Amber Necklace

Amber or not?
Few other questions. Can someone explain which amber is expensive and which one is not? I see some pieces selling for thousand of dollars and then other described as "genuine" for dirty cheap. Does it depend on the quality of the beads, color, region ( where else besides Baltic sea), size etc.. I know the authentic one with the insects are quite expensive.
I guess age is difficult to determine. A lot of sellers describe pieces as "antique amber ......". Can amber be not antique? To be amber, the tree sap has to be 50 million years old anyway. And how do you tell amber from the younger copal?

Thanks

 

Who and how figured that your amber was exactly 43 mil years old? Must be an expensive piece with the insect inside?
Single bead would float in salt water but how about a whole necklace? How many spoons of salt?

 

I've heard that a good test is to rub to see if static electricity results.
Here's a good article with info, and mention of the difference between copal and amber.
I wouldn't try any of the more destructive tests though.
http://www.dragonflyamber.com/choosing_amber/pop_how_to_identify_real_amber.html

 

the whole necklace will float if amber.
If you are going to list on ebay, do the salt and fresh water tests, the static test and the acetone (nail polish remover test) and mention those tests in your listing.

 

Does the old amber HAVE to have insects inside??

 

Not at all. That depends on whether any insects were in the path of (and got caught in) the tree resin .... at least that's how I understand it.

 

Hmmmmm....but the necklace I have from my Mom doesn't look at all like the one shown here....will have to dig it out and check...if I even still have it!!! Great info to check on it!!!

 

True amber will produce static electricity when rubbed with silk, floats and also gives a hazy blue veil under UV light. HOWEVER the same applies to reconstituted amber which is bits put together.

The stunningly expensive stuff is butterscotch amber in proper bead form. It can go for tens of thousands, as it's sought after in China and the Middle East. I sold a very small necklace for almost four hundred pounds. A friend fished out a very battered old one and I got six hundred for that.

The first post here shows a necklace of Baltic amber polished chips. Value is about twenty to forty pounds here. Very recent.

 

Thanks for the info.
How an amber chip can be recent as amber is ancient in nature? I guess you mean like recently polished?
Also, how can you tell Baltic from other amber?

 

Reconstituted isn't always bad, if it's marked as such. It's pretty tricky to insert whole insects without it being obvious.

 

I know almost nothing about amber but my mother had the pictured piece's and when she passed away in 1999 it came to me, according to her she had it for years and had got it from her mother. There seems to be a lack of interest in amber anymore or perhaps I'm mistaken. In any case I would love someone's opinion on this and any additional info you can give. (Btw the clasp and beads are 14k)

 

I think antique vs. modern means when the beads were made rather than referring to the amber itself. The same would be true of gemstone beads.

I have nice, large amber beads I bought in the early or mid-70s when a lot of trade beads and amber were being imported into the U.S. Not sure where they are, though. One of these days they'll turn up and then I'll be able to sell them.