Featured Question about vintage plastic beaded necklaces

Hello,

I was wondering if plastic beaded necklaces like this have any value? I'm assuming they don't, but I have been suprised about the value of costume jewelry before. I know each of the necklaces are different styles, I just included them all since I have quite a few like this that I'm trying to sort through. If anyone has any info on these that would be very helpful.

Thanks for the help!

 

Have you tested any of them ? The second and the third look like they might be amber..

 

No, I haven't. I believe they are all plastic because they are not cold to the touch like gemstones would be. I think the first three are just designed to look like stones.

 

Nice vintage amber



Last one, not so sure...

 

Amber is not cold to the touch like a gemstone, it kind of feels like plastic .. I'm pretty sure the second one is amber too.. you can test it with an UV flashlight..

 

Oh I see. For some reason I assumed all gems were cold to the touch. The necklace is pretty light in weight, it's only about 37 grams. At least I thought that seemed light which also made me think it was plastic. I have a UV light, so I will see if there is a reaction. Thank you!

 

Salt Water Test for Amber Necklace - It Floats!
Collectors Weekly

 

but I have been surprised about the value of costume jewelry before...

as well you should !!

All the above are very wearable......& the warm amber...even more so against m'Ladies soft skin !!!

 

At least two of those are amber. The chip one isn't of huge value, but they all want a UV light on them. I don't like the salt water test, it can demolish old thread.

 

Sorry, which necklace are you talking about when you mention the chip one?

 

Second photo, the knotted ones without a clasp. Those look Baltic amber.

I think the only one that isn't is that swirled bead one.

 

I'm with the others, the 2nd and 3rd are amber. Worth testing the others as well.
I agree with the salt water test being potentially harmful to old thread, but you can start with a UV light test. A simple small UV flashlight works.
And in no time you will be another forum member who tests anything they can get their hands on with a UV light in the dark. Closet testers, the lot of them.

 

LOL!

 

The last one looks like old glass. If touched to your face it should be cold.

 

Maybe it had a fault line when it was created?
Definitely repair!. Maybe ask on the scary vintage jewellery restore & repair FB page about glue. I'd worry I'd melt it with some glues.

 

Amber is an organic gem, like coral, ivory and pearls.

Geology.com
Amber
Ammolite
Ammonite
Coral
Crinoids
Dinosaur Bone
Fossilized Coral and Bryozoans
Ivory
Jet
Mary Ellen Jasper
Mother of Pearl
Opalized Wood
Peanut Wood
Pearls
Petrified Palm
Petrified Wood
Sand Dollar
Turritella Agate

Good point

 

The first one looks like restrung old glass beads. The second and third are most likely amber. The third is a lot newer and may well be acrylic or glass. I do have some carved beads that are probably amber, but the're different.

 

They do look like glass beads, but they are room temperature and they feel like plastic

 

I'm going to have to get a proper UV flashlight. I tried to test the necklaces with a LED plant light I have, but I don't think it emits enough UV light for me to determine anything. I have heard of using UV lights to test other gems, such as rubies, so it will be good to have on hand