It came into the limelight after various colors of Bakelite were introduced in the market. Black Bakelite pieces often fail this test as well. This test works well with bangle bracelets that are made entirely of Bakelite and is a very good way to confirm a piece once you get it home. 1k. Some involve intricate carvings, overdyes, and laminates or inserts that were never seen in the past. It’s important to know different ways to identify Bakelite jewelry, so … I've been a collector of Bakelite for a few years and I love my beautiful collection dearly but I don't think I'd wear it at all if it weren't affordable in my neck of the woods. Now smell it. It could be Bakelite, a synthetic compound developed in 1907 by Leo Baekeland, a Belgian-American chemist. We’re here to help with that. There are online sellers who sell Bakelite testing pads that you can purchase and carry with you to test items before you purchase. I use the 409 method. Testing your plastic jewelry can involve a few different senses, including sight, smell, and feel. Costume jewelry is sometimes disregarded by jewelry lovers as lacking in quality, but even aficionados can appreciate the colorful forms of Bakelite jewelry.In fact, most vintage plastic jewelry is desirable because it reminds us of a time when jewelry designers really had fun – with motifs, colors, and bold styles.There's a whole world of vintage plastic beyond Bakelite… See them here.. Most of the early 19th century uses for Bakelite have fallen by the wayside, the demand for the vintage jewelry continues. To test with Simichrome, sparingly apply a dab of the cream to a soft cloth and gently rub a small spot on the inside or back of the item being tested. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. The best is yet to come! If not, it’s something else. Then, before it cools, take a whiff. Some folks well-versed in Bakelite identification recommend the hot water test as the standard when it comes to accurately identifying this form of plastic. Required fields are marked *. Bakelite is easy to identify because it has a slick-looking patina to the inner part of the bangle or on the back part of a brooch or piece. Identifying by Weight. Another way of identifying Bakelite is with Simichrome polish which is a pink polish made for cleaning metals. Identifying bakelite can be easy if you know what to look for. Until you get very comfortable identifying Bakelite, however, it's good to employ more than one of these tests. Home / Jewelry Articles & Information / How to Identify and Test Vintage Bakelite Jewelry Bakelite was developed in the early 1900s but didn’t hit its stride for jewelry manufacturing purposes until the late 1920s through the early 1940s, when both money and the metals normally used in jewelry … This very distinctive sound is often heard when two or more bangles made of this popular plastic are worn at the same time. As you mentioned, this method and the 409 method don’t always register a true result. However … Continue reading "How to Identify Bakelite … A distinct chemical odor similar to formaldehyde will linger with most genuine Bakelite. Rub your piece for a few seconds and take a look at your swab or rag. Pam, Vintage Renude. Carvings: Because Bakelite is so durable, it’s easy to carve into so don’t be surprised to find bangles and other jewelry … I’ve tried the hot water method but with seasonal allergies, I lost my smell! Browse free vintage patterns, retro hair tutorials and affordable vintage clothing. Use the other tests above, especially the hot water test, to confirm authenticity if a piece you strongly suspect to be Bakelite fails with 409. Also, look for tiny chips on the edges of carvings. Anyone who likes vintage jewelry knows the allure of Bakelite. There’s just something special about it, the colors, designs, feel, and that sound. Bakelite jewelry will generally make a deep clunking sound when tapped together, unlike any other jewelry. That wonderful clunky sound. A quick word about “fakelite”: There are many unscrupulous sellers out there passing off newly manufactured items that resemble Bakelite but are not. You can do a Google search for “Bakelite testing pads” to find out where to buy. It is a bit pricey but will last for a very long time. Bakelite is developed by the Belgian-American chemist Leo Baekeland in Yonkers, New York, in 1907. I have also read about and heard that the Original Formula 409 spray cleaner works similarly to Simichrome polish. With plenty of reproductions on the market, it's wise to learn various methods to identify Bakelite rather than finding out afterward that you have made a costly mistake. So this one is going to be a bit of a learning curve. If wood is present, it's best to stick to other methods of testing only the Bakelite portion of the piece—avoid immersing it in hot water. These true artisans create both new and old designs of such high quality, they are well worth the price and will retain their value over time. Again, more testing will be required to confirm, but this is another good test to know when out shopping in the field. Some older plastics like celluloid are very flammable, and a hot pin can be dangerous to not only the plastic but to you as well. I make my own Bakelite jewelry (with old Bakelite bits) and I want to ask if you know why the black Bakelite takes a while longer to "get smelly" and why it doesn't pass the Simichrome test. The first two pictures are of the same bracelet before and after being professionally polished. But, there are some Bakelite items that will not test positive with Simichrome. Here’s an in-depth article titled  “Is it Bakelite?”  from Real or Repro, an informative resource offered by RubyLane. Generally, an old piece of Bakelite will exhibit some minor scratching and wear, even though it is in excellent condition by a collector's standards and may be quite valuable. Rub the item in question vigorously with your thumb until you feel the plastic heat up. Although sellers want us to think that Bakelite … The heat from the water releases the formaldehyde-like scent of Bakelite. Value of Old Plastic Jewelry With some practice, you'll learn to use all your senses to correctly identify Bakelite. Similar to Bakelite, another popular mid-century resin material, it's become collectible in recent years. However, there are many fabulous new items made to look like vintage bakelite. If it’s true Bakelite it should have a somewhat sweet old chemical smell to it similar to formaldehyde. Get DIY project ideas and easy-to-follow crafts to help you spruce up your space. The new batch of Bakelite colors captured the imagination of more and more jewelry … Etsy has a surprisingly good range of Art Deco furniture, interior decor, art and prints, 1920s and 1930s fashion, accessories, jewellery and Bakelite… Learn the history of and how to identify vintage plastics such as bakelite, lucite, celluloid, and catalin jewelry, accessories, handbags, purses, pins, bangles, bracelets, necklaces, and more in the Collectics Reference & Education Program. It's one of the first plastics made from formaldehyde resin. The first quick thing to look for: Bakelite will never have mold or form markings on it. Anyone who likes vintage jewelry knows the allure of Bakelite. Just because your item isn’t Bakelite doesn’t mean it isn’t vintage or a worthwhile purchase. Many types of plastic and resin have distinct smells. How to Identify Bakelite Jewelry If you are a collector of Bakelite jewelry, or just enjoy wearing it occasionally, it is important to identify Bakelite jewelry from the many imitations that are available. There is something magical about Bakelite. 10 More Vintage Words Used to Describe Antiques and Vintage, Things We Liked This Week (7/8/18 – 7/14/18), 6 Fabulous Ideas for Repurposing Vintage Doilies, 10 Ways to Celebrate the Holidays in a Pandemic, How to Use Vintage Christmas Decor Safely, Vintage Christmas Linens: Collecting, Using and Caring for them, Found Vintage Story: Antique Sleigh Bells. First, Bakelite and most of the other early plastics have a noticeable density and heft. That wonderful clunky sound. Look for wear like scratches and patina that new pieces of plastic don't normally exhibit. Bakelite feels heavier when compared to some other types of plastics, like celluloid as one example. But while this has proven an effective method of at-home testing, most consumers trying to verify vintage items don't have access to hot water when making buying decisions in the middle of a flea market. We buy and sell Shultz bakelite bangles, necklaces, bracelets and brooches. If a piece is lacquered, it may test negative with 409. And thanks for the reminder about the seam. Bakelite was very rarely molded into individual pieces of finished jewelry. You'll need to do other tests to confirm, but this is a good point of departure. However, old Bakelite jewelry is still quite sought-after, and a lot of collectors are willing to pay large sums for the old, retro designs before the middle of the 20 th century.. That’s so both because of the novelty factor of it and the idea of collecting something with so much history in it, as well as the fact that Bakelite jewelry … Again, you may need to employ more than one test to rule out a false positive (or negative) result. Wholesale Bakelite gemstone jewelry. If a piece is lacquered, it may test negative. There are a number of wonderfully talented artists using old bakelite stock to create new items. Your email address will not be published. However, pieces purchased at antique stores or estate sales are usually in vintage styles and easy to identify when compared with modern jewelry … I've tried to get an answer in my books about Bakelite jewelry … You can also use it to test Bakelite for authenticity, and this is the preferred method for many plastics collectors (although others prefer the hot water test mentioned above). Bakelite or its cousin, Catalin, was used for lots more than jewelry. You can identify from the sound whether the piece you are buying is original or not. Consider the weight of a piece of plastic jewelry. Great article! One of the famous designers who made use of this is Coco Chanel. Is the area yellow? Run the piece under hot tap water. I’ll have to try the hot water method. Pamela is an antique expert and the author of three books on the subject. Lucite is still used today in the production of some jewelry. Black Bakelite pieces often fail this test as well. Use all your senses in concert to help you determine whether or not an object you are examining is Bakelite. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Bakelite jewelry became especially popular in the 1930’s and 1940’s, after a wider assortment of colors was introduced. In this method, the piece of plastic is placed under very hot running tap water. In the first half of the 20th century, Bakelite was used widely for game pieces, billiard balls, phones, jewelry, buttons and more. Identifying Bakelite Smell: Experienced collectors can identify Bakelite … Curious about a flea market find? IN your first two pictures at the top, are these different bracelets? Look at my collections of Bakelite Jewelry and learn more. How to Identify and Price Vintage Bakelite Jewelry. Bakelite or its cousin, Catalin, was used for lots more than jewelry. As I have not personally tried it, it’s not something I can vouch for. This particular bracelet did turn out to be real Bakelite, with a 1998 retail value of $300 to $500. Buyer beware. Try gently tapping two pieces of another type of plastic together, and compare the sound to two pieces of true Bakelite the next time you're out shopping where this type of plastic is on display. Weight: Bakelite is lightweight, so anything heavy should raise a red flag. Hi Mary Ellen, You will often notice the heavier feel of Bakelite. How to you test if something is bakelite jewelry or buttons? If a seller is honest about what they are selling, I find no reason not to enjoy these new products. A word of caution: avoid using the "hot pin" test, where a pin or needle warmed by a heat source is pressed into the plastic item. Love learning about how to test for it. Bakelite jewelry… With pieces like the clip shown here, the wood may be damaged and discolored if it gets wet. It can be purchased online and it works well as a way to test most Bakelite. Look at the gorgeous Bakelite Jewelry on Etsy! Hold another type of plastic you have identified in one hand, and a piece you know to be Bakelite of approximately the same size in the other. Bakelite Handled Flatware This post contains affiliate links. Bakelite can also be tested using the “hot water” method. The later development of other plastics makes it sometimes hard to tell at first glance if an object is made from Bakelite or not. These include newly polished or made items that do not have an aged patina, items that have been overdyed, and some black or red Bakelite items. Black jewelry most likely made of one of the following: plastic, glass, stone, jet, gutta-percha, crepe stone, bog oak, and bakelite… We’re here to help with that. These easy-to-stow pads provide a similar result to Simichrome or the 409 method mentioned below, and have proven to be quite reliable. Identifying what the black material is can make a big difference in determining when it was made and how much it could be worth. Bakelite was discovered in 1909 by a New York chemist Belgian-born Dr. Leo Hendrik Baekeland. 1–24 of 285 items. If it is Bakelite, the swab will turn yellow. One way to start learning about Bakelite identification is listening for the familiar "clunk" when two pieces you know to be Bakelite are tapped together. There are many ways to test valuable Bakelite pieces, and several of them require using only your senses. Following up with the hot water test when you get home is an option to consider. Enjoy diy fashion crafts and classic style inspiration. Shultz bakelite Jewelry. There are two simple ways to tell a vintage piece from a later copy. Click here for extra reference information about Shultz bakelite. Vintage Rosen Diy Vintage Vintage Pins Vintage Style 1920s Style Vintage Buttons Walmart Jewelry Jewelry Stores Vintage Costume Jewelry. What's the Difference Between Bakelite and Catalin? Simichrome Polish is a non-abrasive cream formulated to clean metals. Which brings us to that eternal vintage jewelry lover’s question: how do you tell if it’s Bakelite, “fakelite”, or something else altogether? If it is Bakelite, the cloth should turn yellow with ease (although the color may vary from light to dark). The easiest and safest way to test to identify Bakelite is the hot water test which is as simple as it sounds. valuable plastic jewelry. Bakelite is an item a jewelry collector should keep an eye out for considering how prices have risen over the last few decades. Widely considered the first synthetic plastic, Bakelite items are a hot commodity today among collectors of vintage jewelry and mechanical parts. Authentic bakelite jewelry can sell for thousands of dollars, so it's important you learn how to tell the difference between genuine and imposter plastic jewelry. The great majority of Bakelite jewelry was made by hand from stock shapes of raw material. How to test for Bakelite plastic. There are a few simple tests that can answer your question. If you feel a line running around the center of a bangle, it is not Bakelite. It was originally created for use in the industrial world. Griswold Cast Iron Cleaning and Seasoning, Classifying Antique, Vintage, and Collectible Jewelry, Action Figure Repair: Reshaping Bent Plastic, 11 Tips for Keeping Embroidery Clean and Protected, How to Do a Fabric Burn Test to Identify Fibers, Vintage Kitchen Tools and Gadgets as Collectibles, Top 4 Coin Grading and Authentication Services. She taught me to see the beauty in everyday items made to last. Vintage Bakelite earrings today. Photo credit: Vintage Jewelry Online What are some identifying features? Scrubbing Bubbles was once the standard cleaner to use for Bakelite testing, but Formula 409 is now recommended instead. Article by Va-Voom Vintage. I use LA’s Totally Awesome Cleaner (from the Dollar Store). Identifying bakelite isn’t hard although it takes a bit of learning. If you love vintage and love living the vintage lifestyle, you’re in the right place. Black material is can make a deep clunking sound when tapped together unlike... 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