10 Ways to Tell Crystal from Glass

By Greg Trudelle, Vice President of Sales

Crystal is an upgrade from regular glass, and can be found in everything from wine glasses to recognition awards. Glass is made out of soda-lime silica (sand). Traditionally, crystal meant lead crystal, with lead added to make it finer and more desirable, but many crystal awards today are lead-free (optical crystal). Since it looks so much like glass, however, it's easy to confuse the two. Here are ten ways to identify crystal.

1. Crystal is Heavier

Hold the piece in your hand, testing its weight. If you can, compare the weight to a regular glass piece that's about the same size. Lead is heavy, so the high lead content in lead crystal makes it much heavier than a comparable piece of glass. Lead-free optical crystal has no lead to add that weight, so this test points to lead crystal.

2. Crystal can be Thin or Finely Detailed

If the piece is a drinking glass, or if it has a lot of small detail, take a close look at the width and how finely the piece is made. The lead content in lead crystal allows for thinner widths and finer details than regular glass. Lead-free optical crystal doesn't always show this difference.

The difference between glass and crystal

3. Crystal Edges are Rounded

Feel along the edges of the design. If the piece is crystal and was formed that way, the edges will be rounded rather than the comparably sharper edges of molded glass.

4. Crystal has Sharper Cut Edges

Some crystal is cut, in which case the cuts will be much sharper than molded glass. Cut crystal also tends to be cut very precisely and sometimes very intricately.

5. Crystal is Exceptionally Clear

What could be clearer than glass? Well, crystal, actually. If you look through glass, it's actually a bit cloudy. Crystal, on the other hand, is extremely clear.

6. Crystal Sparkles

There's a reason why people hold a piece up to the light to determine whether it's crystal. In addition to being exceptionally clear, crystal may actually sparkle in the light, especially lead crystal with a higher lead content.

7. Crystal creates Prism Effect

In addition to being notably clearer than glass and possibly even sparkling, crystal often creates a prism effect. If you look through the piece and see rainbows, there's a good bet you're looking at crystal.

8. Crystal will appear Blue or Purple Tint Under Black Light

One of the best ways to identify crystal is to shine a black light on it. Due to the lead content, lead crystal will have a blue or purple tint to it, whereas glass just looks a dull green color under black light. Lead-free optical crystal won't show the tint.

9. Crystal creates a Ringing Tone

You've probably seen or heard of people tapping a glass with their spoon to test the quality. If it's crystal, it'll ring with a clear-sounding tone. Unless you have a finely tuned ear, however, this may not be the best way to determine if you're looking at a piece of crystal or glass.

10. Crystal is Pricier

Finally, one of the most telling signs of whether an item is crystal is often the price. Glass is much less expensive to make, making it a more affordable option for many. The lead content in lead crystal and the more refined manufacturing make crystal a pricier, but much more elegant, option.

Because of how much finer and more beautiful it is, crystal offers an elegant way to recognize exceptional contributions, such as from an employee or team. Looking for a memorable way to honor your staff's hard work? Check out Able Recognition for a selection of crystal awards that are both classy and professional. Or if you are looking for quality but on a tight budget, check out our large collection of glass trophies.

Crystal vs Glass FAQs

How can you tell crystal from glass?

Check the weight, the clarity and the sound. Lead crystal feels heavier than a glass piece of the same size, looks clearer, throws a prism of color in the light and rings with a clear tone when tapped. The ring test is hard to judge by ear, so check weight and clarity as well.

Does crystal show a color under a black light?

Lead crystal shows a blue or purple tint under a black light, while glass looks dull green. The tint comes from the lead, so a lead-free crystal piece will not show it.

Is crystal more expensive than glass?

Yes. Glass is cheaper to make, and crystal takes more refined manufacturing, so a crystal award costs more than a glass one of the same size.

How long does it take to get crystal awards?

AbleRecognition emails a proof within 2 business days and ships stock awards 5 to 7 business days after you approve it. Custom designs take 2 to 6 weeks after final design approval, and you can call 1-866-313-2253 about a rush order.