Unless you handle a lot of Bakelite jewelry, it can be quite difficult to differentiate Bakelite from other plastics. And, unlike other plastic jewelry, Bakelite is not only collectible, but it can be quite valuable as well. Developed in 1909 by Dr. Leo H. Baekeland, this plastic, used to create a myriad of items, is perhaps most beloved by collectors of Bakelite jewelry.
Although Bakelite jewelry from the Art Deco era through the sixties is more difficult to come across, one still stumbles on it at the odd yard sale, estate sale, or antique shop. But with all the replicas and other plastic jewelry, it can be difficult to know if it is, indeed, genuine Bakelite. Before you hand over a large sum for a “Bakelite” bangle, pin, earrings, etc…be sure to examine your potential purchase using the following criteria.
Nearly always if your item in question shows seams or mold lines, it is most certainly NOT Bakelite. Bakelite jewelry underwent a process that did away with such lines for a seamless creation. Also, if the item feels solid and weighty, you may have Bakelite. Celluloid and other plastics, even hard plastics of the fifties feel much lighter than a Bakelite piece.
Another way to tell if your item is composed of Bakelite is by checking for oxidation. Vintage Bakelite pieces oxidize over time resulting in a slightly lighter or darker area on the outside of an item as in the case of a bangle. Also, most authentic Bakelite features heat set clips and pins or screws and rivets. If glue is in evidence, you probably do not have Bakelite.
Finally, there are some ways to test if it is Bakelite. First, run your piece under hot water; if it smells like varnish or what others have described as Formaldehyde, than you have Bakelite.
Another way to test your item is to take a white cotton cloth such as a baby’s cloth diaper and rub it on the piece with a bit of Simichrome. If you look down at your cloth to find “yellow” evidence—you most likely have Bakelite.
Be sure to carefully examine any prospective piece. Because the value of Bakelite jewelry has steadily risen, there are many fakes to be had. However, by applying the above-mentioned criteria and methods, you may be confident in your ability to distinguish the fakes from the real thing.