Featured Question about vintage plastic beaded necklaces

Discussion in 'Jewelry' started by MTswirls, Oct 23, 2019.

  1. MTswirls

    MTswirls Well-Known Member

    Hello,

    I was wondering if plastic beaded necklaces like this have any value? I'm assuming they don't, but I have been suprised about the value of costume jewelry before. I know each of the necklaces are different styles, I just included them all since I have quite a few like this that I'm trying to sort through. If anyone has any info on these that would be very helpful.

    Thanks for the help!

    IMG_8824.jpeg IMG_8826.jpeg IMG_8828.jpeg IMG_8829.jpeg IMG_8831.jpeg IMG_8757.jpeg IMG_8758.jpeg IMG_8746.jpeg IMG_8747.jpeg
     
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  2. Xristina

    Xristina Well-Known Member

    Have you tested any of them ? The second and the third look like they might be amber.. :happy:
     
  3. MTswirls

    MTswirls Well-Known Member

    No, I haven't. I believe they are all plastic because they are not cold to the touch like gemstones would be. I think the first three are just designed to look like stones.
     
    judy likes this.
  4. scoutshouse

    scoutshouse Well-Known Member

    Nice vintage amber :)

    [​IMG]

    Last one, not so sure...
     
  5. Xristina

    Xristina Well-Known Member

    Amber is not cold to the touch like a gemstone, it kind of feels like plastic .. I'm pretty sure the second one is amber too.. you can test it with an UV flashlight..
     
  6. MTswirls

    MTswirls Well-Known Member

    Oh I see. For some reason I assumed all gems were cold to the touch. The necklace is pretty light in weight, it's only about 37 grams. At least I thought that seemed light which also made me think it was plastic. I have a UV light, so I will see if there is a reaction. Thank you!
     
    judy likes this.
  7. scoutshouse

    scoutshouse Well-Known Member

  8. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    but I have been surprised about the value of costume jewelry before...

    as well you should !!;)

    All the above are very wearable......& the warm amber...even more so against m'Ladies soft skin !!! :):)
     
  9. Ownedbybear

    Ownedbybear Well-Known Member

    At least two of those are amber. The chip one isn't of huge value, but they all want a UV light on them. I don't like the salt water test, it can demolish old thread.
     
  10. MTswirls

    MTswirls Well-Known Member

    Sorry, which necklace are you talking about when you mention the chip one?
     
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  11. Ownedbybear

    Ownedbybear Well-Known Member

    Second photo, the knotted ones without a clasp. Those look Baltic amber.

    I think the only one that isn't is that swirled bead one.
     
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  12. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    I'm with the others, the 2nd and 3rd are amber. Worth testing the others as well.
    I agree with the salt water test being potentially harmful to old thread, but you can start with a UV light test. A simple small UV flashlight works.
    And in no time you will be another forum member who tests anything they can get their hands on with a UV light in the dark.:playful: Closet testers, the lot of them.:joyful:
     
    Last edited: Oct 24, 2019
  13. silverthwait

    silverthwait Well-Known Member

  14. clutteredcloset49

    clutteredcloset49 Well-Known Member

    The last one looks like old glass. If touched to your face it should be cold.
     
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  15. KSW

    KSW Well-Known Member

    :hilarious::hilarious:
     
    MTswirls, scoutshouse and Any Jewelry like this.
  16. KSW

    KSW Well-Known Member

    Maybe it had a fault line when it was created?
    Definitely repair!. Maybe ask on the scary vintage jewellery restore & repair FB page about glue. I'd worry I'd melt it with some glues.
     
    scoutshouse likes this.
  17. scoutshouse

    scoutshouse Well-Known Member

    Amber is an organic gem, like coral, ivory and pearls.

    Geology.com

    [​IMG] Amber
    [​IMG] Ammolite
    [​IMG] Ammonite
    [​IMG] Coral
    [​IMG] Crinoids
    [​IMG] Dinosaur Bone
    [​IMG] Fossilized Coral and Bryozoans
    [​IMG] Ivory
    [​IMG] Jet
    [​IMG] Mary Ellen Jasper
    [​IMG] Mother of Pearl
    [​IMG] Opalized Wood
    [​IMG] Peanut Wood
    [​IMG] Pearls
    [​IMG] Petrified Palm
    [​IMG] Petrified Wood
    [​IMG] Sand Dollar
    [​IMG] Turritella Agate

    Good point ;)
     
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  18. evelyb30

    evelyb30 Well-Known Member

    The first one looks like restrung old glass beads. The second and third are most likely amber. The third is a lot newer and may well be acrylic or glass. I do have some carved beads that are probably amber, but the're different.
     
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  19. MTswirls

    MTswirls Well-Known Member

    They do look like glass beads, but they are room temperature and they feel like plastic
     
  20. MTswirls

    MTswirls Well-Known Member

    I'm going to have to get a proper UV flashlight. I tried to test the necklaces with a LED plant light I have, but I don't think it emits enough UV light for me to determine anything. I have heard of using UV lights to test other gems, such as rubies, so it will be good to have on hand :D
     
    clutteredcloset49 likes this.
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