amber Samples
The director of ME “Volynpryrodresurs” (VPR), Anatolii Kapustiuk, discussed exclusive samples of amber extracted – the rare stone “Heart of Volyn” and unique samples weighing over 500 grams.
ME “Volynpryrodresurs” conducts amber extraction within its licensed territories on a contractual basis. Almost 70% of Volyn amber is purchased by China, 24.4% by Poland, 2.2% by Lithuania, and 3.2% by Ukraine. To promote awareness of our stone abroad, the company initially held auctions at the start of its operations. Together with experts from the gemological center of the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine, the distribution of the stones into groups is carried out. The sale of all products from “VPR” undergoes customs control checks both within Ukraine and in Poland.
“We held auctions in the first two years of our activity to promote our stone, to show that it exists and can be purchased legally. We use the classifier from the gemological center of the Ministry of Finance and its prices, and when we put products up for auction, the value rarely increased compared to the price in the classifier.”
During the extraction of amber, exclusive specimens of this stone weighing over 500 grams are occasionally found. Each exclusive stone is individually assessed by a commission of experts from the gemological center. Currently, there are over 70 such exclusive amber specimens in storage, with a total weight of 53.332 kilograms. Among them is a rare white heart-shaped stone – a rarity even on a global scale. This stone has been symbolically named “Heart of Volyn.”
After large Chinese, Lithuanian, and Polish companies learned about the enterprise, they began to work with it through direct contracts. This made it possible to sell some items at prices higher than those listed in the gem center’s classifier.
“We sell some items even at prices higher than those specified in the classifier. We have approached the selection and sorting by quality groups very carefully. Our clients have noted this, and it is precisely because of this that they are willing to buy at prices higher than those specified in the classifier, as they clearly know that the stone is perfect. That is, if it is a certain quality group, then in this first or second group there will be no impurities from the third.”
The sale of all products by “VPR” goes through all customs control checks both within Ukraine and in Poland.
“All our amber, all boxes are weighed, all seals are checked to ensure they correspond to the labels and all documents. At a global level, our stones are already recognized, and this is positive.”
Together with experts from the State Gemological Center of Ukraine (SGCU), the distribution of stones into groups is carried out.
“This is a regular task, and it is the experts from the Gemological Center who issue conclusions for each batch of amber sent abroad, check the compliance of fractions, sorting by boxes, seals, and with this conclusion, the stone moves beyond the territory of Ukraine.”
During the extraction of amber, exclusive specimens of this stone weighing over 500 grams are occasionally found. Such amber is intentionally not sold by the company but accumulated.
“We sell amber in fractions from zero to three hundred - five hundred grams. Further fractions are divided into five hundred grams - one kilogram and one kilogram plus. The company intentionally does not sell the fraction over five hundred grams. Thus, all this exclusive stone is collected and stored.”
According to Anatolii Kapustiuk, each exclusive stone is evaluated separately by a commission of experts from the gemological center. They can even be given their own name, photographed, described, and a sort of passport is formed for them.
“Such stones are not evaluated by grams but are considered as individual creations of nature. All these large samples of amber are stored in boxes filled with water in the company’s vaults. When the stone was in clay, in the rock, it was preserved. We took it out into the open air, and if it just lies there, it may crack. For example, a stone weighing 800 grams may split and cease to be considered exclusive. That is why we provide special storage conditions for such specimens.”
In the storage, there are currently over 70 exclusive amber specimens, with a total weight of 49,539 kilograms. Among them is a rare white stone in the shape of a heart, symbolically named “Heart of Volyn.”
“It was mined more than a year and a half ago; it is a rarity even on a global scale. I also heard that black amber has been found in Rivne and Zhytomyr regions, but this is all at the level of rumors. We have never found black amber; they say it costs astronomical amounts. I have never seen such a stone in person.”
The plans of the enterprise “Volynpryrodresurs” included holding an auction for the exclusive stone in Kyiv, but the war got in the way.
“In spring 2022, we wanted to invite representatives from different countries and hold an auction for exclusive specimens, but then the war started. We do not abandon such plans; I think after victory we will definitely implement this idea.”
The enterprise also has an idea to display exclusive amber specimens at an appropriate exhibition.
“We want to show, for example, in which breeds it is found, what carbonized remains are in clays, make cuts, that is, something like an exhibition museum. This will be interesting and educational both for the citizens of Ukraine and for delegations from other countries.”
SOURCE: Волинська Служба Новин