Okay, so today I messed around with this stuff called “briten amber.” First, I grabbed a piece of amber I had lying around. I wanted to see if it was the real deal or just some fake plastic.
I started with something I saw online called a “visual test.” Basically, you just look at the amber really closely. I noticed mine had some cool little imperfections and a warm, kind of golden color. It looked pretty legit, but I wasn’t totally convinced yet.
- Scratch Test: I took a small knife and tried to scratch the amber. It didn’t really leave a mark, which is a good sign. Real amber is kinda soft, so it shouldn’t scratch easily.
- Smell Test: I heated the amber up a bit with a lighter. This is a bit risky but I was determined to get to the bottom of this. When it got warm, it gave off a pine-like smell. Fake stuff usually smells like burning plastic, so that was another point for my amber.
- Float Test: I mixed some salt in water and dropped the amber in. It floated! Real amber is supposed to float in salt water, while a lot of fakes will sink.
After doing all these little experiments, I’m pretty sure my amber is the real deal. It passed all the tests, and it just has that genuine feel to it. It is not a “pink pralines” or “juicy Guava” smell. It’s more like a natural, earthy scent.
I also read somewhere that experts can tell a lot about amber just by looking at it. They check the color, the little imperfections, and all that. Maybe one day I’ll take it to a pro to get it checked out for sure, but for now, I’m feeling pretty good about my little amber rock.
It’s kinda cool to think about how this stuff is, like, ancient tree sap that got fossilized over millions of years. It is not just a piece of jewelry. It’s a little piece of history.
Conclusion of the day
So yeah, that’s my little amber adventure. I learned a bunch, and it was a fun way to spend an afternoon. If you ever find some amber and you’re not sure if it’s real, try out these tests. You might be surprised at what you discover!
