Why are Crystal Awards More Expensive than Glass?

There are many options available for organizations when it comes to buying custom awards and trophies for a group or individual upon their success. Awards are made with glass, wood, acrylic, crystal, stone, and more. However, the most popular materials you will see are glass and crystal. Crystal being the better-suited option for most big occasions—such as personalized crystal sports awards. Crystal awards also tend to be more expensive than glass ones. This is because crystals are already challenging to manufacture. And the addition of personalization—which is anything from engraving to carving—is not a cheap thing to produce. 

Crystal Awards Vs. Glass Awards

A lot of custom awards and trophies contain some glass or crystal because of their durable properties. But the two are quite different. What makes crystal awards more expensive than glass? This list will help you determine the answer.

Chemical Composition

The first thing that separates the two is their chemical makeup. Although some glass and crystal may look very similar on the outside, they contain some very distinctive materials. First, they both contain limestone, silica (sand), and some other additives. But the special ingredient present in only crystals is lead oxide. Glass contains very little to no traces of lead oxide. But crystals may contain 24% or a higher percentage of lead. This makes crystals stronger than glass and gives them a lot of their interesting properties.

Damage Resistance

Glass and crystal are both hard and tough surfaces, but it’s obvious which one is stronger. When dropped, the glass will shatter just as easily as crystal. But since crystals are more delicate and heavy, they will suffer the most impact. Nevertheless, the two are very scratch-resistant. Unlike other cheap alternatives like acrylic or wood, they cannot just be polished over to repair the damage. Crystal and glass would both require professional help to treat scratches. 

Aesthetics

Because of the lead content present in crystals, they are much transparent and shinier than glass. Crystals that contain over 30% of lead oxide may even sparkle! So you would understand what makes them suitable for custom awards and trophies. Crystals also diffract light. Hold up some glass towards direct light. What you’ll notice is that light simply goes through it. However, if you hold up a crystal in its place, it will separate the light into rainbows which you can see for yourself. 

Weight

Holding glass and crystal in both hands can easily distinguish one from the other. Of course, the weight can depend on the size and design of the trophy, too. However, a crystal award will be much heavier and denser than a glass one of the same size and shape. This is because of the added lead content found in crystals. 

Customization

What makes glass and crystal so attractive in creating awards? Well, the two are very malleable or easy to sculpt. They both usually go through a thermal heat process which allows for engraving and other designing. Crystal is a lot more workable, though. Because of its durability, it can be refined to sharp edges and fine embellishments. Glass would crack if it went through that same melding process. 

Price

Crystal is a special product that has incredible light refraction, lustre, and durability. It’s the ideal product for high-quality custom awards and trophies. These characteristics make it a bit more expensive to customize than glass. 

Which One is Better?

Both glass and crystal can withstand an incredible amount of resistance and a thermal-heat process to customize them to preference. They are both very durable and long-lasting. That being said, crystal awards are far better faring than glass awards. 

Crystal awards are quite strong. This makes them perfect for sculpting and for adding intricate details and designs. They can go through a variety of processes and remain intact. Crystals are also heavy and dense which makes them scratch-resistant. This density adds to its shelf life. As a result, they last longer and require less maintenance than glass. 

What you choose depends on what you need them for. It also depends on the budget and the type of organization. Crystal is a huge hit for personalized crystal sports awards. A lot of high-end or well-known companies order crystal awards. Before choosing a material, explore other options as well. Reflect on the final design you want. Do you prefer it to be shiny? Perhaps you want some engraving done. If you want a delicate award with great detailing, a crystal award would better suit your purposes. Its weight is suitable for big occasions and even make it luxurious! If you want a much simpler design though, go for a glass award. They are dainty and not too over-the-top as far as awards go. 

Personalized Crystal Sports Awards

All kinds of institutions and organizations use custom awards and trophies. But they are especially common in the sports industry. From celebrating a child’s first goal to an all-star NBA player, personalized crystal sports awards are handed out multiple times during the year. Awards given at big occasions are usually made of crystal. Since they are highly intricate and shaped precisely, this product is very ideal for their creation. These awards are created by high-quality professionals. These professionals may even mix the crystal with other products such as glass and acrylic. The sculpting process, as a result, is a lot more intensive and requires a lot of hard work. This adds to their price. However, the final result is worth the time and money. 

Summing Up

No matter how similar crystal and glass awards may look, there is more to them than what you see on the surface. Glass and crystal awards make for beautiful custom awards and trophies—such as personalized crystal sports awards. They are both very durable and aesthetic products. However, crystal awards tend to be more expensive due to their luxurious properties. Crystals are a lot shinier, they’re heavy, and can withstand intricate detailing. Glass is quite similar in the sense that it’s physically similar. They are also processed and refined to look elegant. But which product you choose for an award depends on your budget and what you want the final product to look like.