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.
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.
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.
