| Glass has been made for thousands of years, | | | | decorations. The term 'diamante' refers to a |
| becoming a real craft with the advent of | | | | sparkling decoration, and could mean any sort of |
| monastery and cathedral building in the middle | | | | cut crystal or diamond substitute. |
| ages. The continent, especially Venice, saw a | | | | Crystal shouldn't be confused with cubic zirconia |
| trade develop and skilled glassblowers were highly | | | | however, which has a very different chemical |
| valued. Glass is made from the basic ingredients | | | | makeup. CZ was produced to simulate diamonds |
| silica, soda and limestone, but other minerals were | | | | and is not glass-based like lead crystal. It is also |
| added to create different colours. The | | | | clear with a higher perfection than real diamonds. |
| manufacturing process was also refined over the | | | | Crystal is often coloured for effect; in fact one of |
| centuries to achieve less imperfections and a | | | | the advantages of crystal is that it can easily be |
| higher quality end product. | | | | coloured to achieve a huge range of styles. |
| In the 1600s, a process whereby lead was added | | | | Nowadays machines are used to cut crystal, |
| to the glass mixture was patented. It was | | | | because of their higher efficiency and also |
| discovered that the lead improved the quality of | | | | precision. Where only simple styles were possible |
| the glass, with a higher lead content leading to less | | | | before the modern age, now complex, faceted |
| imperfections. Glass with added lead was harder | | | | crystals are commonplace. All over the world |
| and brighter, and produced a ringing sound when | | | | manufacturers can buy crystals to make up into |
| struck. It lent itself well to cutting, and with the | | | | jewellery or other decorative items, although |
| advent of lead glass, glass-cutting took off. | | | | some like Swarovski still pride themselves on |
| As the number of glasshouses increased and | | | | doing everything, from production to design, |
| became lucrative, the government decided to tax | | | | in-house. |
| them, putting many out of business. Those that | | | | As well as being cut to make decorations, crystal |
| survived all had their own glass recipes and their | | | | is also used in the same way as ordinary |
| own designs. In the 1800s the Swarovski | | | | glassware. Most households have a good set of |
| glasshouse was founded and is now world-famous | | | | lead crystal glasses, although it's still the case that |
| for its crystal. | | | | lead crystal is too expensive for everyday use. |
| Crystal refers to leaded glass, which because of | | | | The manufacturing process is more time |
| its manufacturing process and superior qualities, is | | | | consuming, and the extra ingredients that are |
| more expensive than ordinary glass. Swarovski | | | | added must of course be sourced. When it comes |
| crystal is set apart from other types because of | | | | to jewellery and decoration however, crystal is |
| its unique cutting and polishing process. All of the | | | | cheaper by far than the real thing and many |
| factory's products are made in-house, with each | | | | glasshouses pride themselves on the high quality |
| piece of crystal cut specifically for a purpose. | | | | of their product. Settling for crystal isn't |
| There are many other types of crystal however | | | | necessarily settling for second-best. |
| which are used in chandeliers, jewellery and other | | | | |