Rosewood, as a treasure in the entertainment world, is highly sought after for its unique color, texture and rarity. However, there are many kinds of red sandalwood on the market, and it is difficult to distinguish between real and fake, which has brought great trouble to consumers. In order to help you better understand and distinguish the true and false red sandalwood, this article will introduce in detail the methods of distinguishing the true and false red sandalwood.
First, the types of red sandalwood
Pterocarpus is mainly divided into two categories: small-leaved Pterocarpus and Large-leaved Pterocarpus. Rosewood microphylla, whose scientific name is sandalwood rosewood, is a true rosewood that is mainly found in India. Its wood is hard, purple and black in color, and delicate in texture, which has a high collection value. Large-leaved red sandalwood, scientific name Lu's black sandalwood, produced in Madagas** Island, Africa, its wood, color, texture and small-leaved red sandalwood are similar, but the value is relatively low. In addition, there are some other woods known as "red sandalwood" on the market, such as blood sandalwood, sandalwood, etc., which have certain differences in appearance and performance from real red sandalwood.
Second, the method of distinguishing the authenticity of red sandalwood
(1) Professional identification methods
Observe color and texture: True rosewood has a calm color, usually purplish red or deep purple, and has a clear, natural texture. When viewed in sunlight, its color and texture will show subtle changes with the light.
Check the weight and density: Rosewood is a dense wood, so real rosewood products feel heavy to the touch. You can preliminarily judge its authenticity by weighing the weight.
Smell it: Real red sandalwood has a unique aroma and smells fresh and pleasant. And counterfeit red sandalwood often does not have this aroma and may even have a pungent smell.
(2) Simple identification skills for the public
Cotton ball wiping method: Dip a cotton ball in a small amount of alcohol and gently wipe the surface of the red sandalwood product. If a deep red color appears on the cotton ball, then it is most likely true red sandalwood. This is because the pterostilbene in pterosandalwood dissolves and manifests itself under the action of alcohol.
Fluorescence test method: Take some sawdust or small pieces of red sandalwood and soak them in clean water. If, after a period of time (e.g., more than 12 hours), the upper layer of water or near the walls of the glass appears to fluoresce like blue oil, then it may be true pterostilb. However, it should be noted that this method cannot be used as an absolute basis for identification.
Scratch method: Scratch it lightly on the white paper with a red sandalwood product, if it is a real red sandalwood, it will leave an orange scratch. This is because the pigments and oils in the rosewood are visible during the scratching process. However, this method needs to be used with caution to avoid damage to the product.
Submersible method: Since the density of red sandalwood is greater than that of water, real red sandalwood products will sink in water. But this method also has certain limitations, because in addition to red sandalwood, there are some other woods that can also be submerged. Therefore, this method needs to be used in conjunction with other discernment techniques.
It should be emphasized that although the above methods can help us to preliminarily distinguish the authenticity of red sandalwood, they cannot completely replace professional identification methods. When buying red sandalwood products, it is best to choose a reputable merchant and ask the merchant to provide relevant identification certificates or test reports from professional institutions to ensure that real red sandalwood products are purchased. At the same time, we should also continue to learn and understand the relevant knowledge of red sandalwood and improve our ability to identify.