What is amber bakelite?

Answer 1

Amber Bakelite: Is the reproduction of true amber in a celluloid plastic: Plastics in some form or other have been used in jewelry for many years. Celluloid was the first known plastic, invented in 1868 by John Hyatt. Then in the first part of the 20th century, casein (made from a milk protein) came along. He found that once it was cast, it could not be melted. The Great Depression of the '30s occurred. Money was scarce; women were looking for an inexpensive way to refurbish their old wardrobe and give it a new look; bakelite was the answer. One could find this unique jewelry in almost any color: red, green, and butterscotch being the most common. Bakelite jewelry added a cheery note to a bleak time in our history. Bakelite was used to imitate tortoiseshell, amber, and even gemstones. It was dyed to imitate coral and looked so believable that it often has to be tested to tell the difference. Bakelite, as was mentioned earlier, was often used to imitate amber. A lot of jewelry on the market today that is thought of as amber is actually bakelite. The one conclusive test is hot needle test. When a red hot needle is placed on a piece of bakelite, the material will not be penetrated; whereas, true amber will melt and release a faint piney odor. This is a destructive test but when in doubt it is the only test I know that is accurate. If you must know, please find an inconspicuous place on the specimen to do your testing.