It is very difficult to recognize an original amber gemstone. This happens because the market is filled with various amber imitations that confuse buyers.

One of his numerous imitations is called ‘Amberdan’. It has properties quite close to natural gems. The way to test originality is when the stone is heated and gives off a certain smell. When the smell smells like a mixture of plastic and amber, it suggests that a natural resin has been mixed with a plastic binder.

Amber is often confused with copal. These two stones are composed of very similar materials with almost identical origins, making it difficult to identify the original amber. The main difference is that while copals are only a few hundred thousand years old, ambers are several million years old.

Another imitation found on the market is made of pressed amber or ‘ambroid’. This is created by fusing smaller pieces of the gem together under heat. This can be distinguished from the original gem when you examine it under a microscope.

Ancient techniques to identify this gem are still useful today. When rubbed hard on a piece of wool, it generates a static charge, which is enough to pick up a small piece of ash. When this gemstone is hot enough, it tends to give off a characteristic odor. These techniques will separate it from plastic imitations but will not distinguish it from copal.

Distinguishing this gem from copal is difficult. They share the same refractive index, specific gravity, and most other properties. However, Copal tends to fluoresce whiter than amber under ultraviolet light. Therefore, it is a judgment one must make based on having examined a sufficient number of samples to recognize the difference.

If one cannot make the distinction based on fluorescence, then one will have to resort to a destructive test. On an inconspicuous area of ​​the stone, place a drop of acetone. Let it sit for three seconds and then wipe it off. Copal will have surface damage from acetone, while amber will show little to no change from brief exposure.

Another easy method to separate this gemstone from its plastic imitations is with a specific gravity solution. Boil water and add as much salt as you can dissolve in it to create a handy test liquid. Most imitations will sink on this solution. This is because few plastics have a density as low as 1.05 and many can be less than amber if they have air bubbles inside. So if your sample sinks, you can be sure it’s not real. If it floats to you, you need to determine if it is plastic or amber.

There is another destructive test to separate the real amber from the fake ones. However, it must be done carefully. The best part is that it can be made almost invisible. Find a spot on the stone where a mark is as inconspicuous as possible. This can be on the edge, on the bottom, or in a scratched area. Next, heat the tip of a needle until it turns red. Touch the selected spot just enough to release a small puff of smoke. Now smell the smoke. If it is genuine amber, the smell is of fine incense. It is plastic if it is chemical and offensive. This is another reason to make your test on the smallest possible scale!

Another test to discover a false piece is to identify the inclusions of insects present in the stone. If one finds this stone that has an inclusion, say, a modern housefly, this can easily alert one to the fact that the stone may be fake. This is because the housefly did not exist millions of years ago, which means that the inclusion has been fused with the stone and the stone is not genuine.

With these tips and techniques, it will be easier for you to identify and spot a genuine amber gemstone among the fakes.