Bakelite Jewelry: Why It's So Valuable (Buying, Selling, Collecting) - Episode #162

[00:00:00] Welcome to the The Jewelry Reseller's Podcast, your go-to source for all things shiny, sparkly, and of course profitable. I'm your host Desiree and I'll be your guide on this dazzling journey through the world of reselling jewelry. We'll be diving deep into the art and science of reselling, uncovering valuable tips, insider secrets, and sharing stories from successful

[00:00:24] jewelry resellers. We'll explore market trends, industry news, and even discuss how to find those hidden gems just waiting to be discovered in thrift stores, estate sales, and beyond. So if you're dreaming of turning your hobby into a hustle, or if you're a seasoned pro looking to stay at the top of your jewelry reselling game, join me each week for insights, stories, and more on the Jewelry Resellers Podcast.

[00:00:55] So there's a type of vintage jewelry that a lot of collectors will stop and look at immediately, but a lot of resellers actually hesitate on. Not because it's hidden, not because it's impossible to find, but because it doesn't always look valuable at first glance. It's bold, it's chunky, sometimes it's a little worn, sometimes the color will look uneven, and it can be dull in some

[00:01:23] spots. And if you don't know what you're looking at, it's very easy to second guess it or to pass on it completely. But to the right buyer, that same piece can be highly collectible and sometimes surprisingly valuable. That material is Bakelite, also pronounced sometimes Bake-a-Lite. And today,

[00:01:47] I'm going to walk you through what exactly it is, when it was most popular, the styles and designers that made it iconic, how to identify it with confidence, and what's actually selling right now. Because Bakelite isn't about luck, it's about recognition. So that's the direction we're going in today, jewelry friends. Hello, my name is Desiree, and you know that I am your jewelry reselling bestie.

[00:02:16] So like I said, today's episode is going to be focused on Bakelite. This is one of my favorite types of jewelry to source and to sell. Now, I have sold all of the Bakelite pieces that I've had in my collection over the years because they are really good sellers, but that doesn't stop me from continuing to look for pieces that I can either keep for myself or flip for a profit.

[00:02:42] So before we get into today's topic, you know I like to always remind you to make sure that you visit our website, JewelryResellersPodcast.com, because over there, you can opt in to our newsletter. And when you do that, you will get instant access to a download I created, and it's titled The 20 Best Selling Vintage Jewelry Brands that I Think All Resellers Should Know.

[00:03:06] Also, if you're looking to learn how to turn jewelry into income, I invite you to check out my brand new learning space. It's called Jewelry Jumpstart, and you can get all the details and join for free at JewelryJumpstart.com. So let's start today's episode by going over a little bit of Bakelite

[00:03:31] history. So Bakelite is considered the first true synthetic plastic. Now, it was invented in the early 1900s by Leo Bakelund, and at the time, it was a major innovation because before that, jewelry was made from materials like metal, glass, and natural elements. Bakelite introduced something entirely

[00:03:59] different, something that could be molded, carved, shaped, and produced in bold, consistent forms. It really took off in jewelry during the 1920s through the 1940s, spanning the Art Deco period well into the Depression era and World War II. Now, this timing really matters because during World War

[00:04:26] War II, metals were being reserved for military use. So jewelry designers had to find alternatives, and Bakelite became one of the most important materials of that time. It allowed for expressive statement jewelry without relying on precious metals. And that's why Bakelite doesn't feel delicate or

[00:04:50] fragile. It actually feels and looks very intentional. So when we think about the styles and color and visual appeal of Bakelite, you will start to recognize it. And one of the first things you'll notice is the scale.

[00:05:10] So these are not tiny, delicate, minimal pieces. The most iconic Bakelite jewelry is chunky bangles. And I have to say, these are probably some of the best-selling pieces as well, because I've sold a lot. You can see them all over eBay, Etsy, and a lot of people collect just the bangles. All right, so they're thick,

[00:05:37] solid bracelets that were often worn stacked together. And when I say stacked, I do mean multiple pieces at once. It was a fun, very unique, expressive look. It was layered, bold, and very intentional. Now color is a huge part of Bakelite's appeal. But here's something important that a lot of people do not realize.

[00:06:02] Bakelite is not uniform in color. It's not flat. It's not perfectly even. In fact, some of the most desirable pieces have variation. And you will see swirls, marbling, different intensities within the same piece. You might even see a bracelet that shifts from a deeper tone into a lighter one,

[00:06:27] or it may have an almost glowy, dimensional look to it. These are the pieces that collectors love, because it gives the piece character and uniqueness. So when you think about the colors of Bakelite, you will hear them described or referred to as food, or in some cases beverages. So you'll hear terms like

[00:06:57] butterscotch, apple juice, spinach green, cherry red, and end of day, which actually refers to multi-color mixes. And each one has its own following. You will find collectors and people who just love Cherry Bakelite. You will find people who only want

[00:07:23] butterscotch. You will find people who love it all, like me. And there's also carved Bakelite, which is a major category. These pieces have designs carved directly into the surface. So you'll see florals, geometric patterns, even animals. And those carved details add depth both visually and in value. Now the other thing is you may also notice that there are laminated pieces, and this is where

[00:07:52] layers of color are combined to create contrast. So when you're looking at Bakelite, you're not just looking at quote-unquote plastic. You're looking at color, texture, depth, and design all working together. And that's part of Bakelite's huge and massive appeal. Now the other thing I want to add to

[00:08:20] this is that Bakelite jewelry is very durable. So that was another draw was because it was a material that was very difficult to destroy or damage. And that was another reason why it appealed to so many people. Now let's talk about some of the designers and the influence and why people loved Bakelite so much.

[00:08:46] Bakelite became popular at a time when fashion was becoming more expressive. Designers like Coco Chanel helped shift the mindset around jewelry. She encouraged women to wear bold pieces to layer accessories and to mix materials. It didn't have to be fine jewelry to be stylish, and Bakelite fit perfectly into that idea.

[00:09:11] Another designer, Elsa Schiaparelli, took it even further. Her designs were artistic, some even unconventional and very forward-thinking for that time. Bakelite gave designers like her the freedom to experiment. On the manufacturing side, companies like Catalan Corporation played a big role, and you'll

[00:09:36] often hear Catalan used in the resale world. It's closely related to Bakelite and sometimes the two terms or the two words are used interchangeably. So let's think about this. Why do people still love Bakelite today? It's not just because it's old, but it's because it's very different. It has weight,

[00:10:01] it has presence, it doesn't try to look like something else, and every piece just feels a little bit unique. So let's talk about what's selling now as it relates to the resale world, reselling, and us as resellers. From a resale perspective, not all Bakelite performs the same. Right now some of the strongest

[00:10:29] categories are stacked bangles like we mentioned earlier, especially when sold as a set or a curated color combination. Deeply carved pieces are also in demand right now and those tend to attract very serious collectors. Rare or highly desirable colors like butterscotch, apple juice, and end-of-day pieces.

[00:10:57] And also figural designs, anything with a unique or recognizable shape. Most basic pieces still sell, but typically at lower price points, usually around $20 to $50, give or take. But the right piece, you're easily looking at $100, $200, even $300 or more. As a matter of fact, I just recently sold

[00:11:24] a YSL Bakelite belt for $350 and I think it was the butterscotch. So I'll throw up an image and you can let me know what you think. So this is definitely a collector-driven market and collectors are paying

[00:11:46] attention to the details. So the next logical question is how do you identify Bakelite? Like, do you really trust yourself to know if you see it that you would be confident to recognize it as Bakelite? I think this is the part that intimidates a lot of us resellers because we may not know the

[00:12:10] difference between Bakelite, Lucite, and just everyday modern plastic pieces. But identification is where everything comes together. One of the most well-known methods is the smell test. Alright, so if you rub Bakelite to create warmth, it can release a chemical smell, often compared to formaldehyde.

[00:12:37] There's also the semi-chrome test and this is where a metal polish turns yellow when it is applied to the Bakelite piece. But let's talk about what you can recognize without having any type of tools. So remember, like we mentioned earlier, Bakelite has a certain density. It feels solid in your hand,

[00:13:03] it's not flimsy, it's not hollow, and remember the color is not uniform. If you're listening to this, imagine something that feels heavier than plastic, but it's not cold like glass. The surface usually has a very soft sheen, not a high gloss shine, and again the color is key. Remember, it's not perfectly

[00:13:31] even. You'll often see variation, subtle shifts, swirls, marbling, depth, and you will see a lot of I guess I want to say mood as it relates to the colors of Bakelite. You'll see different intensities

[00:13:53] as you look at a true, authentic Bakelite piece. And this is all a good sign. Now over time, Bakelite also develops a patina. All right, so it may darken slightly or take on a richer tone. And that aging is actually part of what collectors are attracted to and what some of them specifically look for. Modern plastics

[00:14:18] do not do that. They stay looking new for years on end and they look exactly the same through and through. All right, so if a piece looks too perfect, it's often your first clue that it is not Bakelite. Now what are some of the common mistakes as it relates to buying Bakelite, identifying Bakelite, or even reselling Bakelite?

[00:14:50] I think I just kind of mentioned it. The biggest mistake is assuming that all plastic jewelry is Bakelite or even Lucite, and a lot of times it is not. Or some resellers will assume that all plastic jewelry is the same and they may overlook or pass up a piece that could be Bakelite. Now, as resellers,

[00:15:16] we need to study and we need to educate ourselves because I think a lot of the mistakes that we make is that we overlook pieces because they don't look immediately valuable or we don't take the time to look at a piece and study a piece as best as we can before making a decision. Because a lot of us may

[00:15:41] not trust our own knowledge or we may not trust that we know enough to identify a Bakelite piece. And the other mistake I think too is that sometimes I see a lot of resellers rushing or not asking enough questions or maybe making a blanket decision when they see maybe a lot of jewelry

[00:16:04] or multiple pieces and maybe one or all of them could be Bakelite. But one of the things you have to understand is Bakelite is not a category that you want to rush through. Most resellers don't miss it because it's rare. They miss it because they don't recognize it when it shows up.

[00:16:29] So as we close out, Bakelite is one of those materials that changes how you look at jewelry once you understand it. I think it's really a fun category or type of jewelry to learn and spend the time investing and educating yourself

[00:16:53] because some of these pieces are just extraordinary. And when you think about how old some of these pieces are and what was popular at the time when some of these pieces were made, it's just amazing when you think about the journey these pieces have gone on that are still around today, that are still in great condition.

[00:17:18] Or maybe they were pieces that were just so unique and maybe they were dismissed or maybe they were celebrated, but now even more so. So think about some of these things when you are considering sourcing Bakelite or studying Bakelite or maybe you come across Bakelite. That's another thing I wanted to add too

[00:17:45] because I know all of the pieces of Bakelite I have found have been not in thrift stores, but they have been in antique malls, bulk lot buys and estate sales. You know, so because a lot of people do collect or were collectors of Bakelite and so you will find them especially in estate sales where the person, you know, was a big jewelry person or maybe they had a huge

[00:18:14] jewelry collection. So I mean maybe you could find some of these pieces at a thrift store. I just think now the thrift stores are a little bit more savvy and so Bakelite pieces don't really kind of come through the thrift stores like maybe they once did in years past. But that doesn't mean it can't happen, right? I don't want to

[00:18:40] discourage you, but it's getting a little bit harder to find. Of course, you can always find pieces on eBay or Etsy or maybe a private, you know, private collector who may be trying to liquidate their collection or something like that. But for the most part, it will take you a little bit of effort to find it. But if you do or I should say when you do, I would definitely,

[00:19:07] you know, if if you can invest in it and you know for sure it's Bakelite, I would definitely pick it up. Because even if it doesn't sell, you know, for the you know, for the price you want, if you buy it for yourself, it's going to be something that I think you would truly enjoy. And you can always resell it at least for the price that you paid for it. But again, I don't want to say that's what you should do. But if you are a collector and you like Bakelite,

[00:19:33] it might be something worth considering. So Bakelite is one of those materials that changes how you look at jewelry once you understand it. Like I said, it's not about finding it every day. It's about recognizing it when you do see it. And if you want to get better at identifying pieces like this

[00:19:56] and actually turning that knowledge into sales, that's exactly what I teach inside Jewelry Jumpstart. So even if you are just starting, or even if you're learning, or maybe you know a little bit, and you just want to build upon the foundation you already have, I do invite you to check it out. Because that is the focus of that group. We are all about making money flipping jewelry.

[00:20:24] You know, sometimes the value isn't obvious. But once you see it, you can't unsee it. So that is what I got for you today, my jewelry friends. I would love to get your feedback and to get some comments about your experience with Bakelite jewelry. Do you have Bakelite jewelry in

[00:20:48] your inventory or in your personal collection? What are some of your favorite pieces? And do you have any tips to help us identify Bakelite jewelry? I would love to hear what you have to say. Keep the discussion going. And hopefully create a space where we can learn from each other. So let me know what you think.

[00:21:13] Please leave a comment. Please share, subscribe, hype this video if you are listening or watching on YouTube. And I'm thinking about doing an episode on maybe acrylic, lucite, and maybe some celluloid. Because I know a lot of people do get confused on some of these different types of materials. And I think it's

[00:21:39] important to understand the designation between them. So let me know if you're interested in that. And I will start working on it as soon as I can. All right, jewelry friends. Again, thank you so much for spending this time with me. And I will check in with you again really soon.