Bakelite Color Chart: Complete Guide to Color Names, Rarity & Values

Q: Is blue bakelite rare?

Yes. Any shade of blue bakelite from pale periwinkle to deep cobalt is considered rare to very rare. Blue dye reacted poorly with bakelite resin chemistry, and fewer blue pieces were produced relative to every other color. Blue bangles in good condition sell for 3 to 5 times the price of equivalent butterscotch pieces.

Bakelite color is the single most important factor in determining a piece’s value. A plain bangle in cobalt blue sells for 3 to 5 times more than an identical bangle in butterscotch. Knowing the official color names, which shades are rare, and what drives premium pricing helps you identify, buy, and sell with confidence.

Quick Answer: How Much Is Bakelite Worth by Color?

Common bakelite colors (butterscotch, red, forest green, black) typically sell for $20 to $150 for a plain bangle depending on size and form. Rare colors (cobalt blue, purple, white) command $75 to $500+ for a comparable piece. Marbled or end-of-day pieces in rare color combinations can reach $300 to $1,500+ for exceptional examples.

Complete Bakelite Color Chart

The table below lists every recognized bakelite color name used by dealers and collectors, with rarity ratings and approximate value multipliers versus a standard butterscotch piece.

Color Name	Description	Rarity	Value vs. Common	Notes
Cobalt Blue	Deep, saturated navy to royal blue; opaque	Very Rare	3x–5x	Hardest color to produce; highest collector demand
Periwinkle Blue	Medium blue with slight grey or purple cast	Very Rare	3x–4x	Often called “powder blue” by older dealers
Purple / Lavender	Violet to dusty lavender; usually translucent	Very Rare	2x–4x	Extremely difficult dye process; fades with UV exposure
White / Cream	Off-white to ivory; fully opaque	Rare	2x–3x	Oxidizes to yellow over time; pristine examples most valuable
Oxblood	Deep burgundy-red; almost brown in low light	Rare	2x–3x	Distinguished from common cherry red by depth and richness
Apple Juice	Translucent pale yellow-orange; glows in light	Uncommon	1.5x–2.5x	Also called “translucent yellow”; warmth of color drives premium
Lime Green	Bright, vivid lime or chartreuse; opaque	Uncommon	1.5x–2x	Rarer than forest green; brighter saturation
Cornflower	Light, medium blue; less saturated than cobalt	Uncommon	1.5x–2x	Any blue is uncommon; light shades slightly more available than deep cobalt
Orange	True orange or pumpkin; opaque	Uncommon	1.5x–2x	Distinct from butterscotch; brighter saturation
Butterscotch	Amber yellow to golden yellow; opaque	Common	Baseline (1x)	Most widely produced color; value depends on form and carving
Cherry Red	Bright to medium red; opaque	Common	1x–1.2x	Deep cherry tones preferable to rust; widely produced
Forest Green	Dark, rich green; fully opaque	Common	Baseline (1x)	Most common green; ubiquitous in 1930s–1940s production
Black	True black; fully opaque	Common	Baseline (1x)	Value depends entirely on form, carving quality, and size
Brown / Tortoiseshell	Medium to dark brown; sometimes mottled	Common	0.8x–1x	Least desirable solid color; tortoiseshell patterns more sought
Marbled / End-of-Day	Two or more colors swirled or laminated	Uncommon–Rare	1.5x–4x	Value depends on color combination; rare color pairings command premium

Why Some Bakelite Colors Are Rare

Bakelite was dyed using organic pigments mixed into the phenol-formaldehyde resin before molding. Blue and purple dyes reacted unpredictably with the resin chemistry, making consistent production difficult. Many early batches came out muddied, mottled, or discolored. Manufacturers produced far fewer blue and purple pieces than they did butterscotch, red, green, and black, which used stable, inexpensive pigments.

White bakelite faced a different problem: the resin naturally yellows under UV exposure, so white pieces were rarely pure white even when new. Keeping them away from light was essential, and genuine pristine white examples are scarce today.

Bakelite Color Rarity by Category

Rarity Tier	Colors	Typical Bangle Price Range
Very Rare	Cobalt blue, periwinkle, purple, lavender	$150–$500+
Rare	White, cream, oxblood, true orange	$75–$300+
Uncommon	Apple juice, lime green, cornflower, marbled rare combos	$50–$200
Common	Butterscotch, cherry red, forest green, black, brown	$20–$100

Marbled and Special Bakelite Colors

Marbled bakelite — also called “end-of-day” or “laminated” — was created by blending two or more partially set resin batches. The swirled, streaked, or layered results are unique; no two pieces are identical. Value depends entirely on which colors were combined.

Marbled Color Combination	Rarity	Collector Demand
Blue + any second color	Very Rare	Highest
Purple + white or cream	Rare	Very High
Apple juice + butterscotch	Uncommon	High
Red + black (reverse carve)	Uncommon	High
Butterscotch + green	Common	Moderate
Red + butterscotch	Common	Moderate

How to Identify Bakelite Color vs. Other Plastics

Color alone does not confirm a piece is bakelite. Lucite, Celluloid, and later Catalin were also produced in similar color ranges. These tests confirm the material before relying on color-based valuations.

Test	Bakelite Result	Lucite / Acrylic Result	Celluloid Result
Hot water (60–70°C, 10 sec)	Phenol (machine oil / carbolic) smell	No smell	Camphor smell
Simichrome polish on cotton swab	Yellow-orange stain on cotton	No stain or clear stain	No stain
409 cleaner on cotton swab	Yellow residue	No residue	No residue
Weight (same-size bangle)	Heavier, dense	Light	Very light
Black light (UV lamp)	Cream/yellow fluorescence	Bright blue-white fluorescence	Blue-white or none

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the rarest bakelite color?
Cobalt blue and true purple are the rarest bakelite colors. Blue pigments were chemically incompatible with phenol-formaldehyde resin, making consistent blue production extremely difficult. True cobalt examples are the most sought-after and highest-priced solid color pieces.

What are the official bakelite color names?
Dealers and collectors use these color names: butterscotch, apple juice, cherry red, oxblood, forest green, lime green, cobalt blue, periwinkle, cornflower, purple, lavender, white, cream, black, brown, tortoiseshell, marbled, and end-of-day. “Apple juice” specifically refers to translucent pale yellow-orange, distinct from opaque butterscotch.

Is blue bakelite rare?
Yes. Any shade of blue bakelite — from pale periwinkle to deep cobalt — is considered rare to very rare. Blue dye reacted poorly with bakelite resin chemistry, and fewer blue pieces were produced relative to every other color. Blue bangles in good condition sell for 3 to 5 times the price of equivalent butterscotch pieces.

What bakelite color is worth the most?
Cobalt blue commands the highest prices of any solid bakelite color, followed by purple and lavender. Within marbled pieces, any combination featuring blue with a second color is the most valuable. White and oxblood are the next most valuable solid colors.

What is “apple juice” bakelite?
Apple juice is the collector term for translucent pale yellow-orange bakelite that glows warmly when held up to light. It is distinct from opaque butterscotch by its translucency. Apple juice is uncommon and sells for 1.5 to 2.5 times more than comparable opaque butterscotch pieces.

How do I know if my bakelite color is original or has been dyed?
Dyed bakelite shows uneven color penetration — the color fades toward the center on a polished scratch or cut edge. Original color is consistent throughout the material. The Simichrome test still stains both dyed and undyed bakelite yellow-orange, but dyed pieces may also show a secondary color stain. Examine the cut edges of bangles where re-dyeing often misses the interior.

For complete identification testing and value guides, see the complete Bakelite Jewelry guide.