Monday, July 13, 2009

Choosing Crystal Wine Glasses Is Simple

By Anne Durrell

Crystal wine glasses are made from glass that contains lead oxide. Lead oxide is added to the glass to increase the density. When the density is increased, the glass becomes shinier and more reflective. 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.

Many people wonder why they find imperfections in their crystal pieces. This is due to the process of making the glass. Hand crafted crystal wine glasses often have seed bubbles that are visible in the glass. These bubbles are created when small pockets of air get trapped inside the glass.

Other imperfections include chill marks and slightly cloudy places. Imperfections are found on even the finest hand crafted crystal wine glasses. These 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.

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

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.

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

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!

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