Because amber is a lightweight organic fossil resin, imitating it using lightweight plastics and synthetics is possible. Imitations or more comonly made to fake an insect inside rather than making a fake piece in general. Below there is a list of some simple tests to make sure you are not dealing with an imitation piece.

There is a substance known as copal (immature resin) which is often passed off as amber. Copal is said to be immature because all the volatile terpenes haven't left the resin, which is a geological processes that occurs over millions of years. Therefore it is younger in age than true amber and will not stand up to the following tests. Plastics and synthetics, such as celluloid and bakelite, also react differently to the tests than amber.

The most common and easily made imitations of amber are plastics. Celluloid is a thermoplastic mae of cellulose nitrate and camphor. When these materials are rubbed together though, they give off the aroma of camphor and do not create a strong electrostatic charge as amber does. The following are the easiest and most available tests for real amber: