Amber is a precious stone formed over 50 million years ago. Therefore, its cost is quite high. This stone has a warm honey hue. But modern technology allows you to make his likeness. How to distinguish amber from a fake? The most popular methods are presented in the article.
Today, there are a lot of deposits of natural amber. But unscrupulous manufacturers still fake it with different methods. Imitation of amber is performed using the following materials.
Resin
Resin of different tree species is often given as a natural stone. Such an imitation is softer than a natural gem. Fresh resin has a light aroma of needles. Amber can smell like this, but after being set on fire or rubbed hard.
If you consider a resin fake in the sun, it will have a uniform structure. And any stone that grows over the centuries has layered inclusions.
Copal
This is the resin of coniferous trees, which is not 100thousand years. Compared to it, amber is ancient - it is several million years old. But a well-made fake is almost indistinguishable from a real product. Even experts visually do not distinguish fake. Melting is used for this.
Kauri
This name refers to the type of tree from which the resin is extracted to fake the gem. Qualitatively processed resin is externally similar to natural stone, but it does not have the necessary hardness. Cowries are not suitable for making jewelry. It is used in furniture making.
Plastics
Artificial stone made of plastic is more attractive in appearance, besides, it is similar in appearance to the original. Imitation has a uniform color and a uniform structure, which is not the case with natural amber. Finding plastic is easy. You need to take a stone in your hand. The fake has almost no weight.
Glass
Often this material is also used to imitate amber. The samples have a noticeable similarity. Amber made of glass is distinguishable by hardness. The gem is easy to scratch, and it takes effort to leave a mark on a fake.
Pressed amber
This is the same amber, but of poor quality. For manufacturing, waste and small particles that have no value are used. The properties of the pressed stone are different. It has small bubbles that highlight color unevenness and low transparency.
Bernite
Material includes polyester resin. In appearance, it is indistinguishable from natural stone. For maximumeffect in imitation of artificial defects are performed. Bernite fakes are often used as independent jewelry.
Types of stone
There are several types of amber:
- Succinite. It is also called B altic amber. This is the most common type of mineral. It makes up to 98% of the goods on the market. Other resins are amber-like, but no less original.
- Glessit. This is an opaque type of amber that has a brown tint.
- Bockerite. Such a mineral is opaque and elastic, it has a dark color.
- Gedanite. This is waxy yellow amber.
- Stantienite. Amber has a black color, it is a fragile type of mineral.
The stone is distinguishable by shape, color, transparency. Sizes can be small from 1 mm to specimens weighing several kilograms, but usually they are 0.2-0.3 kg. The cloudier the amber, the lower its price. It is necessary to purchase mineral products in specialized stores. This will make it more likely that you have purchased a real stone. In addition, there is a variety of types of jewelry.
How to distinguish amber from a fake? The simplest methods are visual. They are just used in the store when buying goods. The most popular are described below.
Deposit
The B altic coast is the leader in stone mining. High-quality and fine minerals are mined there, usually in large quantities. Amber is exported by Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, Poland. There are deposits in Burma, France, Germany, Holland,Czech Republic.
The largest pieces of 5-15 kg found off the coast of the B altic Sea. In the village of Yantarny there is up to 80% of the world's mineral we alth. The second location is on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. In Russia, amber is found in Siberia and Kamchatka. All types of mined stone are valuable.
Appearance
When viewed in the light, blotches, smudges inside and a heterogeneous structure will be noticeable. The bubbles inside the stone should have a spherical shape. This means that the mineral has such a high density that the air freezes in it. There may be insects in amber, but they are found in both versions. These types of stone are especially in demand.
The availability should be in doubt:
- even and geometrically correct pattern;
- clots of paint and glitter inside;
- bright and rich color.
The natural mineral has a muted color that has a richness of shades. This is what distinguishes it from a fake. Therefore, it is important to carefully look at the goods before buying, whether it be amber earrings or bracelets.
Cost
Amber will not have a low value. This is especially true for products based on a large and rare type of regular-shaped stone. The long time of formation has affected the power and magical properties, so the gem is currently highly valued.
Inclusions
Earlier, insects in amber, as well as fragments of plants and animals, helped to verify the authenticity. But now this feature is easily faked. Inclusionssignificantly increase the price of the sample, so you need to carefully consider it. Insects should have a natural look, as if they are trying to get out. In imitation, on the contrary, they are placed dead, as evidenced by their position.
Home Methods
In the store, the seller will not allow scratching or melting the goods. It will be much easier to check the authenticity of the mineral at home. The simplest method involves the use of a knife or blade. A scratch is made on an inconspicuous area.
Natural stone is painted into small fragments, and only shavings will be from plastic. There are other methods to distinguish amber from a fake that are easy to use at home.
S alt water to identify real stone
How to check the authenticity of amber with s alt water? A natural mineral is able to sink in ordinary water, but if it is s alted, then some stones float. This is due to the density of real amber - 1.05-1.3 g cm3. S alt solution has a density of up to 1.1972 g cm3. By physical properties, dense specimens will sink. Therefore, the verification is performed in a different way. This test is suitable for uncut stone and decorative jewelry.
Verification is performed in the following way:
- You will need a glass of water.
- Add s alt to it - 8-10 tsp.
- The solution should be stirred.
- A stone is lowered into it.
- Evaluation required.
- The mineral is extracted and washed in fresh water.
Fake amber is sinking. Testallows you to distinguish imitations of glass, bakelite, resin and burnite. The pressed version and copal float just like natural minerals.
Electrification
How to distinguish amber from a fake in this way? A natural mineral is charged with a negative charge by rubbing it against wool or silk. After the procedure, the gem must be attached to pieces of paper. If the amber is real, then they will stick to it.
Some plastics can be charged this way, but not as much as a natural mineral does. The method allows you to install fake stones without electrification properties. This is another method to reveal the copal imitation.
Smell while melting
When the stone is rubbed against textiles or the palm, its temperature rises. A slight aroma of turpentine or pine comes from it. Synthetic fakes emit an unpleasant chemical smell.
If the amber is exposed to the red-hot end of the needle, then there will be white smoke and the aroma of rosin. Depending on the type of natural mineral, the smell may differ. Imitation is capable of emitting a chemical scent.
Chemical reagents
Natural mineral tolerates short-term exposure to solvent or alcohol. The plastic fake is starting to break down. Reagents spoil products from copal. The surface of pressed amber will be sticky after rubbing with ether. It is undesirable to act with reagents on a natural stone for more than 3 seconds. Due to long contact, stains form on the surface.
Ultraviolet
How to check amber with ultraviolet light? Natural stone responds to this lamp. It will exhibit different levels of luminescence depending on the shade of amber:
- A bluish glow appears on the transparent.
- And on smoky - blend blue.
The lower the transparency, the less pronounced the glow effect. Ultraviolet allows you to detect watery structure and banded transitions.
Where is the stone used?
Amber is actively used in jewelry. Not only jewelry is made from it, but also purses, watches, cigarette cases, chess, chests and other products. Rings, bracelets and earrings with amber are great for festive occasions. All you have to do is choose the right accessory.
Amber in silver and gold is in demand. It can be various decorations that differ in design, style, size. Amber rings and bracelets can be sold separately or as a set.
Jewellery waste is used in the chemical industry. Small particles serve to create succinic acid, which is used in various areas of people's lives. For example, amber is used to make clear varnish for furniture.
Amber is an excellent binder for sandpaper. Varnish is treated with wood so that it is protected from moisture and other external influences. This was especially used during the construction of ships. Today, musical instruments are varnished to extend their life.
Amber is also used in the medical field. Heprotects against the development of bacteria and prevents blood clotting. Therefore, on its basis, containers are made for operating rooms. In ancient times, it was used to mummify bodies. But the main sphere of use still remains jewelry. Today they make beautiful bracelets, rings and earrings made of amber.
Choice
To choose high-quality jewelry, whether it be rings, earrings or bracelets made of amber, some subtleties should be taken into account. The most expensive is a rich reddish mineral. It may also have a green or blue tint.
It is important that there are no inclusions inside, except for stuck insects. In this case, the stone should be transparent, and the insect is clearly visible in the center of the mineral. The best is natural amber with a good cut and large size.
Bracelets, rings, earrings with amber must be chosen taking into account the purity of the mineral. This indicator is set subjectively. Various experts distinguish different types and levels of purity. Usually guided by the following information:
- In the Middle East, an opaque mineral is one of the most valuable and expensive. But in the West they don't think so.
- There may be natural inclusions in the stone, but they do not make the stone more valuable. It is advisable to choose a saturated color, you can interspersed.
- Pure stone is quality. When amber is transparent, you need to check that it is real.
- There may be a valuable inclusion in the stone when 2 large insects are present. If they are clearly visible, the price of the mineral can be muchtimes higher.
Amber in silver and gold can be both natural and fake. In addition to these metals, others are used to create jewelry. An important point in determining the value of a mineral is color. A light yellow or slightly yellowish stone has a minimum value. Reddish golden color, blue, green shades are more expensive.
Amber is an ancient mineral. Since ancient times, it was believed that it was frozen honey or petrified mountain oil. The gem has incredible power accumulated over many years. You should know how to distinguish amber in order to purchase a real stone.
