I’m cornfused! Catalin or amber or both? Faturan?

Hi guys,

I thought this was catalin but now I see what looks like amber thingies in it. It does kinda react to UV and the simichrome test. I think this is older or close to antique. Did they mix amber and catalin to make jewelry? Is this faturan? I’m reading up a bit but there are some conflicting posts out there

Thank you

 

Faturan is a fantasy
Reconstituted amber

 

Lol. That doesn’t help me any. I’m more cornfused now

 

I like it for amber...

 

Ok, 1 vote amber. Ty!

 

I get it. You think reconstituted amber.

 

Treated or pressed amber. Very nice too, and probably Baltic.
With reconstituted you see small fragments that are bonded together either by using heat and pressure, or by using artificial resin.

 

Faturan is a type of phenolic acid based early plastic, just like Bakelite is.
It was first developed in Germany by Fritz Traun.
But it is more well-known in Turkey and the Middle East, where chemists made their own phenolic mixes, often with the addition of either Bakelite, amber, or incense.
Which is why you are more likely to find faturan in Turkish or Middle Eastern items.

 

The clasp on this is common to bakelite and real amber pieces, so that's no help. I vote for some sort of messed-with amber too.

 

This is heat treated amber.
https://www.gia.edu/gems-gemology/summer-2014-wang-heat-treatment-of-baltic-amber

 

1. heat treated amber(cognac)
2. pressed amber(honey)
3.natural amber

 

Thank you everyone! Easing a few of the articles kinda left me with more questions than answers. I appreciate all the help