1. Specific gravity test: the density of amber is between 1.05- 1. 10, so in the salt water of 1: 4, the genuine product floats and the counterfeit product sinks (no other substances are embedded).

Second, the needle burning test: when the needle is heated to red and scalded on the surface of amber, it will be fragrant and black, and the plastic will partially melt and stick to the needle.

Third, ethanol test: the surface of nail polish can be tested with polishing water. True amber will not react, but the resin will corrode.

Fourth, sound test: amber beads without inlay will make a very soft and slightly dull sound when they are gently rubbed in their hands. If they are plastic or resin, the sound is crisp.

The resins most similar to amber are hard resin and rosin.

1. Hard resin is a semi-fossil resin with a very new geological age, similar to amber. Drop a small drop of ether on the surface of hard resin and rub it by hand. The hard resin will soften and stick together, but amber will not change.

2. Rosin is a kind of resin without geological function, which is light yellow, opaque, light and very hard. It can be kneaded into powder by hand, and there are many oil-drop bubbles on the surface, while the lake is smooth and translucent, and the inclusions are common. The animal and plant contents and textures in amber are visible to the naked eye.

Different from recycling amber.

Some small pieces of lake debris that cannot be directly used to make jewelry are sintered at appropriate temperature and pressure to form larger amber, which is called recycled amber. Regenerated amber has pure color, high transparency and uneven surface. After amplification, it is granular structure, syrup-like stirring structure, and sometimes contains unmelted substances. However, natural amber has a smooth surface, contains bubbles, is mostly round, and usually has animal and plant debris.

Difference from imitation

Imitations of amber are plastic, glass and chalcedony.

1. Plastic plastics are very similar to amber in color, warmth retention and electrical properties, but the density is very different from amber.

All plastics sink except polystyrene, because their density is higher than that of saturated saline (1.2), and the density of amber is 1.08, so it can float in saturated saline.

The plastic outside the sample can be cut, and it will peel off when it is cut on one side of the sample with a knife, while the lake has a small shell-like gap because of brittleness.

With hot acupuncture, plastic will have various smells, while amber will have a loose smell.

2. Glass and chalcedony

Glass and chalcedony can imitate amber in color, but their properties are quite different from amber. Their specific gravity is much heavier than amber, and they all have a cool feeling, which can be distinguished by weighing them with your hands. In addition, glass and chalcedony cannot be fixed by hot acupuncture.