Bakelite Jewelry

Bakelite is an early resin that was widely used for many household items and jewelry. Bakelite is made with phenol and formaldehyde. In the jewelry space, it is highly sought after by collectors. But how can you tell if your old plastic jewelry is Bakelite? There are some proven methods.

I have a couple of bracelets that I believe to be Bakelite but am not sure and need to find out before I list them for sale. I plan to follow these methodologies for testing plastics to see if they are Bakelite.

The Smell Test

When Bakelite is heated up, it releases a formaldehyde smell so think back to your high school biology class and dissecting labs. It will be that unforgettable chemical, lab smell that will be so familiar.

My bracelets failed this test. I rubbed the bracelets on my pant leg until the bracelet was warm and then smelled. There was no formaldehyde smell. Here is a really good video on testing your plastic jewelry to see if it is Bakelite.

The Clank Test

From the video, you can hear the difference in sound from two Bakelite pieces clanking together and comparing that to other plastics. My two bracelets when clanked together do not have that ‘clunk’ sound and have more of the sound of Lucite.

The Cleaning Test

Right now I do not have the cleaner to test for the colorization that is left behind from cleaning Bakelite with certain cleaners. I will probably just leave these bracelets unlisted until I either buy cleaner or decide just to list them as plastic bracelets as they are really cute.

I’m a little sad they aren’t Bakelite but still think they are good bracelets and work well together so when I do list, I will list them together. But before then I will do a little more research since I have never sold jewelry before but I love it and it is a reselling space that I would like to learn more about.