 |       Call to Order: 1.888.624.8314 |
| | Call to Order: 1.888.624.8314 |
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Buyer's Guides    | |
Home / Crystal Buying Guide Crystal Buying GuideReady for a crystal purchase, well here are a few tips to make the purchasing experience an enjoyable one. Crystal has a long history and different types keep an open mind and first decide what the purpose you are looking for is. If it is a gift you seek proceed on and pick a piece! If it a for your personal pleasure be sure to figure out what your design style is whether be it traditional or contemporary you will find what you need. Crystal is a beautiful mystical substance conjuring up images of sparkling beauty and elegance. Since 3000 B.C. the shapes and colors of crystal and glass have fascinated and intrigued all ages. To begin with a brief history, although its not certain, it appears the Egyptian began glassmaking as far back as 3,000 years ago. The Romans picked up on it and developed the skill to new levels and dominated glassmaking for many centuries. The Venetians, in the 1200s, were the first to develop effective methods for removing impurities from the sand and other ingredients. Their skills became world renowned. Glassblowers were held captive on the island of Murano to keep their glassblowing secrets exclusive. Eventually other glassmaking centers began in Germany, Spain, and other European countries. In the U. S., glassmaking started in the 1600s and in the early 1800s, Americans began pressing glass into moulds. Crystal Categories – Lead Crystal This product has much the same makeup as other crystal but contains a minimum of 24% lead oxide. Contrary to most on the market, Badash Crystal is mouth blown and hand cut by Europe’s finest skilled artisans. The weight, clarity, and precise cutting tell you it’s the finest money can buy. The fact is that 24% lead crystal is just different then lead free crystal, not necessary better or worse. Lead crystal, which must contain 24% lead oxide, by government standard, is actually softer, more pliable so it is easier to cut and polish then lead free crystal. Lead free crystal’s basic ingredients are limestone, sand, sodium oxide, and potash. It comes in varying levels of quality – the clearer the better. Actually clear crystal must be blown to a higher quality level then cut crystal because there is no hiding the bubbles or marks with cut crystal, the imperfections can be cut over and hidden. Home Décor - Colored Cased Glass This category includes our exquisite Bloom and Sutton Galleries collections which contain mouth blown items hand carved with a modern technology yielding stunning designs which just a few years ago would have cost hundred of dollars to produce. The simple elegant undecorated pieces make a cleaner sophisticated statement leaving room for custom engraving. Colored Cased glass or crystal is achieved by first blowing the piece then applying a layer of molten color in the second phase. The colorful and hand cut perfume bottles make superb gift items and enhance any décor. Gifts Items * This exciting category covers a lot of ground. Unique timepieces fashioned in the likeness of everyday objects. Elegant plain or colored crystal perfume bottles expressive enough to dress an boudoir. Candleholders, jars, and candle sets of incredible value. * Several diamond shaped paperweights in varying sizes make for a great corporate or wedding giveaways and gifts. Surprise your boss with a Corner standing cube paperweights –standing alone or engraved – they are dynamite! * Salt and pepper shakers in modern and traditional designs. * Trays in various sizes accommodate all your serving needs. * Globe paperweights and coasters in several designs. Blown glass * After many hours of finely melting the ingredients to remove impurities and gases, a glassblower will take a gob of molten material on the end of his iron blowpipe. The blower will shape the glass and spin the pipe while blowing the entire time. Another method is for the glassblower to insert the molten gob into a mold and blow the glass into the shape of the mold. To produce bowls or vases the blower will produce a large bubble at the end of the blowpipe, then hand it off to the master craftsman who, while keeping the glass in motion by rolling the pipe, will shape and cut the piece into the desired shape. Lead Free Crystal Choose from a large selection of decanters and pitchers from Ravenscroft as well as Badash. * This category contains our largest selection of products. * Ranging from practical useful pitchers, sauceboats, and chip n dips for the new bride to heavy thick gorgeous decorative pieces. * This category perhaps is most affected by quality levels * We offer smooth finishes, a characteristic of mouth blown goods and pleasing shapes, evidence of superb design. * In the bowls and vases there will also see few seeds or bubbles. Although these are not flaws they are formed by gases when chemicals are united by the melting of the raw materials. They do not affect the quality of the glass nor its beauty unless they are exceedingly large or break open at the surface. |
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