Maya Ellison
Amber is a captivating and unique stone that has been admired for centuries, but its popularity has also led to the creation of imitation jewellery. With so many substitutes on the market, it can be challenging to distinguish real amber from fake amber, especially since some plastic imitations closely resemble amber in appearance. However, there are several tests that can help you determine whether your amber is genuine or not. So, does real amber feel like plastic? Let's find out.
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What You'll Learn
Real amber is lightweight and slightly warm to the touch
Fake amber, on the other hand, is often made of glass, which is harder, cooler, and heavier than real amber. Some fakes are made of plastic or synthetic resins, which can be identified by their uniform appearance and lack of natural variations. These imitations may also feel colder to the touch compared to genuine amber.
One way to test for plastic fakes is to insert a hot needle into the object. If it is plastic, it will melt, whereas real amber will begin to crack. Another test is to rub the amber vigorously between your hands until it becomes warm, then smell it. Genuine amber should give off a faint, pine-like resinous smell due to the friction and heat produced.
It is important to be cautious when performing these tests, as some plastic imitations can also float in saltwater, and the hot needle test may destroy small amber beads completely.
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Fake amber made of glass is harder, cooler, and heavier
There are several other ways to differentiate real amber from fake amber made of glass. Firstly, genuine amber comes in a range of colours, including shades of yellow, orange, brown, green, and blue. It often contains natural inclusions, such as small plant fragments or insects, that are trapped inside. These inclusions give amber its unique beauty and serve as a sign of authenticity. Fake amber made of glass, on the other hand, tends to have a higher level of clarity and uniformity, lacking the natural imperfections and inclusions found in genuine amber.
Another way to test for authenticity is to examine the hardness of the amber. Genuine amber is relatively soft and can be scratched by metal, whereas glass is harder and more resistant to scratching. A simple test to determine the hardness of the amber is to rub it vigorously between your hands and then smell it. Genuine amber will emit a faint, pine-like resinous smell due to the friction and heat produced, while fake amber made of glass will not have this scent.
Additionally, real amber is buoyant in saltwater. You can prepare a saltwater solution by dissolving salt in water (about 1 part salt to 2 parts water) and then dropping the amber into the solution. If it floats, there is a good chance it is real amber. However, it is important to note that some plastic imitations can also float, so this test should be used in conjunction with other methods.
Finally, when placed under a UV lamp, genuine amber will fluoresce and appear as a blue or green colour. Fake amber made of glass will not show the same colour under UV light, making it possible to distinguish it from real amber.
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Amber is buoyant in saltwater
While real amber can sometimes feel like plastic, it has several unique characteristics that differentiate it from plastic fakes. Firstly, genuine amber is lightweight and slightly warm to the touch, whereas plastic imitations are often heavier and cooler. Secondly, when rubbed between the palms or against the skin, real amber emits a pine-like scent due to the friction-induced heating effect. This distinctive smell is absent in plastic fakes. Additionally, when a hot needle is inserted into plastic, it melts, whereas real amber will crack.
One distinctive feature of amber is its buoyancy in saltwater. Authentic amber will always float in saltwater due to its low density, making it a simple method to identify real amber. To perform this test, prepare a saltwater solution by dissolving salt in water, with a ratio of about 1 part salt to 2 parts water. Drop the amber piece into the solution, and if it floats, it is likely to be real amber. However, it is important to note that some plastic imitations can also float, so this test should be used alongside other methods for more accurate results.
The saltwater buoyancy test is often employed in amber mining and harvesting. It involves pumping salty ocean water into the sand, loosening the soil, and allowing the amber to float to the surface. This technique demonstrates the practical application of amber's unique buoyancy properties in saltwater.
Additionally, the buoyancy of amber in saltwater can be attributed to its chemical composition and physical characteristics. Amber, also known as fossilized tree resin, has undergone millions of years of underground maturation. This process, coupled with its specific chemical composition, results in a material with a density lower than that of saltwater, causing it to float.
To summarize, while real amber may sometimes feel like plastic, it can be distinguished through its warmth, weight, scent, and buoyancy in saltwater. The saltwater float test, in particular, is a simple and effective method to identify real amber, although combining it with other tests is recommended for conclusive results.
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Natural amber has small bubbles in its microscopic structure
Natural amber is fossilized tree resin. It is organic, like petrified wood or dinosaur bones, but unlike those substances, it retains its chemical composition over time. It is formed from the abnormal development of resin in living trees, a condition known as succinosis.
The presence of these bubbles can be used to distinguish natural amber from plastic imitations. One test involves inserting a hot needle into the object in question. If it is plastic, it will melt, but if it is made of real amber, it will crack. However, this test should not be performed on small amber beads, as they may be destroyed.
Other methods for distinguishing real amber from plastic fakes include the smell test and the saltwater float test. When rubbed vigorously between the hands, genuine amber emits a faint pine-like resinous smell due to the friction and resulting heat. Additionally, since amber is less dense than water, with a specific gravity ranging from 1.04 to 1.10, it will float in a saltwater solution (made with about one part salt to two parts water). However, some plastic imitations can also float in saltwater, so this test should be used in conjunction with other methods.
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Genuine amber has a smooth, polished surface
Amber is a captivating substance that has attracted people for centuries. However, its popularity has also led to the creation of imitation materials that mimic its appearance, making it essential to distinguish genuine amber from fakes.
One of the key indicators of genuine amber is its smooth, polished surface. Authentic amber should have a sleek and refined texture, free from any roughness or unevenness. This polished quality is a result of the natural ageing process that occurs over millions of years, contributing to its unique characteristics.
The smooth surface of genuine amber stands in contrast to some common substitutes, such as copal, a younger form of resin that has not fully fossilized. Copal may resemble genuine amber but lacks the extensive ageing process, resulting in a softer, stickier feel. Plastic and synthetic resins, often used as imitations, can also differ in texture, sometimes giving off a plastic-like sensation.
It's important to note that while a smooth, polished surface is characteristic of genuine amber, it's not the sole determining factor. Visual qualities, weight, and other tests can also provide valuable insights. Genuine amber can exhibit a range of colours, from shades of yellow, orange, and brown to even green or blue. Inclusions, such as small plant or insect fragments, are also telltale signs of authenticity.
Additionally, genuine amber is relatively soft and lightweight, contributing to its overall tactile experience. It is recommended to perform a combination of tests, such as the saltwater test, the hot needle test, and assessing its scent, to comprehensively determine the authenticity of amber.
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Frequently asked questions
Real amber is relatively soft and warm to the touch, whereas plastic imitations are hard solids with a cool feel. Genuine amber is also lightweight, so if your jewellery feels heavy, it may not be real.
One way is to perform a saltwater test. Amber should float in a saltwater solution, but be aware that some plastics will also float. Another method is to rub the amber between your hands until it's warm and then smell it—real amber should have a pine-like scent.
Inserting a hot needle into amber will make it crack, whereas plastic will melt. However, this test may destroy small amber beads.
Genuine amber comes in shades of yellow, orange, brown, green, or blue. It often has small imperfections on its surface, like tiny cracks or bubbles. It may also have natural inclusions, such as small plant fragments or insects, trapped inside.
