Can you see a seam? If so, this can indicated a mold for a plastic bead, or pressed glass. What sort of texture can you see? Some textures are clearly modern, whereas others might indicate age. Is there a gloss, sheen, or other shiny element to the bead that could help to indicate its origin? Or, is there natural aging taking place, indicating a natural product that has been around for a long time? Don’t forget to check for chips (stone/glass), and erosion signs. Is there any part of the bead’s coloring or finish worn away? This could indicate a reproduction with poor application of paintwork or finishing. Are there any specific markings? Check the hole size. A larger hole might indicate an older bead because of the lack of sophisticated cutting tools. This doesn’t always hold, however, as craftspersons who took time and effort to create delicate beads would have been very careful. [2] X Research source Is the bead carved? Ivory, vegetable ivory, and bone were typically carved by hand in older times. Painstaking but definitely beautiful! Are there any embellishments or settings accompanying the beads? The quality of these can help to establish the age, as older embellishments and settings tended to be of higher quality, and anything that needed to be held in was done so by the embellishment rather than by glue.
Is the bead cold to the touch? This is a good sign, indicating that it might be glass, stone, gemstone, metal, pearl, or shell. All of these materials were used to create vintage beads. If it is warm, this is a sign that is might be plastic. Take care, however, as beads that feel warm could still be vintage but made from amber, nuts, vegetable ivory, wood, Bakelite (vintage plastic), bone and animal-derived ivory. If the bead feels light, it’s more likely to be plastic than glass.
A soft clinking or barely any noise at all can indicate plastic. A heavier noise can indicate glass. You will need to be familiar with the sounds of glass, etc. ; just keep training your ear and you’ll seen get the hang of this method.
Old photographs featuring family members wearing the beads. Old bead-making items including old advertising/branding Accompanying items are all very old as well Newspaper cuttings with dates if you’re really lucky! While none of these things are proof alone in your detective exercise, they can help build a picture of the possible age of the accompanying beads.
Do you like the bead a lot? If so, purchase or use it. Is the price reasonable enough that it doesn’t matter whether or not it’s vintage? Are you not so taken with the appearance of the bead but just wanted it to be a part of your vintage collection? If so, leave it unless it’s really affordable. Are you sitting on the fence? If so, leave it! If you inherited them and want to know their value, seek professional advice.
