The first thing you want to be able to do is tell glass from crystal. You should know the different levels of led in crystal and glass. The more content of lead that you find in your glass, the better your crystal quality will be. For example Swarovski crystal contains at least 30% lead content, and is considered to be a superior gifting option.
The sparkle in you crystal comes from that lead content, so the better the sparkle the better the gift, or the better to add to your growing crystal collection.
Fake crystal gifts are sold in many shops and you don't want to be embarrassed when you proudly give a gift to your mom, only to find out that it is a cheap fake that you paid really good money for. The best thing to do is only buy well-known brands that you know can be trusted. Swarovski and Waterford are some of the best, as you probably already know if you know anything about crystal at all.
There are many different places that you can buy quality crystal. Take your time, do your research, and follow the tips above. Buying crystal from just anywhere isn't a good idea, the shop needs to be very reputable, and have a very good selection.
Choosing crystal doesn't have to be as hard as some people think, if you do your research and compare prices as well. Good crystal is worth its weight in gold, and you want only the very best for anyone you are gifting with crystal or for your very own collection as well.
