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Rarity and desirability are some of the reasons Bakelite is so expensive. It’s also highly collectible. If you have a piece of Bakelite jewelry and are wondering how much it’s worth, it’s a good idea to compare it to recently sold items in a similar style.
Why is Bakelite so special?
Like many modern plastics, Bakelite was lightweight and durable, and it could be molded into nearly infinite shapes, so its use quickly expanded as manufacturers realized its potential. Bakelite made perhaps its largest stamp on the world of fashion.
What is the rarest color of Bakelite?
Bakelite comes in a variety of colours: black, red, yellow, green, butterscotch, apple juice, orange, etc. The rarest Bakelite colours are purple and blue.
How can you tell if Bakelite jewelry is real?
To use, dampen a cotton swab with 409 and rub it gently on the inside of the item being tested. If it is Bakelite, the swab will turn yellow. If a piece is lacquered, it may test negative with 409. Black Bakelite pieces often fail this test as well.
When did they stop making Bakelite jewelry?
Many companies stopped using Bakelite in the early 1940s as the need for World War II related products took hold. By the end of the War, new technologies in the world of plastics had made Bakelite obsolete. The height of Bakelite jewelry was the late 1930s, up until the end of the Art Deco period.
Is Bakelite jewelry worth anything?
Value of Bakelite Jewelry Pieces. No matter what type of piece you have, genuine Bakelite jewelry is worth money. Many simple necklaces and bracelets sell for $100 or less, but more elaborate designs with multiple colors or intricate carving can sell for hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
Is Bakelite jewelry marked?
Using small Bakelite pieces to form larger pins shaped like jointed characters is a common motif for jewelry crafters as well. Making these pieces isn’t a problem, it’s not marking them accordingly where things get sticky.
Why is Bakelite not made anymore?
There are several reasons. One half of the chemical reaction is formaldehyde, which has a bad reputation. The other half is phenol, which is a derived petrochemical, and has its own poor health record. Bakelite is a therrmo-setting material, which means that it cannot be melted down and used again.
Why is Bakelite collectible?
Bakelite is a castable, fire-resistant plastic that was invented by Leo Baekeland in 1909. It was originally used for industrial purposes until jewelry makers found that its light weight made Bakelite a perfect choice for designing and manufacturing inexpensive bracelets, rings, pins, and other jewelry.
Is Bakelite jewelry still made?
Yes, there are imitations of Bakelite. Cheaper and lighter plastics are often used today and are called Bakelite to try and capitalize on its popularity. It’s not rare, especially online, for people to try and sell newly made, cheap fakes as old and classic jewelry pieces.
What color is Bakelite?
Bakelite in solid colors is the most recognizable type even without employing testing measures. The most readily found colors are yellow, ranging from butter yellow to dark butterscotch, followed by various shades of green.
What’s the difference between Bakelite and plastic?
Bakelite is the first synthetic plastic and is known as a “material of thousand uses” due to its versatile applications. The key difference between Bakelite and plastic is, Bakelite is the first synthetically produced thermosetting plastic with heat resistant and non-conductivity of electricity.
What is the difference between Bakelite and celluloid?
Bakelite is a sturdy material and is heavier than Celluloid. Bakelite is denser and heavier than Celluloid. Hold two pieces of jewelry in your hands and compare the weight.
How can I tell if my bracelet is Bakelite?
The first quick thing to look for: Bakelite will never have mold or form markings on it. If you feel a line running around the center of a bangle, it is not Bakelite. Another way of identifying Bakelite is with Simichrome polish which is a pink polish made for cleaning metals.
What is the most valuable Bakelite?
The most valuable Bakelite pieces are wide pieces with heavy, deep, and sometimes intricate carving, reverse carving and painting, or with complicated lamination. Dotted pieces are always very popular. Large figurals—pins, necklaces, etc. —have also held onto their value.
What is the difference between Bakelite and Lucite?
Bakelite should be stored carefully, although it is not as fragile as Celluloid. Lucite, an acrylic resin, was first marketed by DuPont in 1937, and it began to appear in costume jewelry around 1940. As with Bakelite, Lucite is a thermoset plastic, but it was much cheaper to produce.
How can you tell if a button is Bakelite?
Another great trick for determining the button material is running it under hot water, and then smelling it. When run under hot water, celluloid buttons will smell like mothballs or Vicks Vapor, bakelite buttons will smell of formaldehyde, and lucite buttons won’t have any smell.
How do you stop Bakelite from smelling?
Apply a small amount of liquid metal polish onto a second clean cloth. Wipe the bakelite down, using the cloth to apply the polish with a scrubbing motion. The metal polish will be slightly abrasive, lending a hand in the cleaning process of stuck on residue. Allow the polish to sit and dry to a film.
What is the difference between Bakelite and Catalin?
Catalin can come in a wide variety of color colors, including bright colors and marbling. Bakelite is opaque, while catalin is often translucent (can often see this at the edges of an item). If the item is brightly colored jewelry or similar items, it is more than probably catalin.
How can you tell if jewelry is lucite?
If you put it under hot water, rub it vigorously or poke a hot pin into it it will have no smell. Catalin, bakelite and celluloid have chemical smells and casein smells like burnt milk. If it’s transparent or transparent with objects embedded in it (plastic pieces, flowers, coins, etc) it’s lucite.
How do you test Bakelite with baking soda?
The Baking Soda Test – Dip a cotton swab into baking soda and rub it into a test spot on the item. Ex. a bracelet on the inside, brooch on the back etc. If the cotton swab turns a yellow tone you have a positive test.
