— Tabletop —
January 28, 2019
What is crystal glass exactly? Crystal is well-known for being more refined than traditional glass, and with good reason. Crystal and glass are composed of different materials, with crystal lending itself to a greater shine as well as more intricate designs. While glass is made from sand that has been liquified, crystal sets itself apart with something known as flint glass. This specific type of glass is formed with lead content instead of calcium content. The additional lead oxide results in a higher level of refraction, or in other words, it separates light more than regular glass. It also allows for more decorative properties. Oftentimes, wine glasses with unique designs are actually lead crystal wine glasses.
If you’re not sure how to differentiate between crystal and glass, we’ve put together a 5-point checklist on how to identify crystal glassware quickly and easily.
- Next time you go to give the glass a few delicate dings in order to raise everyone’s attention for a toast, listen for an enduring sound. Glass makes a clunking noise, while crystal sounds like a reverberated ringing.
- Another way to sound test the glassware is to lightly run a wet finger in a circular motion around the rim. If it’s crystal, you will be able to hear a subtle tone that emanates from it.
- With a close eye, inspect the sharpness or smoothness of the cut. The smoother it is, the more likely it’s crystalware. Meanwhile, crystal has also has a narrower rim than the rims of regular glass.
- You can also observe it by looking under a light or outside under the sun. Crystal refraction divides light on the spectrum much like a prisma.
- Lastly, crystal will feel heavier in weight when contrasted against the weight of a glass around the same size.
With Scully & Scully, you can take the guesswork out of trying to discern between the two. Our collection of crystal and glassware ensures that the answer is as clear as crystal.
