Purpose. Development of an algorithm for the formation of price-lists for raw amber, taking into account its individual consumer characteristics, which is based on the principle of inheritance of properties. Methodology. In the course of the study, general scientific and special research methods were used: analytical, dialectical, comparative-evaluative, gemmological-economic, comparative-legal, systemic-structural. The main part of the work is based on the practical results of previous studies and expert assessments. Findings. A critical analysis of modern gemmological terminology, which is used in the geological, mineralogical and expert-evaluative study on the individual characteristics of raw amber samples, is carried out, and its content has a direct impact on its further pricing. The specifics of the relationship between the raw, appraisal and consumer amber markets, the subjective features of the gemmological interests of the manufacturer (seller), expert (appraiser) and consumer (buyer) are disclosed. The authors’ method of establishing the relationship of individual consumer characteristics between raw materials and products is proposed, which is based on the principle of inheritance of decorative, geometric and weight characteristics of raw amber. The concept of “individual consumer characteristics of amber” is formulated. Originality. An algorithm for the formation of price-lists for raw amber has been developed, taking into account the individual consumer characteristics of samples, which is based on the principle of inheritance of amber properties formulated by the authors, according to which its natural decorative characteristics are related to direct criteria for evaluating amber, whereas the transformable geometric and weight characteristics of samples are indirect. Practical value. The practical significance of the results obtained lies in the fact that they can be used in research and educational activities by scientists and applicants of higher education, business and financial-and-economic activities of subjects of gemmological relations, law-making and law enforcement activities of public authorities in the process of improving national legislation.

Analysis of existing systems for expert grading of amber samples showed that their main disadvantages are, in general, consideration of only standard quality criteria  (weight, colour, inclusions), as well as the lack of evaluation of rare and unique samples. Today in Ukraine there is, in fact, a state monopoly of pricing in the form of an official price-list for raw amber, developed by the State Gemmological Center based on the global market prices. The authors believe that this document does not fully take into account the costs associated with exploration, mining and taxation on the amber market. This deprives the direct users of the amber-bearing areas themselves of the opportunity to determine the criteria for the quality of rough amber and to develop the corresponding price lists. The created method of gemmological-consumer indicators allows for a transparent and understandable formation of the cost of individual amber samples. The value of raw amber determined in this way corresponds to the consumer values of the product, not taking into account processing costs. The sum of consumer properties of amber in items (shape, size, colour, transparency, presence of inclusions, quality of processing – polishing, artistry, etc.) is taken into account, thus satisfying the physiological and aesthetic needs of consumers for the product. To make the consumer properties of amber identifiable, it is necessary to provide the sample with a marketable condition. The criteria for the quality of amber in products have been developed. It is shown that each type of product is characterized by a set of properties that are criteria for product quality. In fact, this is a tool with which one can determine the type of product in the raw material, having previously determined its quality. Comparing the obtained data on the quality of raw materials with the criteria for the quality of products, it is possible to predict the type of product. The operation of the technique is illustrated by examples of two samples of amber containing inclusions. A method for determining the cost of individual samples of amber has been developed, the essence of which is the sequential fixation of gemmological and consumer properties of the sample with their subsequent transformation into an alphanumeric code, the total value of which forms an individual indicator of the sample (a set of individual qualities of the sample), which correlates with its cost. During the expert assessment of rare and unique samples of amber, their scientific, collection, aesthetic and artistic features must additionally be taken into account, establishing the uniqueness of these objects of examination. The method is designed for the symbiosis of individual natural (gemmological) parameters of the sample (size, beauty, presence of inclusion) with a set of consumer properties: shape, size, weight, colour, transparency, fracturing, presence of inclusion, presence of inclusions, polishability, value for science, collection, artistry, etc. The method covers the entire life cycle of amber from raw material to the final product, for which the sample is chosen as optimal in terms of economic, technological and gemmological-consumer indicators.