Can you tell me what type of stone this is? Amber?
Hello! Can someone tell me what type of stone this is? Amber? This is a vintage necklace I received from an 80 yr old woman. I believe the necklace was her mother's. I think it's amber, but not certain. The large beads are 1 1/4" wide. Most of the beads are opaque with swirls or cloudier areas, but many have transparent areas. I thought amber was all transparent. Any thoughts? Thanks for any replies. 🙂
28 comments
frommichel
·3 years agoHello. This appears to be butterscotch amber from the Mediterranean area. This amber is rarely transparent unless it was heat treated (a few tiny transparent spots such as your beads have is perfectly normal for naturally mined untreated amber). Heat treatment makes amber transparent and evenly colored. Butterscotch amber does not usually contain fossils, but sometimes they do. The dark flecks in a few of your beads could be ancient particles of dirt, insects, plant matter, who knows - put them under a microscope or magnifying glass to see if you can identify anything.
The amber from Mexico or Sumatra is often much more transparent than the butterscotch variety.
The value depends completely on who is looking at it. Some folks go nuts for the butterscotch and some for the other varieties. Amber valuation is strongly subject to personal preferences.
Looks like a very pretty necklace - I hope you find a few tiny fossils in the beads - enjoy!
idealgems1
·3 years agoKeep in mind that gemologists like myself are taught that fluorescence is never a definitive test for anything. It is an indicator test; albeit sometimes a strong indicator. This is because imitations, simulated, and synthetic gems can also fluoresce a wide range of colors in various strengths, depending on how they are formulated. Also, there is a range of fluorescence for natural stones depending on trace elements and other factors in the location of the gem's formation.
So, use the fluorescence along with all of your other observations, and let the sum of those lead you to the conclusion.
auntiekittys
·3 years agoBeautiful necklace...just send that over to me and I'll keep it in my jewelry box, you know, for "safe keeping." 😄
I'm going to repeat the suggestion of using a black light, over the other tests, especially a hot needle, which can damage the piece. A small, black light is very inexpensive and a handy thing to have in your jewelry arsenal. The amber will glow from turquoise to florescent green/yellow. It's very obvious.
idealgems1
·3 years agoAll you ever wanted to know about blue fluorescent amber; ha ha!
Color Phenomena of Blue Amber | Gems & Gemology (gia.edu)
silverstatetreasureboxes
·3 years ago@idealgems1
Thank you for that link!
idealgems1
·3 years agoThe hot point test that I suggested is a destructive test because it will burn a tiny little spot on the amber. The specific gravity is low on amber, so yes, amber will float in a super saturated salt solution...as will anything with a specific gravity less than the solution. You would have to unstring and restring the beads in order to do it correctly, though.
Sorry if you thought that I was criticizing your suggested test. I was saying to be careful if you used the hot point test that I suggested.
Using magnification is indeed helpful; the inclusions in natural amber are all organic, and may even include insects. Also, disc-like lily pad type inclusions and small cracks are common as the amber dries and hardens over time. But reconstituted amber has similar inclusions (but is typically not as transparent as natural amber). Clever people can create similar inclusions in simulated amber in an effort to deceive, though, so you have to take all tests and observations together in order to arrive at your conclusion.
silverstatetreasureboxes
·3 years ago@idealgems1
Yes, agree. I did the blacklight on my large amber ring ( that I do know it's genuine) and it glowed a bright yellow florescent color almost a lime/ yellow, it was wild. So I heard that it can also change bright blue florescent ( amber) why is that I wonder?
idealgems1
·3 years agolacemaker3 is right. Reconstituted amber is always a possibility, and it will pass the hot point test.
lacemaker3
·3 years agoWhat kind of clasp does this have? I can't see any clasp in the first picture.
It doesn't look like it's long enough to go over the head without a clasp, and if it's a vintage or antique piece it would have a visible clasp, and would probably be strung with hand-made knots between each bead.
lacemaker3
·3 years agoJust FYI.
These very regular, large, oval, graduated beads, are fairly typical of reconstituted amber. Made of small chips of amber so they pass most tests for "real" amber, but are much less valuable. I saw a fair number of these pieces in the 1990s and 2000s. The varying color between the beads, and the lack of knots between them also suggest reconstituted amber.
https://gem-a.com/gem-hub/gem-knowledge/amber-how-to-identify-early-and-current-reconstructed-pieces
idealgems1
·3 years agoIt is a destructive test so you need to be careful, but a more definitive test is a hot point. Pick an inconspicuous spot on a bead where there is already a flaw. Heat up a needle point under a flame and gently touch it to a bead. A bit of smoke will puff out of the bead; take a sniff.
A lovely pinelike fragrance indicates amber. Acridic smell indicates plastic.
silverstatetreasureboxes
·3 years agosilverstatetreasureboxes
·3 years ago@clearskyauctions
Oh my! Looks like amber to me..could be butterscotch amber. Now here's a few examples I located:
 this one they are calling butterscotch amber ( antique status) also listing price is 9k.
 this one is called berber, I think they're pricing is coming up short.
Read all you can get a hold of on different types of Amber and colors, I think the age and quality of yours could bring in good money. Excellent find!
silverstatetreasureboxes
·3 years ago@clearskyauctions
Here's a quick test to check
 
clearskyauctions
OP3 years agoExcellent! I never knew there was an amber test until bonjourami mentioned it. I just tried the bakelite hot pin test and got no formaldehyde smell, so I think that's out for sure. Thanks for sending me the amber test instrux. You people are amazing! ðŸ˜
bonjourami
·3 years agoWow thats great!!! When are you going to list it?
clearskyauctions
OP3 years agoI'll need to research a bit more. Hopefully, within the week. Thanks very much for your help.
silverstatetreasureboxes
·3 years ago@clearskyauctions
Me and @bonjourami are both nurses, we know every test!
Your welcome sweetie!
clearskyauctions
OP3 years agoI love nurses! They are better than doctors in my book by far! Thank you for your patience with Covid and seeing it through to the other side. I'm sure it was incredibly difficult. ðŸ™
bonjourami
·3 years agoMany thanks for that!!
clearskyauctions
OP3 years agoYesssss! That's got to be it. Looks identical to mine, which is definitely antique. I'm guessing over 115 yrs. old or so. VERY interesting. Thank you so much for posting those photos! I'll do more research and see what else I come up with.
silverstatetreasureboxes
·3 years ago@clearskyauctions
Since Bon talked about Bakelite, here is a way to test it. And you can buy it on ebay.
 buy some of this, rub it on a spot of suspected bakelite with a cloth ( tiny spot) if the cloth turns like a nicotine color look it's positive for Bakelite.
Thank you for the nice things about Nurses, I started young and did my 30 yrs 2014.
Best, Silver
clearskyauctions
OP3 years agoSounds good. I think I may have some Simichrome in my jewelry cleaning box. I forgot about that test. Thanks again and have a good evening.
bonjourami
·3 years agoI wonder about Bakelite too..lots of helpful people in here, good luck!
clearskyauctions
OP3 years agoThanks very much! Brain fog sure stinks, doesn't it?
There are quite a few cracks and there is a bubble. I wonder if the surface holes could have been popped/broken bubbles. We shall see what the masses suggest. ðŸ˜
bonjourami
·3 years agoEither way..this is a great necklace...
clearskyauctions
OP3 years agoThank you. The original owner had SO much high quality jewelry, I was drooling when I saw it. Her husband bought most of it and the daughter-in-law, who I'm selling it for, never wore any of it. In fact, she stored it in a wet basement with car parts!!! 😩 People are funny.
bonjourami
·3 years agoWowser, a treasure trove!!