Share your favorites on Show & Tell

Baltic amber beads?

In Fine Jewelry > Amber Jewelry > Show & Tell and Gemstones > Amber > Show & Tell.
fleafinder's loves321 of 2467Empire Air Force Jeep For GI Joe and Big Jim 1973Moire Glaze Small Tray from Pasadena
12
Love it
0
Like it

GillianGillian loves this.
fleafinderfleafinder loves this.
vetraio50vetraio50 loves this.
Hel1Hel1 loves this.
pebblepebble loves this.
racer4fourracer4four loves this.
ZillaZilla loves this.
auraaura loves this.
kyratangokyratango loves this.
EfesgirlEfesgirl loves this.
martikamartika loves this.
See 10 more
Add to collection

    Please create an account, or Log in here

    If you don't have an account, create one here.


    Create a Show & TellReport as inappropriate


    Posted 8 years ago

    honeybaby2…
    (1 item)

    Just received these beads as a gift from my mother in law. They are not new by any means. I am wondering if they are coral or Baltic amber? I tried the hot pin test - and there was no smell. I tried the static test - I rubbed one of the beads vigorously on a soft fabric and there was no static but also no smell and no sign of stickiness or tackiness. The other test I read about is taking a knife and testing if it chips or slices. If it chips, I think it is amber and if it slices then it's copal. So for this test, instead of using a knife I examined the head holes which had some chips at the edges, like a glass might look if it was chipped, there was a shinier surface where the chip happened - but this is a one millimeter chip I'm talking about - and I'm no expert so who knows.

    So curious if these are amber! My hunch says they are amber but again I really have no idea. Any thoughts about these tests?

    Many of the beads are half opaque butterscotch/egg yolk and the other half is more translucent. They really are beautiful no matter what they actually are! I'm going to restring them and wear them myself while I figure out if they are copal or amber.

    Unsolved Mystery

    Help us close this case. Add your knowledge below.

    logo
    Amber Jewelry
    See all
    Vintage 14ct Rose Gold Baltic Amber Ring - Soviet Era Hallmark, 3gm, Bold Design
    Vintage 14ct Rose Gold Baltic Amber...
    $109
    Baltic Amber Gemstone Handmade 925 Sterling Silver Vintage Pendant Jewelry
    Baltic Amber Gemstone Handmade 925 ...
    $19
    Estate 14K Yellow Gold Natural Orange Imperial Topaz And Diamond Ring 0.20 Cts
    Estate 14K Yellow Gold Natural Oran...
    $77
    BEAUTIFUL LARGE STERLING SILVER CARNELIAN CHINESE PANEL LINK BRACELET AMAZING
    BEAUTIFUL LARGE STERLING SILVER CAR...
    $39
    logo
    Vintage 14ct Rose Gold Baltic Amber Ring - Soviet Era Hallmark, 3gm, Bold Design
    Vintage 14ct Rose Gold Baltic Amber...
    $109
    See all

    Comments

    1. honeybaby2017, 8 years ago
      I will try the salt water test and report back here! Thank you so much for your reply Valentino! I did put them in graduated order and strung them up on a cord but nothing fancy. I will post another picture:)
    2. honeybaby2017, 8 years ago
      Just posted a photo of the beads strung. Going to see my Mother in law this weekend and will ask her where she got them! Stay tuned! :)
    3. honeybaby2017, 8 years ago
      Don't know why the color is so different. Same camera, same beads. Perhaps the wood table and gloomy day drabbed the color out, while the beads in a pile in the white box created color saturation? Whatever the reason, I think they are closer to the color in the strung necklace image but I will doublechexk. Going to sleep now! Thanks everyone for looking and liking and reading!
    4. honeybaby2017, 8 years ago
      So she says she got them as a gift from a friend in Warsaw, Poland. She said whenever they saw each other (irregularly) he would bring her a necklace, so she has several of them!

    Want to post a comment?

    Create an account or login in order to post a comment.