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Home > Amber > 6 Ways to Tell if amber is Real

6 Ways to Tell if amber is Real

In the current market, materials such as Glass, copal, and plastic are often mislabeled as amber. It's wise to purchase from reputable retailers and, if feasible, request a certificate from a gem testing laboratory. Here are some handy tips to help you initially discern the authenticity of amber.

1. Check the Origin

When buying Amber, ask the seller about its source. Baltic Sea, Dominican Republic, Italy, Myanmar, Peru, and Russia are the primary suppliers of Amber on the market. Additionally, Mexico also produces Amber, but in smaller quantities. If it's from Indonesia, it's most likely copal resin.

2. Inspect the Inclusions

Real: The insects in real Amber are often incomplete and distorted because of attempts to escape from resin.
Fake: The insects in real Amber are usually perfect and clear.

3. Static Electricity Test

Real: Real Amber can generate a static charge strong enough to interact with hair after being rubbed on a piece of wool.
Fake: Fake Amber stays inert with hair after being rubbed on a piece of wool.

4. Weigh in the hand

The density of real Amber is much lower than that of fake Amber made of glass. When held in the hand, real Amber will feel noticeably light.

5. Hot Needle Test

Pressing a heated needle against real Amber will emit a pleasant pine scent, but plastic-made fake Amber will emit a "burnt plastic" smell. Please note that this test is destructive and may cause irreversible changes to the appearance of the stone.

6. Hardness Test

Real: Real Amber can be scratched by a copper penny.
Fake: Fake Amber made from glass cannot be scratched by a copper penny.
Amber
Amber
, also known as Lynx-Stone, Glessum, Ambroite, Allingite
Scientific name: Amber
Description
Description
Amber is a fossilized or semi-fossilized resin generated from the trees. Though ambers could date from hundreds of million years ago while some copal only has a history of a few thousands of years, they share a very similar appearance. It is an important gemstone since antiquity. The ones with insects or other animals/plants preserved would have a higher value.
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