the top strands in each of the pictures pictures are Phenolics and the bottom strands in the pics are Amber, this should help with a side by side evaluation, I believe the Phoenolic to be harder, thus holding a polish much better than the real Amber.......compared to the beads you brought from Morocco, I could only guess that the ones I show have actual desert wear from the nomads making them a bit more mat looking.......more views to come