Featured Amber or copal?

Here is my Amber necklace that I am now thinking might be copal. I am thinking it might be copal because of the crazing and cracked bead. My guess is that it is from Mexico an 1970’s. But I live in Texas so I always guess Mexico when I’m not sure. Usually it is pretty good guess. I buy most of my jewelry at estate sales so it is often hard to tell. I have been reading tons of y’all’s posts. I’m learning a lot and getting to look at some really cool jewelry. I will start posting moe of my stuff. And I thank you in advance for your help. I find it fascinating to learn more about the jewelry I wear.

 

I see what you mean, that crazing makes a case for copal. It could still be amber though, even with the fractures. What colour is it under a UV light?
And try a drop of acetone on one of the chips. If the chip becomes sticky, it is copal.

 

Is Uv the same as a black light?

 

My understanding is that black light is a UVA light. Others will correct if I’m wrong.

 

Strictly speaking, a black light is a kind of UV light. Black lights emit ultraviolet radiation (UV light). UV is radiation with a wavelength just shorter than that of violet light, which is the shortest wavelength of light in the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum.

sounds reasonable..

 

I don’t have a black, or UV light. I probably need to get one. I put the piece in acetone and it came out a bit sticky. Copal I guess. Thanks Ya’ll.

 

In the case of copal v. amber, that is the best test.