Tortoise Shell
During the Victorian Period, turtle shells in jewelry peaked, but how can you authenticate if it's real or a knock off?
Look for: Transparency, and imperfections primarily asymmetrical shapes. Very fine knife marks can also be an indicator of the real deal.
Steer Clear: Uniform patterns
Sometimes, other materials like Lucite and Bakelite are similar. Sometimes ,you can discreetly check an authenticity by using a very hot pin, if it smells like burned hair, it's authentic. We don't recommend that in the market though! We're happy to ask out vendors if they know anything further about a piece if it catches your eye.