How to choose a crystal chandelier

Crystal chandeliers are not only a material enjoyment, but also an expression of spirit. A string of strings spread a brilliant light, like auspicious light shining brightly, benefiting all things and extending blessings.

Crystal chandeliers originated in Europe in the mid-17th century, initially used in courts and nobles. Later, they were introduced to China and widely used in hotels, residences, or luxury banquets. Nowadays, crystal lamps have also been widely used in our daily residential design.

Chandeliers should not only be objects of illumination, but also have a soul and connotation. The inner state of mind and taste of craftsmen are hidden in every finely crafted detail of this lamp, which requires you to savor it carefully.

01 Selection of Crystals

The types of crystals are mainly divided into natural crystals, synthetic crystals, fused crystals (also known as melted crystals), followed by K9 crystals.

For natural crystals, there are few natural crystal lighting fixtures on the market, so we won't introduce natural crystals too much here.

Synthetic crystal, also known as regenerated crystal, is a single crystal, also known as synthetic crystal or piezoelectric crystal.

Regenerated crystal is formed by using hydrothermal crystallization method to "mimic the growth process of natural crystal", by placing natural silicon ore and some chemical substances in an autoclave and gradually cultivating them for 1-3 months (for different crystals).

It is identical to natural crystal in terms of chemical composition, molecular structure, optical properties, mechanical and electrical properties, while in terms of birefringence and polarization, regenerated crystal is purer and has better color than natural crystal. After processing (cutting, grinding, polishing), various shapes of particles are obtained, which are crystal clear, dazzling, wear-resistant, and corrosion-resistant.

Smelting crystals, which are commonly referred to as synthetic crystals in the market, is actually inaccurate.

Smelting crystals is usually done by melting crystal waste as raw material under high temperature and pressure, and then freezing and crystallizing it. It does not possess the crystalline properties of crystal, so this cannot be confused. However, it is resistant to high temperatures, so it can be made into crystal cups, baking pans, tea sets, etc.

K9 crystal, also known as K9 glass imitation crystal or synthetic crystal, is even more incorrect. Although K9 glass is mainly made by melting silicon dioxide, 24% lead is added during the melting process, which is actually lead glass.

Why add lead? Generally, glass appears blue or green and does not look like crystal. However, after adding lead, the whiteness of the glass is very high and looks very much like crystal. Especially, K9 glass containing 24% is the most crystal like, so it is more appropriate to call K9 glass a simulated crystal.

02 Advantages and disadvantages of crystal chandeliers

The high-end synthetic crystals used in lighting products are represented by the well-known brand Swarovski.

We can see with the naked eye that the colors reflected by this high-end synthetic crystal are colorful and impurity free, and there will be laser markings on each crystal

Melted crystals are made by melting and may have a small amount of small bubbles or flocculent patterns that mimic natural crystals.

The essence of K9 imitation glass crystal is still glass. Common products include crystal medals, crystal lamps, crystal photo frames, etc. Therefore, K9 crystal is the most common in lighting products. It generally does not reflect colorful light, but is mainly pure white and transparent

03 Selection of Crystal Chandeliers

What other issues should we pay attention to when purchasing crystal lamps?

1. The main structure and accessories of the crystal lamp include not only the crystal, but also the lamp frame, bead chain accessories, and overall color matching. In addition, it also depends on the matching of the crystal cutting shape and the overall lighting fixture.

2. Try to choose big brands for crystal lights, as the variety of crystal categories is difficult to discern with the naked eye. And big brands will engrave their own laser logo on each crystal, which is difficult to imitate.

3. Crystal connectors, crystal pendants on crystal lamps usually have metal connectors. When selecting, be sure to pay attention to the material to avoid rusting, wear and tear, damage, and other phenomena during use.

4. Finally, maintenance is important. Due to the large number of pendants on crystal lamps, cleaning and maintenance in the later stages can be a tedious task. Large brands usually provide matching cleaning services.