How to Test if Bakelite is Real: The Step-By-Step Guide

Learn how to test Bakelite with confidence so you're sure you're buying or selling the real thing. I cover the different methods and what I feel is the best method of testing.

Simichrome polish paste is the gold standard for testing. Unfortunately if you're in CA like me, it's unavailable here due to recent legislation.

Please leave comments with questions or suggestions.

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[tamiz]

Good tips and you have some beautiful pieces. I bought an egg yolk/butterscotch beaded necklace and one of the largest beads had obvious pin prick damage, how frustrating. I bought it super-cheap, but still- how irritating that someone would damage it like that 😢

[donnashick]

My test turned an orange instead of yellow so I assume it's bakelite. Am I correct?

[broella]

How do you know it’s true Bakelite if it doesn’t test positive? I have heard that simichrome won’t work on black Bakelite, nor will 409. So then what are you to do?