lucite vs. bakelite

[Super Secret Guest]

I have a collection of bracelets that my boyfriend bought at thrift stores for me, and I just wanted to know if there's a way to tell the difference between the types of bracelets and what they're made out of. I want to know if mine are lucite, bakelite, or just plastic.  Which ones are really worth anything? Not that I'd sell them, but he keeps telling me they're worth money, but I'm skeptical. TIA!

[moon1336]

Bakelite: One test for authenticity is called the hot pin test. Interested buyers should find an inconspicuous area of the object in question and apply a heated pin. True Bakelite gives off a distinctive odor as it melts, very similar to the scent of burnt human hair. If the pin melts the object but no formaldehyde/burnt hair odor is detected, it is most likely an imitation.
here's where I got this information...it's really quite interesting.  It turns out that Bakelite was an early form of plastic and it even tells you how they went about creating bakelite jewelry etc.
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-bakelite.htm?referrer=adwords_campaign=bakelite_ad=026851&_search_kw=what%20is%20bakelite

Apparently Lucite is a brand name but it's acrylic.  I got that from this button collectors webpage:

http://www.buttonbuttononie.com/bakelite-buttons.html

I hope this helps, personally I don't know the difference either.

[eclectic-girl]

Check this article out...

http://jewelry.about.com/od/bakelitejewelry/a/care_id.htm

[Rainbow]

Kenneth Lane and Joan Rivers of QVC also make good costume jewelry. Once I found a KL necklace with changeable stones for $3 at a thrift sale.
  I can''t resist a well designed piece of jewlery so usually have way too much. So I resell some every now and then to justify it to myself that it''s okay to get more.
   I have one of the first plastics bracelet that an aunt gave me. It''s just a band full of colored rhinestones. Since then I have found two more, one coral and one ivory that have raised flowers on them.

[PurseDiva]

A couple of good tests for bakelite - one is the 409 test. You take a q-tip or a white kleenex, spray a bit of 409 on it, and rub the piece in an inconspicuous area. If the q-tip/kleenex turns a bit yellow, it''s bakelite. You can also try the hot water test by dipping the piece in hot water, and if it smells like formaldehyde or camphor (sort of a shellac-y smell) it''s bakelite.

[highheels]

Why does the material matter? This is quite worn out but for me, it's the thought that counts.


___________________
Matthew
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[Other People s Junk]

Why does the material matter? This is quite worn out but for me, it's the thought that counts.

If it's a gift, sure, it's the thought that counts.  Even so, it's nice to know what it is, material wise.  Bakelite and lucite are just neat- old and timeless!  If you know for sure it's bakelite or lucite then you know it's not just a cheap reproduction or what have you.  You can better judge the value (other than sentimental) of what you have.  Plus, it is just a fun thing to be able to say with certainty, "This is a bakelite bracelet" or whatever it is. 

It's collectible, I guess is what I am trying to say, and with any collection, it's good to know how to figure out that it's the real deal.

[eddieb]

This is something i HAVE to comment on.....

i'll try to touch on a couple of points already made here...

the hot water or 409 tests are the best ones i've heard... you can also just rub it and generate the heat and see if it has that "smell"

yes there is a definite difference between lucite and bakelite, especially for collectors... bakelite is really hot right now...

I used to shop for bakelite for my exgirlfriend who LOVED it... so naturally i did my research on it...

long story short it was big in the 40's when "plastic" jewelry production was at a peak (due to the limit on metals being used thanks to WW2)... if i'm not mistaken bakelite actually CONTAIN formaldahyde (sp)

she had a special fondness for a tortoise shell bakelite "block" ring... and unfortunate broke (unusual because the resin is SO strong)... anyway for about a year when we were together i'd hunt around on ebay to replace that particular riing but nefver found an appropriate match... although i found a BEAUTIFUL dome ring in tortoise that i gave her on valentine's day....

i found various rings and bracelets for her... some really interesting ones are the "prison rings" is anyone here familiar with those?

[Magpie18]

Well there is one obvious difference between Lucite & Bakelite --- lucite can be transparent like glass but bakelite is always opaque.

This makes a difference for vintage jewelry that has sea shells, flowers, confetti etc  in the piece ( not just on the top surface).

CORO in particular was well known for these type of jewelry in the 40s, 50s & 60s.

[eddieb]

Why does the material matter? This is quite worn out but for me, it's the thought that counts.


___________________
Matthew
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the material matters to the collector, and there are certain finishes that can be created with one that cannot with the other...

[pop_ pirate]

Why does the material matter? This is quite worn out but for me, it's the thought that counts.


___________________
Matthew
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delving into orignation & history are all part of collecting.  i know some of you buy thrift to fuel your daily lives, buying second hand modern clothes, kitchen items and the such.  there are those of us who, while they might do that too, they also collect items of vintage, retro or even antique age.  all "old" stuff has a history of manufacturing, use and material as well as history like the fact bakelite came about out of necessity during a war.  finding this out brings that much more personal value to the item.  keep digging for buried treasure ya'll....   pop pirate

[eddieb]

Hey pop pirate...


are you familiar with the "prison rings" made of bakelite? i find those to be most fascinating examples of bakelite work as they also have a VERY personal touch...

[mccoysnina]

Why does the material matter? This is quite worn out but for me, it's the thought that counts.


___________________
Matthew
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Actually some Bakelite jewelry can be quite valuable.  They appriase it once in a while on Antiques Roadshow and some of the earlier pieces fetch quite a sum. 
I' m glad to know there are other tests for Bakelite besides the hot pin test.  Inconspicious or not,  I wouldn't want a burn mark on a piece of jewlery I owned.
Jeannie

[eddieb]

yes bakelite is considerably more valuable... if i'm not mistaken it's because production of ANYTHING bakelite ceased in the 70's because it was found that toxic byproducts were released as a result...

so since you can't really get anything manufactured out of bakelite... they tend to be more collectible.. this is just based on what research i've done... anyone care to elaborate?

[valleythriftshopper]

Bakelite is still manufactured for industrial uses.  It is costly & labor intensive to produce, so that probably led to the discontinuation of the more common uses.

"Phenolics are seldom used in general consumer products today due to the cost and complexity of production and their brittle nature. An exception to the overall decline is the use in small precision-shaped components where their specific properties are required, such as moulded disc brake cylinders, saucepan handles, electrical plugs and switches and electrical iron parts. Today, Bakelite is manufactured and produced in the form of sheets, rods and tubes for hundreds of industrial applications in the electronics, power generation and aerospace industries, external living, and under a variety of commercial brand names."

Besides being rarer than other forms of plastic, bakelite just has a heavier, nicer look to it.  Plus the colors in old bakelite jewelry are fabulous!