Baltic amber has been valued for thousands of years — and where there is value, there is imitation. Synthetic resins, copal (young tree resin), and glass are all sold as amber, sometimes convincingly. Knowing how to distinguish genuine Baltic amber from a fake is one of the most useful things a buyer can learn before investing in a piece.
What makes Baltic amber genuine
Genuine Baltic amber is fossilised tree resin, formed over 40 to 50 million years ago from the forests that once covered the Baltic region. It is an organic material — not a stone, not a plastic — and it behaves accordingly. Its density, surface texture, and reaction to heat and light are all distinct from synthetic alternatives.
The saltwater test
One of the most reliable home tests is the saltwater float test. Dissolve approximately 8 tablespoons of salt in a glass of water and place the piece in question inside. Genuine Baltic amber floats in saturated saltwater; most plastics and glass sink. Copal — young resin sometimes sold as amber — may also float, so this test is a useful first filter rather than a definitive verdict.
The warmth and scent test
Rub the piece briskly between your palms for 20–30 seconds. Genuine Baltic amber warms quickly and, when rubbed, releases a faint, pleasant pine-resinous scent. Plastic imitations tend to smell of chemicals or nothing at all. Copal produces a similar resinous scent but melts or becomes sticky far more easily than true amber.
UV light
Under ultraviolet light, genuine Baltic amber fluoresces — typically a blue-green or greenish-white glow. This is caused by succinic acid and other organic compounds present in the resin. Most plastics and glass do not fluoresce in the same way, though some synthetic resins can produce a faint glow, so UV is best used alongside other tests.
Visual inspection
Genuine amber is rarely perfect. Natural inclusions — tiny bubbles, plant fragments, or the occasional ancient insect — are signs of authenticity. Perfectly uniform colour and a flawless surface are more characteristic of synthetic material. That said, some genuine amber is naturally very clear, so the absence of inclusions alone is not proof of fakery.
Buying with confidence
The most reliable protection is buying from a reputable source that can provide provenance information and, ideally, certification. Our Baltic Amber Jewelry collection is sourced directly from the Baltic region and crafted by artisans with generations of experience working with this material.