How To Spot Fake Amber Teething Necklaces: A Buyer’s Guide From Industry Experts
05 July 2025
5 Mins Read

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My mother gifted my daughter an amber teething necklace. I was not initially okay with the little one wearing it.
However, the mom is always right, and you have to listen to her. So, I decided to let my daughter wear it for a few days and see how it suits her.
“Amber teething necklaces are gentle, and they offer relief from teething pain and discomfort. They are safe. You must not worry.”
This is what my mom said, and I must confess that the necklace worked as the perfect pacifier. I even talked to the owner of an amber teething necklace business. He said that using an amber teether has the following benefits.
- Reducing Teething Pain
- Alleviates Inflammation
- Helps with Drooling
- Supports Immunity
- Pacifies Baby and Helps to Sleep
- Reduces Gum Swelling
However, one of my colleagues did not have a similar experience. Her son suffered from allergic infections.
Then, she found out that the amber teething necklace was fake. Now, with amber being one of the most popular pacifiers for teething babies, the market is also witnessing a huge surge in counterfeit products.
Now, the overall amber jewelry industry, a growing niche in the global jewelry market, is facing challenges due to these fake amber pieces. Furthermore, for teething necklaces, the use of fake amber poses safety threats and major health risks.
But how to tell if an amber necklace is real or not? We will discuss the smart tips in this guide.
How To Tell If An Amber Necklace Is Real? Smart Hacks To Follow According To Industry Experts

The healing properties and gentleness of amber make it an ideal choice for teething babies. Further, in countries such as Poland, amber has a historical significance, contributing to the industry’s growth.
However, the increase in fake products has always been a problem.
I talked to the owner of https://balticproud.com/ in this regard, and this is what she had to share.
“People buy fake products and don’t get the benefits they want. Especially, the teething necklaces and bracelets are often fake, and that’s more alarming, as you are putting the little babies at risk.
Most buyers also don’t understand the difference between polished and unpolished amber. So, there is a hell of a lot of confusion and chaos.”
She also guided me on how to tell if an amber necklace is real or not, if we followed some basics and smart hacks.
Here are the details.
1. Understand What Real Amber Is
We get real amber when the tree resin gets hardened or fossilized over millions of years. So, it is a real and valuable material.
Further, the properties of real amber are:
- Natural Warm Hue
- Light in Weight
- Subtle Pine-Like Fragrance
Furthermore, genuine amber comes in a wide range of shades. You will find genuine amber in shades of lemon, green, honey, and cognac.
Also, when collected from nature, genuine amber has some imperfections. Those inclusions or imperfections are the signs of authenticity, as they are natural parts of amber’s formation.
Fake amber, on the other hand, is often made of:
- Plastic
- Copal
- Glass
So, these fake amber products lack organic traits such as color variations and imperfections. However, these fake amber products have the glossiest and flawless finish.
That is how they grab our attention faster.
2. Common Materials Used In Fakes
Copal is the most common material in producing fake amber products. Copal is also a tree resin. However, it is not perfectly aged or fossilized like amber.
So, teething necklaces or other jewelry made using copal are softer, and they get melted under less heat than real amber.
Furthermore, when copal jewelry or beads get warm, they emit a sweet smell and their surface becomes sticky.
Also, several plastic polymers mimic the appearance of genuine amber. I can easily identify the plastic amber pieces as the texture is super smooth. Moreover, you can feel that the beads are cold once you touch them.
However, it is really difficult to differentiate glass beads from genuine amber ones. Glass beads have air bubbles or similar imperfections that are found in genuine amber beads.
So, you have to pick only the genuine ones from the weight and symmetrical shape of the beads.
3. Tests You Can Do At Home
Do you want to know how to tell if an amber necklace is real or not? Do these simple tests with items easily available at your home.
Tests You Can Do at Home to Identify Fake Amber | How to Conduct the Tests |
---|---|
Salt Water Test | Mix salt and water Drop the beads inside Real amber beads will float in the water. Plastic and glass beads will sink. |
Friction Test | Rub the amber beads on a cloth. Genuine beads will have a pine-like smell, and they will become warm with the generation of static electricity. Glass or plastic beads will remain cold even after the friction. |
UV Light Test | Authentic amber will look green or blue under the UV light. Organic compounds in the amber cause this glow. |
Check Certifications And Be Sure Of Seller Transparency
Reputable sellers will provide information about the origin and composition of their amber. This shows accountability and builds trust.
Certificates of authenticity from third-party gemologists or Baltic institutions can validate a product’s claim.
These certificates should ideally come from recognized organizations. Transparency about the production process and material source is a good sign that the product is legitimate.
Look for detailed product descriptions and brand background. Trusted brands also use safety clasps and properly knot beads to ensure child safety.
These features prevent choking hazards and demonstrate a safety-first approach. If a seller is vague about their sourcing or offers prices that seem too good to be true, it’s wise to be cautious.
Parents looking for guaranteed quality and real therapeutic value often choose companies such as Balti Proud.
This trusted brand creates handmade necklaces using 100% Baltic amber, the gold standard in authenticity and safety. Each necklace is inspected individually by artisans, ensuring it meets the highest standards.