Things You Should Know About Crystal Wine Glasses

Posted by Anne Durrell on Jul 20, 2009

by Anne Durrell

Crystal wine glasses are created from glass that holds lead oxide. Lead oxide is added to the glass to increase the density and when the density is increased, the glass becomes more reflective and shinier. Crystal wine glasses often reflect a brilliant array of color.

The number of colors that are reflected from the glass depends on the amount of lead that is added to it. Crystal wine glasses are heavier than glass wine glasses because of the lead content. The amount of lead added to the piece determines the weight of the crystal.

Hand created crystal wine glasses often have seed bubbles that are visible in the glass. These bubbles are made when tiny pockets or air get trapped inside the glass. That is why, a lot of people wonder why they find imperfections in their crystal pieces. This is because the process of making the glass itself.

The imperfections are often only seen by holding the glass up to a light. They are not a sign that the glass is faulty, but they are more likely a sign that the glass was made by hand. Imperfections are found on even the finest hand crated crystal wine glasses, and other imperfections include chill marks and slightly cloudy places.

Proper care of your crystal wine glasses is important if you want them to last for a long time. Since crystal is a soft glass it is easily scratched. Crystal can be scratched by tiny particles of dirt, dust and sand.

Care Tips for Your Crystal Wine Glasses:

* To prevent the crystal glasses from being scratched, try to not carry a handful of crystal glasses at one time. It is better that the pieces do not touch each other or other items as well.

* It is also very important that you do not use harsh cleaners such as ammonia if you need to soak your crystal glasses. Instead, stick with a solution of mild dish soap and warm water.

* If you decide to put your crystal glasses in the dishwasher, it is best that you always use the gentlest cycle. Many experts will always tell you to never put your crystal stemware in the dishwasher.

Giving crystal wine glasses as a gift is a fantastic idea. They make a beautiful addition to any collection. They also make great keepsake to hand down to future generations. With proper care, they will last for many years!

About the Author:

Anne Durrel originally comes from Stockton, California, USA. She has written many articles about Wine . Other guide you may be interested in reading: wall wine rack tips, and wood wine rack guide!