What's the Difference Between Glasses and Crystal?
March 03, 2016
During special occasions, it is customary to drink wine, champagne, and other alcoholic beverages to celebrate. It is common to bring out the wine glasses or the crystal and raise a toast to newlyweds, to successful projects, and new beginnings, among others. For the average
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person, distinguishing between glasses and crystal may be difficult at first glance. Many find that they look exactly alike with only a few subtle differences. Those who are interested in acquiring glasses or crystal, however, should know these differences, especially when it
comes to their chemical composition, thickness, clarity, cut, refraction, sound, and weight. Additionally, it is also important to know the potential health issues that a person may suffer when choosing to go for either of the two materials. Whether the glasses and crystal are purchased on eBay or from a brick-and-mortar retail store, shoppers should arm themselves with information before investing in a set of expensive drinkware.
Overview of Glass and Crystal
Before delving into the key differences between crystal and glass, it is important to first define what they mean in popular culture. For starters, most people are not aware that "crystal" actually refers to "lead glass." Below is a quick chemical composition lesson as well as the different types of glass and crystal that can be found on the market.
Glasses
Glasses are containers that are manufactured using glass. This term is often used for drinkware that may or may not have handles. Glass, as a raw material, normally refers to the soda-lime, which makes up over 90 percent of all the glass that is manufactured today. Below is a brief description of the chemical composition of the different types of glasses.
Soda-Lime Glass
Soda-lime glass is made from lime, soda, and silica. This is the most typical kind of glass for light bulbs, windows, tableware, and figurines, among others. Because its components are readily available in nature, it is also the most inexpensive.
Borosilicate Glass
Borosilicate glass, or Pyrex, is composed of silica, boric acid, soda, and other additives. This kind of glass is often used in the laboratory and the kitchen since it is corrosion- and heat-resistant.
Fused Quartz
Fused quartz glass is made from melting organic quartz crystals in at high temperatures. This type of glass is typically used for laboratory equipment, halogen lamps, and high-end cameras.
Crystal
When most people talk about bringing out the "crystal," they are often referring to a type of glass that is made from silica, lead oxide, soda or potash, and other additives. Lead crystal is prized for its durability and decorative properties, even if it does not necessarily possess a crystalline structure. It is referred to as crystal because, years ago, the Italian term "cristallo" was used to refer to Murano glass imitations. Lead crystal is the type that is most commonly used for wine glasses and other decorative ornaments around the home. In the U.S., glasses with a lead monoxide content of 1 percent are automatically categorized as crystal. In Europe, on the other hand, crystal is defined as glass with a lead content that ranges from 10 to 30 percent.
How to Distinguish Between Glasses and Crystal
Aside from the chemical composition, which is not apparent at a glance, there are many ways to identify whether or not drinkware is made from glass or crystal just by observation. Listed below are some of the key differences of these two materials.
Thickness
Compared to glass, fine crystal may be thinner or more decorative because the lead content lowers the working temperature of the glass, making it easier to sculpt. Normally, glass has to be fired to high temperatures with only a short window of time to blow or mold it. The presence of lead lowers the temperature and extends the working time, allowing crystal to be more ornately decorated compared to glass. However, while the presence of lead helps in sculpting it to the desired shape, it also makes the crystal more fragile, breakable, and prone to scratches.
Clarity
Glasses, especially those made from soda-lime, are cloudy even when held up against the light. Crystal, on the other hand, is known for its clarity. This is why crystal is a popular choice for chandeliers, jewelry, and stemware. For wine lovers, crystal is preferred over glass because crystal drinkware allows for an easier appreciation of the color and viscosity of the liquid. The higher the lead content in crystal, the greater the clarity.
Refraction
Similar to clarity, the crystal's refractive quality also has a great deal to do with its lead content. Fine crystal, particularly if it has a lead content that ranges from 36 to 70 percent, sparkles in direct sunlight. Optically clear crystal, another type that contains lead, goes a step further and is polished until it is blemish- and distortion-free. This type of crystal is known for the rainbow prisms it creates when placed under the sun. Glass, on the other hand, is more opaque.
Cut
Crystal is typically cut and polished in a precise manner. Additionally, it is also smooth to the touch. In contrast, glass tends to be brittle and sharp. One way to tell if a piece is crystal or glass is to feel the facets and overall design of the item. Crystal is much smoother than glass.
Sound
Another key difference between glass and crystal is the sound that it makes when tapped. Crystal produces a ringing sound like a "ping" when it is clinked. On the flipside, glass makes a low sound like a "thud."
Weight
The crystal's lead content also plays a crucial role in its weight. Because lead is a dense metal, crystal is naturally heavier than glass. One way to find out if the item is crystal or glass is to hold it. Glass is often lightweight, while crystal has a solid feel.
Potential Health Hazards
Most manufacturers do not advise storing food or liquid in lead crystal glassware due to the possibility of lead contamination. In fact, because of the health risks presented by lead, it is rare to find lead crystal wine glasses or alcohol decanters today. For those who are looking for lead-free crystal, some manufacturers use zinc oxide, barium oxide, or potassium oxide in place of lead to create a similar material. Lead-free crystal has nearly all the same qualities as lead crystal except that it is lighter and has less dispersive powers. Glass made from soda-lime, borosilicate, and fused quartz, on the other hand, pose no health hazards.
Shopping for Glasses and Crystal on eBay
People who wish to shop for glasses and crystal online should start by visiting the eBay homepage. Look for the Search bar and key in "glasses" or "crystal" depending on what you are looking for. Using general search terms like these allows you to browse a very wide selection of items. Some people, however, prefer to start with something more specific like "lead-free crystal wine glass" or "crystal chandelier." You can narrow down the search results even further by selecting one of the pre-set eBay filters. The filters provided allow the person to drill down the results based on condition, category, price, shipping, and seller location.
Instead of just typing the search term and pressing enter, eBay provides the user with an alternate way of searching the marketplace. With the Advanced Search function, you can type in what you wish to look for and select additional parameters to give you only the most relevant results. For instance, Advanced Search allows the user to select that they only want products with free shipping. You can even state that you only want to deal with local sellers or sellers that live in a particular radius. This allows you to take advantage of sellers who are fine with local pickup instead shipping the item through the mail. In fact, this is particularly helpful for those who do not want to risk breaking fine crystal. Additionally, Advanced Search can help in sourcing both new and used glasses or crystal. If you have questions for the seller, eBay allows you to communicate using the Ask a Question link on the product page.
Conclusion
Glasses and crystal are used for drinking wine and other spirits. Soda-lime, borosilicate, and fused quartz are just some of the varieties of glass out there. While crystal is simply a type of glass that contains lead, popular culture calls it "crystal." When differentiating crystal from glass, it helps to look at it based on the item's thickness, clarity, refraction, cut, sound, and weight. In terms of thickness, crystal is normally thinner and more ornately decorated than glass. Glass, however, is more opaque and cloudy-colored than crystal, which is known for its clarity. As for refraction, crystal sparkles and casts rainbow prisms when placed in direct sunlight, unlike glass. Additionally, despite being precisely cut and polished, crystal is smooth. Glass, on the other hand, is sharper to the touch. Crystal also makes a ringing sound when clinked, while glass makes a low, solid sound. When it comes to weight, crystal always has a more solid feel than glass. However, it also presents the most health risks, too. Lead from the crystal can leach into food and drink after prolonged exposure. There are significant differences between crystal and glasses. Choosing between the two depends entirely on individual taste and budget.
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