I thought the beads were plastic when I bought it from a carboot a couple of days ago, and the seller even said "it's not real". However, it appears to be real amber
It seemed far too heavy to be plastic, and too warm to be glass, so out came the jeweller's loupe. There are some little insects and some unrecognisable bits in it. It also first passed the static electricity test with bits of tissue paper and the fingernail scratch test (found on the web). Its a bit too big and heavy for the salt water test in the kitchen and I don't have that much salt, but just for curiosity, I'll take it down to the beach and place it into a rock pool, where it should float. Just hope no-one's about when I do it
From what I can discover, they are pressed amber beads, which means that smaller pieces of amber have been melted under great pressure and formed into these uniform bead shapes. I'm not sure where the amber originates from. I thought I might be able to tell from the colour, but its not so clear cut. The beads are a nice deep honey colour with lighter opaque streaky bits. I think its quite old judging from the clasp, and its threaded on cord. I've tried to show the largest beastie, which looks intact with long thin legs - a bit like a flea
but my camera's not the best.
