As my Mom would say, there’s a lot of glass in the world. Being in the home consignment biz, it’s one of the things I see the most. Sometimes the glass is just glass (pressed, cut or otherwise) and sometimes it’s crystal. Glass, especially hand-blown glass and vintage glass, can be quite valuable, but ordinary, mass-produced glass is not. Crystal, however, tends to hold more of it’s value and some crystal is downright valuable. So when you’re out there treasure hunting, it’s important to know the difference. Read on to learn how to tell crystal from glass.
How To Tell Crystal From Glass? One Way is Clear
The Expression “crystal clear” is not just an expression when it comes to determining crystal from glass. Crystal is clearer than glass because of the way it’s made. A clean piece of crystal (sometimes hard to find, if you’re thrifting) should sparkle in the light. Glass just doesn’t sparkle in quite the same way.
It’s a Weighty Decision
Crystal pieces have weight. Crystal should feel heavier than a piece of glass of the same size. Why? Because crystal actually contains lead. You can’t see it, but it’s there. In fact, to be considered crystal there has to be at least 24% lead or it’s just not crystal. I know that you may have seen that some makers are now creating “lead-free” crystal, but it’s technically not crystal. So pick up the piece that you’re considering and give it the weighty test to find out for yourself.
How To Tell Crystal From Glass? Another Way is To Look For a Signature
When I do a good job, I am proud to sign my name to it. The same can be said for good crystal pieces. Makers like Waterford, Swarovski, Steuben, Baccarat and Lalique most often etch their names on their pieces. When you’re out hunting, you can bring a jewelers loop or magnifying glass to check for these, because sometimes these little devils are hard to see and/or find.
Check For Seams Too
Pressed glass will always have seams. Sometimes, like a crystal signature, they are hard to see due to the pattern, but they are there. It’s another way to tell crystal from glass. Crystal will not have these tell-tale seams.
Insider Tip: Shops like Consignments Ltd. are great places to score crystal, from goblets to candlesticks and beyond. And the prices on cyrstal are substanially less than regular retail, so get out there!
If you’re still hungry to learn more, check out my previous blogs like: Is This An Antique and How To Identify 5 Common Types of Vintage Glassware.
And Now For A Little Music Before We Go…
Have a lovely day, my friends. Hope it’s crystal clear how much I appreciate you. Marianne
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