Thread: Testing tortoise shell!!

I'm trying out a new way to test for authentic tortoise shell and was looking for some more help! With the current help from Thaeris I know that tortoise shell and translucent horn (fux horn tortoise shell) both glow under black Light. I'm hoping use this information as method to distinguish between authentic and fux tortoise shell (celluloid, acrylic, and other vintage plastics). Horn and tortoise shell I have already tested ( with the help of Thaeris!!) as well the the fux tortoise shell from maze craft supply but I'm having trouble sourcing the Vintage stuff if you have and are willing to shine a blacklight on some of your vintage fux tortoise shell I would love to hear your results!!


Current results are

Tortoise shell- glows
Fux horn tortoise shell- glows
Any translucent horn- glows
Black horn- no glow
Maze craft supply fux tortoise shell- no glow

This thread should be more help to the people who are new to tortoise shell!

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I think my black lights went in the trash on the same day I tossed my pipes and roach clips in the 80s.

I know I have a couple of razors (somewhere) with tortoise shell and if I can find them I'll bring them to work and check them under a UV light.

Great idea for testing, and non destructive to boot!

As Aaron asked me if I would be able to take some pictures under black light of several pieces in tortoise in my possession, I bought a 15$ model 365nm UV torch.

I had some fun looking at several materials in my possession (sadly no synthetic celluloid tortoise, I've asked for some pictures under blacklight to a friend).

Here you can see in order ivory, black horn and tortoise.



Ivory stays white, black horn is slightly glowing (mainly its veins), and light parts of tortoise are glowing strongly :

White MOP is glowing quite much, pink MOP not so much.



Here you can see black horn again.



Blond horn is glowing strongly :



And shellac is glowing bright orange :





Another picture of tortoise under blacklight :



Further tests are to be made on celluloid, as several plastics are glowing too :

Not celluloïd yet, but modern plastic glasses

Both natural (tortoise shell and horn) and synthetic (celluloid) are glowing under black light. In your estimation will black light end up being a accurate testing method for tortoise, horn, etc in being able to differentiate natural materials from synthetic?

I was hoping it would be a test to determine between synthetic and artificial materials ( geared more towards tortoise shell) but if the synthetic glow as well then it's no help!

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Originally Posted by aaron1234

I was hoping it would be a test to determine between synthetic and artificial materials ( geared more towards tortoise shell) but if the synthetic glow as well then it's no help!

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Cool idea and it's good that you tried. Thanks for posting your findings.