Will Seippel | May 2, 2025

When you’ve been in the business as long as I have, you start thinking you’ve seen it all, and then something that’s unlike anything else comes in. A large piece of amber is being auctioned by Karats, and estimates show that it is perhaps the largest specimen of translucent gem-grade amber in existence. It weighs 107.40 pounds and fluoresces to blue/violet under black light. Many amber specimens, especially the larger ones, have deep cracks and fissures and can be cloudy. This one, aptly named “Heaven’s Flame,” has a degree of visual clarity not seen in any other recently auctioned pieces. 

The amber piece is even an anomaly within the auction since it is not related to most of the other items. The Cindy Cash Collection includes hundreds of items from Cindy’s collection of memorabilia from her father, Johnny Cash’s career. The amber was not owned by Cash but is definitely adding to the star power of this auction.

It’s not uncommon for auctions to include “comps” or similar items sold by collectors and others, but almost no pieces even close to this one. 

So how did Johnny Cash’s personal items end up at an auction in Minnesota? In a news article, James Egge, the owner of Karats, said that he came across two diamond and gemstone rings that were connected to Cash. Egge started looking into them, and that’s how he and Cindy Cash connected to create this auction—almost as if they “fell into” it.

This auction will be one to watch between this rare example of amber and the other impressive items from Cindy Cash’s life with music icon and father, Johnny Cash.