Where your crystal and glass awards come from-

One of the biggest confusions in the promotions industry is the difference between crystal and glass. At the end of the day crystal IS glass and glass IS crystal. The main difference between all of these different types of glass and crystal is the quality of the material and what is put in to it.

Below are 3 of the main types of glass/ crystal that you will see throughout our product line and the industry. If you have any other questions about Jade Glass, Optical Crystal, or Leaded Crystal feel free to contact one of our customer service representatives and they will be more than happy to educate you or your client about the material and processes used.

Jade Glass is formed from silica sand and gets its green tint from the amount of iron ore that is added to the mixture. The thicker the glass the more apparent the green tint is but it is still transparent and when beveled and polished makes a great award. Almost all jade glass is machine made as it is a lower cost material and widely mass produced. The most popular styles of jade glass awards would be the curved plaques and crescents which are perfect for tight budgets. You can view an example of one of these styles of awards by clicking here.

Phoenix Jade Glass Award

Optical Crystal is formed from molten material that is subjected to intense pressure to make sure that there aren't any issues such as formations or air bubbles inside of it. Once its hardened and ready to be made into a masterpiece the crystal is polished, cut and beveled into the appropriate design. Optical crystal is mainly made in China and is known for it's flawless pristine quality. The blocks come in a variety of colors but the most popular are; Clear, Blue and Black. There are many more colors to choose from but will have to be special ordered upon request for custom projects.
Here are a few images of Optical Crystal in its raw form...

Clear Optical Crystal

Black Optical Crystal

Orange Optical Crystal

Blue Optical Crystal

Lead Crystal is said to date back to the 1600s where it was and continues to be featured as a premier luxury item. Lead crystal is formed from glass that has been treated with lead oxide to add clarity and refraction that sparkles and durability for creative designs and facets that are added to the crystal by skilled craftsmen. Some of the most talented glass blowers can be found in Poland, Italy and Czech Republic. Being that the highest quality of this material comes from talented artisans there is a premium on these goods. You get what you pay for and lead crystal products are definitely the cream of the crop in the world.

Volore Lead Crystal Vases

To give you an idea the amount of craftsmanship that has to go in to producing just one piece check out the video clip below which features artists blowing glass and molding the glass.