What is the difference between cut glass and lead crystal?
Cut glass and lead crystal are both made from glass, but lead crystal contains an extra material that enhances the brilliance of the glass. It helps to know how to tell the difference because lead glass is usually of higher value than cut glass, and requires a bit more attention when cleaning.
How is crystal cut and polished?
In a labor intensive process, crystal is first cut by hand in two stages on iron and then sandstone grinding wheels. Then each crystal is polished on a wood wheel with marble dust. You may notice faint traces of the wood wheel in finished pieces, a mark of authenticity.
What is the difference between glass and crystal TRIM?
Glass trim reflects light while crystal trim refracts it. Within a solid white environment, glass will have no color. Crystal, on the other hand, will still display fire and brilliance regardless of the presence of color. All that is needed is light.
What is the highest quality crystal TRIM?
Strass crystal is considered the highest quality of crystal trim throughout the world. Swarovski Strass, manufactured in Austria, is considered the premium brand of Strass due to a patented anti-dust coating (an invisible optical coating making it easier to clean and maintain) and name recognition.
What is elegant crystal?
Elegant Crystals specializes in locating and selling large natural quartz crystal clusters and points; crystal balls and distinctive gem sculptures from all over the world.
How can you tell if a crystal chandelier is real?
Examine the Glass Color The color of the glass in an old crystal chandelier is another clue as to its origins and age. The high lead content of a 19th-century chandelier makes the glass appear to have a gray tint. This is a good indication that the chandelier is authentic and not a modern reproduction.
How do I know if my chandelier is worth money?
Like any collectible, a chandelier that is in good, original condition will have more value than one that is in poor condition or that has been extensively refurbished. Examine the crystal to look for chips and cracks. Check whether any pieces of the crystal are missing or have been replaced with newer material.
What is the difference between K5 and K9 crystal?
K5 OR K9 BOROSILICATE GLASS ("CHINESE CRYSTAL") Borosilicate glass is not, strictly speaking, crystal, as its lead content is below 10% (the original terms "K5" and K9" refer to the percentage of lead oxide content -- 5% and 9% respectively). K9 glass should be considered to be a higher quality than K5 glass.Nov 23, 2019
How can you tell glass from crystal?
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.Jan 28, 2019
What is the difference between crystal and lead crystal?
Technically, only products with at least 24% of lead should be appropriately termed as "lead crystal", while products with less lead oxide or glass products with other metal oxides instead of lead oxide, should be termed as "crystallin" or "crystal glass". Still, these are all often popularly termed as crystal.Feb 2, 2018
Are old brass chandeliers worth anything?
A brass chandelier is a surprisingly common scrap item. Older brass chandeliers often show unsightly oxidation marks and their often cheap construction means they are worth more as scrap brass than they are worth as used chandeliers.
What is a Marie Therese chandelier?
The Maria Theresa chandelier is a very distinctive style of light fitting, first appearing in Austria in the 18th century. The distinctive metal frames are always faced with cut crystal glass and held in place with small glass rosettes. They will always be dressed with crystal pendalogues.
Are crystal chandeliers out of style?
Crystal Chandeliers - Out Of Style or On Trend? Traditional crystal chandeliers are still popular in today's dining rooms, living rooms, and formal entry areas. A crystal chandelier makes a dramatic statement in any room with high ceilings, lighting up the full volume of the space.
What are the hanging crystals on a chandelier called?
What are the crystals hanging from a chandelier called? Chandelier crystals, which can be any color, cut and polished into many different sizes and shapes, are called pendalogues—occasionally spelled as pendeloques.
Is K9 real crystal?
K9 is an optical crystal type that uses borosilicate and 10% lead content. It is mass-produced in China and has imperfections and low inclusions perfect for optics, decorative crystal chandeliers, lenses, and prisms. Its physical properties are excellent.Feb 8, 2021
What is 9k crystal?
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. K9 glass, sometimes referred to as K9 crystal, is a variety of optical borosilicate crown glass. The letter "K" is a reference to the German word for "crown" (Krone) and the number 9 refers to the lead content of the glass (9%).
What is gemcut crystal?
Gemcut crystal is first quality, machine cut crystal glass of a clarity and flawlessness far beyond industry standards. Though not as good as Strass or Swarovski crystal, gemcut is characterized by a prismatic brilliance, visual purity, sharp faceting and precise polishing all its own.
What is crystal chandelier?
A crystal chandelier helps create a visual focal point that draws the eye and suggests a romantic, magical intimacy that other types of lighting simply cannot reproduce. Today, Schonbek chandeliers, James R. Moder chandeliers, Vienna Full Spectrum chandeliers, and others create dazzling new designs in crystal.
Why are chandeliers hung from the ceiling?
Chandeliers were originally candle holders and were hung from the ceiling to illuminate a room – and reduce the risk of fire.
How is crystal made?
Then each crystal is polished on a wood wheel with marble dust. You may notice faint traces of the wood wheel in finished pieces, a mark of authenticity.
What is crystal used for?
A new trend in the use of crystal is in table and floor lamps, and in the application of decorative crystal directly to the frame or body of lamps and other fixtures. No matter where it is used, crystal offers a one-of-a-kind look that can be treasured and enjoyed for generations to come.
What is Venetian crystal?
Venetian crystal is molded and fire-polished rather than hand or machine cut, resulting in a beautifully subtle luminosity. It is modestly priced, compared with cut crystal. This contemporary ceiling light features K9 crystal, which offers a brilliant look at a modest price. 6. K9 and Chinese Crystal.
Who makes Spectra crystal?
Spectra Crystal. Swarovski crystal glass is manufactured by Swarovski AG. Generally less expensive than other Swarovski crystal, Spectra crystal is offered only in limited sizes and shapes compared with Strass crystal. Egyptian crystal is featured in this contemporary chandelier. 3.
What is the difference between glass trim and crystal trim?
Glass trim reflects light while crystal trim refracts it. Within a solid white environment, glass will have no color. Crystal, on the other hand, will still display fire and brilliance regardless of the presence of color. All that is needed is light.
How to tell if a crystal is hand polished?
When looking closely into the facets of hand-polished crystal, one can see slight grooves in the crystal left by the polishing wheel, as each facet of the crystal was pressed by hand and individually polished.
What is the difference between Aurora Borealis and Clear Crystal?
Clear crystal needs direct light to really create lovely rainbows on nearby surfaces, while the Aurora Borealis crystal looks beautiful even without direct light. The Aurora Borealis treatment is applied to one side of the prism and looks like a multi-colored rainbow that is reflected through the prism.
How is wood polished crystal made?
Wood-Polished Crystal. In a labor-intensive process, wood-polished crystal is first cut by hand in two stages on iron and then sandstone grinding wheels. Then each crystal is polished on a wood wheel with marble dust. You may notice faint traces of the wood wheel in finished pieces, a mark of authenticity.
What is Italian crystal?
Italian crystal is molded and fire-polished rather than hand or machine cut, resulting in a beautifully subtle luminosity. Fire-polished crystal is characterized by concave facets (instead of flat facets), the appearance of a slight texture within the crystal, lessening optical clarity, and a noticeable characteristic of reflecting color in the environment instead of refracting light into a prism of color within the crystal. It is modestly priced, compared with hand-cut crystal.
What is the least expensive type of glass?
Pressed Glass & Chinese Crystal. Generally made from sand, soda, and lime heated in furnace and then pressed (molded), or “drawn” (re-shaped), this type of glass is the least expensive. Chinese crystal is cut and polished like more expensive grades, but lacks the high optic quality and precision facets.
What is Spectra lead crystal?
Gem cut, Egyptian, or Spectra Lead Crystal. Gemcut, Egyptian, or Spectra lead crystal (made with 24%-30% lead oxide) is some of the finest refractive crystal. There is no noticeable difference between 30% and 24% machine-polished lead crystal. Lead improves clarity and softens glass for cutting.
Same style chandelier from different brands, need advice on which one
I found the chandelier shown in the picture below is made by 3 different manufacturers, Elegant Lighting, Worldwide Lighting and Lighting by Pecaso.
Comments (5)
You can always use less wattage in a bulb so the Elegant Lighting would give you the most option to adjust the amount of light.
What is the difference between cut glass and lead crystal?
Cut glass and lead crystal are both made from glass, but lead crystal contains an extra material that enhances the brilliance of the glass.
What is the difference between crystal and glass?
Examine for transparency of object. Absence of color is indicative of crystal, while glass will have some light hints of green or yellow. The light refraction in crystal can produce a rainbow effect. Cut clarity and smoothness is also an indication of crystal, as glass will have some roughness.
Why does lead crystal feel heavier than glass?
Comparing an object of the same size, the lead crystal object will feel heavier than its cut glass counterpart due to the weight of the added lead oxide. If you don't have two similar pieces for weight comparison, you can use your ears to determine whether you have cut glass or lead crystal. Lift the item up and place it close to your ear.
Is lead crystal thinner than glass?
Lead crystal is often thinner than glass, as the material can be manipulated during manufacturing to create more delicate shapes without breaking. Confirming the cut glass or lead crystal piece may be easier with a known manufacturing company, year, or location of production.
What is the difference between a rose cut diamond and a brilliant cut diamond?
Both a rose cut diamond and a brilliant cut diamond can be found in a round shape, a pear, or an oval cut diamond.
What is the difference between a brilliant cut and a step cut diamond?
These step cut facets result in a different light return than a brilliant cut diamond. While a modern round brilliant cut will be lively and sparkle, a step cut diamond will display flashes of light, sometimes referred to as a “Hall of Mirrors” effect. This effect is often seen in emerald cut and Asscher cut diamonds.
What is antique cut diamond?
Antique cut diamonds reference the diamond cutting techniques that precede the modern-day manufacturing processes. Diamond cutters would hand-cut diamonds into shapes and dimensions which captured the essence of the era. Instead of the lively, sparkly nature of modern cut diamonds, a vintage cut diamond is less brilliant and emits a subtle, ...
Why are step cut diamonds used in diamond cutting?
Step cut diamonds lend themselves to diamond cutting because their shape allows more of the raw diamond to be preserved in the cutting process. This means less waste is produced when cutting step cut diamond shapes. In turn, combined with a lower demand, this means that the price point of step cut diamonds is often more affordable than that of brilliant cut diamonds.
How many facets does an old European diamond have?
Cut by hand, an old European diamond also has 58 facets and was created in the late 19th century. This diamond cut is characterised by its high crown, small table and large culet that gives old European cut diamonds an incredible presence on the hand.
What is the new diamond cut?
With the increase in diamond cutting machinery, cutting diamonds entered a new realm of precision, introducing the brilliant cut diamond. A new diamond cut that possessed brilliance and fire-or more often referred to as sparkle. This new cut allowed diamonds to shine bright and became the new cutting standard for traditional ...
Why are vintage diamonds so popular?
Vintage cut diamonds have risen in popularity over recent years due to their desirable delicate and gentle look. The imperfections of vintage cuts are also seen as part of their unique charm. With its soft brilliance, rose cut diamonds embody old-world romance and are distinctly subtle.
How much lead is in crystal?
Crystal drinkware generally contains 18-35% lead, and it goes even higher if the piece isn't for mouth use...
Why are broken pieces of crystal blended?
Broken pieces of crystal are often blended in to help smooth the consistency and reduce waste. Once melted, the glass is kept temperature controlled in batches that correspond to output. That brings us to the second key component of fine drinkin' crystal—it's almost never produced strictly by mold.
Why is lead important in glass?
They also increase material clarity and heighten refraction of light, which is an important feature in good glassware that becomes amplified with facet cutting. Higher lead content also reduces viscosity, making the material more elastic and easier to work with at lower temperatures than standard glass.
Is crystal glass hand blown?
Despite using molds for generic glass production for centuries, and tons of technological advances in the last 50 years alone, crystal is traditionally hand crafted, and most mid- to high-end companies still hand blow their pieces. Nearly each piece still passes through the hands of several skilled blowers and formers.
History of the Round European Cut and Round Brilliant Cut
The round shape has existed since the late 19th century when the development of new cutting technologies. The old European cut was a stalwart favorite of the Victorian, Edwardian, and Art Deco eras that came shortly after its introduction in the late 1800’s.
Differences & Criteria for Cut
The differences between the two cuts are subtle since they both have a round shape. Both have 58 facets (57 when there isn’t a culet). As mentioned, the primary visual differences are the quality of light the diamond reflects and its general brilliance.
Ideal Settings for Both
Whether you select an antique, old European cut or the flashier modern brilliant cut diamond, you are guaranteed to have a diamond of spectacular beauty and brilliance. However, you’ll want to select a setting that is ideal for your specific diamond cut.
