How can you tell if your amber jewelry is real?

On a bead shopping trip last year I purchased some beautiful beads marked as "amber".  I couldn't wait to make a statement necklace out of these gorgeous beads that appeared to glow from within.  The beads were large yet ultra lightweight and came in a range of colors that I loved.

After researching I determined my great new beads were synthetic amber.  Synthetic amber is similar to amber in look and feel, but is a significantly less expensive man-made resin.  True amber is a resin, but it is a fossilized tree resin that usually has organic plant or animal material as inclusions.

I still enjoyed my synthetic amber for creating ultra lightweight amber jewelry designs that are also ultra affordable. But, if you are in search of genuine amber, here are 3 of several tests available:

1. Does it burn or melt? True amber will not melt.  If touched with flame, it will burn away similar to incense and give off a piney, sweet, pleasant smell.
2. Does it float in salt water? A true amber bead will float in salt water, while synthetic amber will drop.
3. Is it harmed by solvents? True amber will not dissolve if touched with a solvent such as fingernail polish remover while imitation amber will become tacky or melted by solvents.