Chloe Zhang
Amber is a natural resin that has existed for millions of years and is made from the resin of pine trees. It has a deep yellow colour and a waxy shine. However, with the market being flooded with fake amber, it can be challenging to distinguish real amber from imitations made of materials such as casein, celluloid, copal, glass, kauri gum, plastic, and phenolic resin. To verify real amber, several tests can be performed, including visual inspection for imperfections, the saltwater float test, the hot needle test, and the rubbing test. These tests exploit the unique properties of amber, such as its warmth, electrostatic behaviour, buoyancy, and distinct pine-tree resin scent.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Visual Inspection | Real amber beads tend to have a unique appearance with imperfections such as tiny cracks or small air bubbles. Beads should vary slightly in size and shape, which is usually not perfectly round. Amber has a waxy, not glossy, shine. |
| Touch | Amber is slightly warm and lightweight to the touch. It is relatively soft and can be scratched with metal. Fakes are often cooler, harder, and have a plastic feel. |
| Float Test | Real amber will float in a saturated salt water solution, while most fakes will sink. |
| Rubbing Test | Real amber has electrostatic properties and will pick up tiny paper pieces or dust when rubbed with a cloth due to its ability to generate static electricity. |
| Smell | Amber has a distinct pine tree resin smell when heated. Fakes may smell like burnt plastic or fresh pine (Copal). |
| Hot Needle Test | When a hot needle is inserted into real amber, it will only penetrate slightly and leave cracks. Fakes will allow the needle to go in very easily and may melt. |
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What You'll Learn
- The Hot Needle test: Heat a needle and push it against the stone. Genuine amber will smell like pine tree resin
- The Salt Water test: Amber should float in saltwater
- The Rubbing test: Amber has electrostatic properties, so it can pick up small pieces of paper or dust when charged
- Visual inspection: Look for imperfections like tiny cracks or air bubbles. Beads should vary slightly in size and shape
- Touch: Amber is usually warm to the touch
The Hot Needle test: Heat a needle and push it against the stone. Genuine amber will smell like pine tree resin
The Hot Needle test is a well-known method for verifying the authenticity of amber. It is a simple test that can be performed at home, but it may leave a small mark on the gemstone. To conduct the test, heat the needle until it is red hot and then push it against the stone. If the needle only goes in slightly and leaves cracks behind, it is likely real amber. Genuine amber will also give off a smell similar to pine tree resin or an old pungent tree. Fake amber, on the other hand, will allow the needle to go in very easily, and the smell produced will be that of plastic or fresh pine, indicating the presence of Copal, a natural resin similar to amber.
It is important to note that this test may not be suitable for expensive amber stones or jewellery as it can potentially damage the gemstone. In such cases, it is recommended to choose safer tests that do not leave marks or a more complex laboratory test such as Infrared Spectroscopy (IRS).
Additionally, there are other tests that can be performed to identify real amber, such as the Salt Water test, the Rubbing test, and the Scratch test. The Salt Water test involves dissolving salt in water and observing whether the amber floats, which genuine amber should do. The Rubbing test utilises the electrostatic properties of amber, which allow it to pick up tiny paper pieces or dust when sufficiently charged. The Scratch test involves scratching the surface of the amber with a metal object, as real amber is soft enough to show scratches.
When trying to identify real amber, it is also important to inspect its visual characteristics. Real amber beads tend to have unique appearances with imperfections such as tiny cracks or small air bubbles. The beads should vary slightly in size and shape, usually not perfectly round. Additionally, genuine amber tends to feel slightly warm to the touch, which is uncommon in most fakes.
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The Salt Water test: Amber should float in saltwater
The saltwater test is a well-known method for verifying the authenticity of amber. This test is based on the unique property of real amber to float in saltwater. To conduct this test, you will need a cup of water, salt, and the amber gemstone or jewellery you want to test.
Firstly, prepare the saltwater solution by adding salt to the water. The general recommendation is to use seven teaspoons of salt for every cup of water. Stir the solution until the salt is fully dissolved. It is important to use enough salt to create a saturated solution, as this will ensure accurate results.
Once the saltwater solution is ready, carefully add your amber specimen to it. Genuine amber should float easily in the saltwater, while most fakes will sink rapidly. This test is particularly useful for loose amber beads or gemstones. However, it may not be suitable for testing jewellery with metal or other components, as these additional elements can affect the buoyancy of the amber.
It is important to note that some varieties of plastic may also float in saltwater, so this test is not always definitive. To increase the accuracy of the test, it is recommended to chill the saltwater solution before adding the amber. Additionally, ensure that you are only testing the amber itself and not any attached clasps, strings, or other materials that could impact the results.
While the saltwater test is a simple and non-destructive method for verifying amber, it is not the only test available. Other tests, such as the hot needle test, the scratch test, and visual inspection, can also be used to differentiate real amber from fakes. These tests can help identify unique characteristics of amber, such as its warmth, imperfections, and the presence of succinic acid, which is known for its health benefits.
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The Rubbing test: Amber has electrostatic properties, so it can pick up small pieces of paper or dust when charged
One of the simplest ways to distinguish amber from plastic is to conduct a rubbing test. This test is based on the fact that amber has electrostatic properties due to its ability to gain electrons and acquire a negative charge when rubbed with specific materials, such as silk or wool. This phenomenon, known as triboelectricity, was first observed by Thales of Miletus around 600 BCE when he noticed that rubbing amber with wool made it attract bits of straw. The word "electric" itself is derived from the Greek word for amber, "elektron."
To perform the rubbing test, you will need your amber stone, a piece of cloth, and some small pieces of paper or dust. Start by wrapping the amber stone in the cloth and rubbing it gently for 20 to 60 seconds. This action will create friction and transfer charge from the cloth to the amber, giving it a static charge. Once you've sufficiently charged the amber, you can uncover it and observe its behaviour around the small pieces of paper or dust.
If the amber has been successfully charged, you should notice that it attracts the tiny paper pieces or dust particles. This attraction occurs because the amber has gained a negative charge, creating a polarised electric field that pulls the paper or dust towards it. The paper or dust particles, being neutral or positively charged, are attracted to the negatively charged amber. This behaviour is a strong indication that the stone is made of real amber, as plastic or other imitation materials are unlikely to exhibit such electrostatic properties.
It is important to note that the rubbing test may not always be definitive, and combining it with other tests can provide more conclusive results. For example, the saltwater test, where you float the amber in a saturated salt water solution, can also help distinguish real amber from plastic, as genuine amber will typically float due to its lower density. Additionally, visual inspection for imperfections like tiny cracks or small air bubbles and the hot needle test, where a heated needle is pressed against the stone, can further validate the authenticity of amber.
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Visual inspection: Look for imperfections like tiny cracks or air bubbles. Beads should vary slightly in size and shape
One of the first things you can do when testing amber is to inspect it visually. Real amber beads tend to be unique in their appearance, so you should look out for imperfections such as tiny cracks or small air bubbles. Beads should vary slightly in size and shape—they should not always be perfectly round.
When you touch amber, it tends to be a little warm, which is usually not the case with fakes. Genuine amber is also relatively soft, whereas most fakes are either hard solids or have a plastic feel to them. If you press small beads between your thumb and index finger and they feel hard, they are probably not real amber.
Another visual test is to use a UV lamp. Amber has a kind of blue or green colour when placed under a UV light, so if your amber piece shows up as another colour, it is not likely to be real amber.
You can also look out for other visual clues that suggest the amber might be fake. For example, if the beads are all exactly the same shape and size, or if they are perfectly round, they are more likely to be made of glass or plastic.
If you see insects inside the amber, be aware that these could be fakes. Genuine insects in real amber appear black and are never colourful. Some may also be covered with a white residue.
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Touch: Amber is usually warm to the touch
One of the most important senses we have is touch, and it can be used to differentiate real amber from plastic. Amber is usually warm to the touch, whereas plastic imitations are often cool. Genuine amber is also relatively soft, whereas plastic fakes are typically hard solids.
When it comes to the feel of amber, it is often described as having a wax-like shine, rather than a glossy shine. This is a subtle distinction but an important one. The warmth of amber is due to its chemical composition and the fact that it has been underground for millions of years.
Another simple test that can be conducted, which involves touch, is the rubbing test. This is a simple and safe way to test for real amber. You can rub the amber with your hands or a cloth to generate heat and see if it emits a tree resin smell. This test also works because real amber has electrostatic properties, so after rubbing, it should pick up small pieces of paper or dust due to the static charge.
The hot needle test is another well-known method to test amber. This involves heating a needle and pushing it against the stone. If it is real amber, the needle will only go in slightly and leave cracks. However, this test is usually recommended for cheaper amber as it may leave a small mark. It is also important to note that this test should not be conducted on small beads as they may melt.
In summary, the sense of touch is an important tool in verifying real amber. The warmth, softness, and electrostatic properties of amber are all important factors in distinguishing it from plastic imitations.
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Frequently asked questions
Add seven teaspoons of salt to a cup of water and stir until it is fully dissolved. Place the amber into the saltwater solution. Real amber should float in this water easily while fakes will sink fast.
Heat a needle until it is glowing red and push it against the stone. If the needle goes in easily and the stone gives off a plastic smell, it is likely fake. Real amber will only allow the needle to go in slightly and will give off a pine tree resin smell.
Real amber beads tend to be unique in their appearance, so look for imperfections such as tiny cracks or small air bubbles. The beads should vary slightly in size and shape, and they should not be perfectly round. Real amber is also warm to the touch and has a wax-like shine.
Rub the amber with your hands or a cloth to produce heat and see if it emits a tree resin smell. Real amber has electrostatic properties, so it will pick up tiny paper pieces or dust when it is charged sufficiently.
