Bakelite jewelry

Author: Jack Black

Would you know how to spot a genuine piece of Bakelite jewelry? Many people are not familiar with Bakelite jewelry, and it may not be a term that you have come across before.

In a nutshell, Bakelite jewelry is made from a lightweight plastic, and was created in the 1900s, and became very popular in the 1930s. It became very popular around the time of the Depression, when the financial position of many Americans meant that women were looking for accessories that they could buy cheaply to dress up their outfits. Bakelite jewelry fitted the bill, especially as it was available in a variety of colors. Many pieces of Bakelite jewelry were designed to imitate coral, ivory, amber and tortoiseshell, which would have been much more expensive to buy. If women bought these pieces of jewelry, they could easily look like they were wearing jewelry that was much more expensive and sophisticated than it actually was.

As well as being a favorite of the less well off, Bakelite jewelry also appealed to those with more money. The more intricate, heavy detailed pieces of Bakelite jewelry were designed with the rich in mind. They sold at department stores for a substantial amount of money, as very few were produced. These types of jewelry are now highly sought after by collectors of Bakelite jewelry.

Bakelite jewelry is made from plastic, and refers to a form of jewelry that is heavily carved, and can include details in the form of polka dots and multiple colors that are laminated together. These details are in demand by collectors of Bakelite jewelry. Common colors are butterscotch and pea green. These also tend to be the least expensive colors to buy, as more of them are produced. Bangles seem to be the most popular types of jewelry, but pins, rings and necklaces are also becoming items that are more popular with collectors.

How to tell if a piece of jewelry is an authentic piece of Bakelite jewelry

There are several ways to tell if a piece of jewelry is genuinely Bakelite or not. These usually include testing the feel, sound, smell and overall look of the jewelry for small indications.

Look

Fake pieces often have a chalky appearance along the ridges of the carving. This has the appearance of dust, but it cannot be removed. It is not a good idea to scrub at the chalkiness, as this will probably damage the jewelry.

Genuine Bakelite jewelry is likely to have some signs of wear and tear that indicate that it is not a new piece of jewelry. You may need to use a magnifying glass to look for the tiny scratches and chips that are usually present on authentic pieces of Bakelite jewelry. It is unusual for genuine Bakelite pieces to be completely devoid of scratches or chips, given that they date back to the 1930s or earlier.

Another good test is to rub the jewelry with Simichrome jewelry polish. It is non-abrasive, so it is often used to clean various types of material. If a small amount of the polish is rubbed onto the back or the inside of genuine Bakelite jewelry, the cloth will usually turn yellow. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. If the Bakelite piece is lacquered, it will not pass this test. Likewise, if the jewelry is made from black Bakelite, it will also fail the test. The test can also be done using Formula 409, but if the Bakelite is black or lacquered, it will not pass the test with this either. If your piece of jewelry fails this particular test, it is worth conducting some of the other tests, as it is not necessarily a fake just because it does not pass this particular test.

Feel

Bakelite jewelry tends to feel heavier than many other types of jewelry. If you hold two pieces of jewelry in opposite hands (one piece that is Bakelite, and one piece that is not), there should be a difference in the weight of each piece. If there is not, the Bakelite is unlikely to be genuine.

Sound

Genuine Bakelite jewelry that is tapped together will make a clunking sound. This often happens when you are wearing more than one bangle at the same time, and they will then obviously jangle together as you move. If yours do not make this sound, there is a very good chance that at least one of the pieces is fake. However, it is not necessarily as straightforward as this, as the sound that is produced will depend on how dense the Bakelite material is. Therefore, it is not the most reliable test of authenticity.

Smell

A good way to test the smell is to rub the piece of jewelry gently until it begins to heat up. At this point, the jewelry should smell of chemicals (formaldehyde to be precise). The chemical smell is the result of the carbolic acid within the Bakelite. Alternatively, you can run the jewelry under the hot tap for a brief period of time. This should produce the same smell. If the jewelry does not have a chemical smell, it is likely that it is not a genuine piece of Bakelite jewelry. This test is especially useful when trying to test Bakelite bangles. The strength of the smell will be different according to the type of Bakelite that the jewelry is made from - some types will produce a very strong smell, whilst others will emit a very faint smell that is difficult to pick up.

The hot pin test

If you touch a hot pin (one that was been in close contact with an open flame) to the Bakelite, it should be immediately obvious as to whether the item is genuine Bakelite or not. A genuine piece of Bakelite will not be permeated by the pin. Instead, it will merely leave a burn mark. For this reason, it is best to conduct this test on the inside of the Bakelite, where the burn mark will not be noticeable. The obvious safety rules apply here - as the hot pin needs to have been inserted into a very hot open flame, it is advisable to do this using a set of tongs, or other instrument that mean that you do not have to risk your fingers being burned by the flame.

French Bakelite

Contrary to the name, French Bakelite is not actually Bakelite. It has no chemical link to Bakelite, so it will almost definitely fail the authenticity tests. As well as France, it was also produced in Germany. It ceased to be produced after the start of the Second World War.

Bakelite jewelry can be bought at some flea markets, some it could pay to have a look around during your next visit. The plastic jewelry that you have probably overlooked until now could be genuine Bakelite jewelry, which means you could have a rare and lucrative piece of jewelry in your hands!

How to Reinvent the Jewelry You Already Own

by Cherry Bruce

Sometimes you just don't have the money to spend on updating your wardrobe or adding to your jewelry box. But there are a lot of different things you can do with the pieces of jewelry that you already own. So if you're a fashionista interested in creating new style statements from your closet, then read on.

If you already own a sparkly stunner like a pair of over-the-top rhinestone chandelier earrings or a stretchy CZ bracelet, then consider pairing the precious gems with a low-key pair of jeans or distressed jean skirt. This keeps you looking cool and collected, even though you're rocking rhinestones from last year's Christmas party. Choose black accessories to keep the attention on the jewelry and really let it shine.

If you already own an ornate necklace that is dripping in crystals or rhinestones, then add it to a simple t-shirt and cargo pants for a feminine balance to an edgy outfit. Again, keep all other accessories neutral or black, for true emphasis on gorgeous necklaces.

If you already own hoops, then consider yourself ahead of the fashion game. These pieces of jewelry will never go out of style, and are versatile enough to be worn with anything in your closet. Add gold hoop earrings to everything from t-shirts and tanks, to sundresses and blouses. You can even get away with wearing these to the office, just as long as they're not too big. Thick gold hoops have a slight boho chic vibe, and you can find carved and matte gold hoop earrings for a modern take on this jewelry classic.

Be sure to shop the sales at your favorite stores for off-season jewelry pieces that can be worn anytime of the year. Try to think of new combinations and play with separates that you already own, until you find a winning combination.

Gemstones 101 - The Ruby

Ruby is one of the four precious gemstones along with Sapphire, Emerald and the Diamond. Ruby as a mineral is hard; it only comes second to the diamond when it comes to hardness.
The color of the Ruby comes in different shades of red - from light pink to blood red. This color is due to chromium. The word "Ruby" come from "rubber", the Latin word for red.
Although Ruby is the birthstone for the month of July, it is a common gift for lovers in February in time for the Valentines. Its deep red color shows passion and power. In the past, royalties wear a Ruby to make use of its believed to be magical powers to fight against evil. According to myths and legends, the stone grows darker to warn the wearer of imminent perils. Even today's modern royalties still use Rubies to adorn the insignia of their households.
Ruby is faceted into different styles of cuts and marketed as high class jewelries. The most preferred cuts are the brilliant and step cuts. Some rubies that have asterism are polished and shaped (the result is called cabochon) instead of faceted to display the best effect of the stone. Asterism is an inclusion that can greatly increase the value of the Ruby. Rubies with transparent asterism are highly prized. Some rubies, although extremely rarely, can show color changes, an effect called chatoyancy.
The prices of Rubies are highly depended on the color. The Pigeon Blood Red, which is the brightest red Ruby, is exceedingly expensive. Clarity follows color in determining the Ruby's price. Clear Rubies have higher prices. It is easy to spot any clear Ruby that has been treated to fool buyers. This can be noted with the absence of needle like rutile inclusion.
There are many acceptable practices to treat Rubies to enhance the quality. The most common accepted treatment practice is using heat. Heat treatment can improve color, and remove blemishes on the stone. Most lower cost rubies are heat treated.
A notorious way of treating Rubies to enhance them is the Lead Glass Filling method. This is done by filling the fractures inside the ruby with lead glass to greatly improve the look and shine.
There are also synthetic Rubies that have been in the market since the 19th century. The introduction of the flame fusion process has made synthetic Ruby production possible. To the unaided eye, synthetic rubies may have no apparent imperfections. These imperfections can only be noticed hen magnified. Synthetic rubies are the answer to the people who want to avail of the stone's elegance without spending huge amount of money. But synthetic rubies cannot be considered an investment compared to the natural ones.
Some Ruby varieties include Burmese Ruby, Star Ruby, Cat's Eye Ruby, Stynthetic Verneuil Ruby. An unnamed 38.12 carat ruby holds the record for having been sold for $5,860,000 at an auction in 2006.
Science laboratories have used rubies for the first laser which used artificial ruby crystals. The phosphorescence property of ruby makes it perfect for lasers.

Sapphire Jewelry Remains 'Precious' To September Babies

The sapphire, which symbolizes clear thinking, is a precious gemstone that also serves as the birthstone for the month of September. By definition, a sapphire is a precious gem that appears as a transparent, blue form of corundum. Although various other corundum colors are considered to be sapphires, a true sapphire is recognized as being deep blue in color. Specifically, the cornflower blue color of sapphire is considered to be the best and most desirable form of sapphire. Other forms of sapphire include white, yellow and pink, each of which derive from corundum of the same color. The sapphire's sister-gem, the ruby, is the red form of corundum and is also recognized as a precious gemstone.

When it comes to gemstone jewelry, clarity is significant. Sapphires, like all gems, can have inclusions. Genuine sapphires are highly prized, especially when they are found to be clear and in the deeper shades of blue. However, a gem-quality sapphire can be very expensive. Synthetic, which is a term used to define a gemstone that is not genuine, sapphires are one alternative that allows women to enjoy the look of a flawless gemstone without paying a hefty price tag. Much like the process of creating synthetic rubies, technology now allows for the recreation of properties similar to that of a genuine sapphire. This means that only an educated jewelry professional, in most cases, can visually distinguish between a genuine gem-quality sapphire and a synthetic sapphire.

At Almost Diamonds, a popular online retailer specializing in sterling silver jewelry, buyers are sure to find a dazzling selection of styles at prices that are sure to outshine the competition. From earrings and necklaces to bracelets and rings, Almost Diamonds has a variety of choices that feature both clear and colored cubic zirconia designs, along with genuine gemstones. Because the jewelry is available in sterling silver, which is a precious metal, you will be wearing something that can last a lifetime. When set in sterling silver, sapphires are especially vibrant. The soft tone of the sterling silver metal provides a perfect backdrop and setting for this precious gemstone.

Although sapphire is the birthstone for September, it can be enjoyed by every jewelry lover during every month of the year. In fact, most people will tell you that their favorite color is blue, which makes sapphire jewelry an obvious choice for anyone who favors a rich blue gemstone. Plus, adding color to a jewelry wardrobe is a terrific way to let your personality show through. Whether you are wearing your favorite pair of jeans, a business suit or a simple black dress, sapphire jewelry will compliment your outfit perfectly.

In conclusion, genuine sapphire is a highly-respected gemstone that has earned the honor of being named as one of the few precious gems in existence. If you happen to be born in the month of September, wear your sapphire jewelry with pride in knowing that you are wearing a gemstone that celebrates the month of your birth. According to some, birthstone jewelry is also a symbol of good luck. Whether you choose a genuine or synthetic sapphire, you're sure to shine.

by Melanie Spark