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Bakelite is a type of resin and formed using a mixture of carbolic acid (otherwise known as phenol) and formaldehyde. This is helpful in identifying true Bakelite due to the strong smell of phenol (carbolic acid) as we will describe in further detail. Bakelite will not change in shape or melt under heat, for this reason it was originally used in insulation products. When inspecting supposed Bakelite jewelry the first signs to look for are any seams that would indicate the item has been made in mould or injection moulded. Authentic Bakelite items will never have any seams of this kind as they are cut from a larger tube. Therefore real bakelite bangles do not have any marks from being created in a mold, unlike injection moulded plastic bangles etc. |
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Smell Test and other Tests for Bakelite
Heat your Bakelite using very hot water for about 30 seconds then smell the item, if genuine it should smell very strongly of Phenol (which smells like paint stripper or formaldehyde) Only real bake-lite has this odour and other plastics do not. (Do not place bakelite jewellery in hot water if it is set with any stones) Another way to test for the phenol (carbolic acid) smell is to rub the bakelite with your finger until it warms up slightly then smell your finger, if bakelite the phenol odour should be detectable on your finger. All Purpose Cleaner Bakelite Test Another test for bakelite is to use some 409 all purpose cleaner or Scrubbing Bubbles cleaner (be careful with Scrubbing Bubbles as it can be abrasive and damage some bakelite) Using a cotton bud or q-tip rub a small amount of the cleaner on an inconspicuous part of your item (not near any metal parts). If real Bakelite the cotton swab will turn a yellow or off white color. Other plastics, resins or celluloid may turn the swab other colours but only Bakelite will show as a yellow tinge on the cotton swab. Rinse the cleaner off your bakelite jewellery straight after the test. Some Other Bakelite Tests and Tips Genuine Bakelite items make a heavy clunking sound when tapped together, other plastics when hit do not sound the same. Lucite can sometimes resemble Bakelite but genuine Bakelite will be much heavier than Lucite items of the same size. Another simple tip for identifying old Antique items is that genuine Bakelite will discolour where it is exposed to the air. This external oxidation on the items surface will show as a slight discoloration and may indicate a genuine old Vintage piece. |
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