Most are flattered you have asked them for help and are willing to teach you. First use your naked eye and then look again this time using your loupe. Mold lines are a tell-tale sign that the object is machine made. Color that is evenly distributed throughout the item usually tells you that the piece is synthetic as opposed to natural. Bakelite leaves a black streak, vulcanite leaves a yellowish brown streak.
Some materials emit an odor.
A few materials emit an odor after being warmed. Tap your fingernail on the item and listen to the type of sound it makes. Sometimes it is helpful if you have two similar items or two elements from the same piece. In this brief article, to get you started, I have given you a few guidelines and several simple tests you can do. Please be aware that there is a lot more information available.