What is your lead crystal worth?
Many customers want to know what their lead crystal is worth. You have old crystal or even old lead crystal at home, received it as an inheritance or got hold of Romans at the flea market. Before you dispose of the crystal glasses, you should already know whether you have a lead crystal treasure with value in front of you.
Approaches to determining the value of lead crystal glass
The following approaches to determining the value of lead crystal are not the solution, but you can determine in advance whether it is high-quality glass with value. In principle, crystal glasses with a "seam" are machine-made, so they are more recent and therefore not valuable.
- Do you have old crystal » Determine the age of the lead crystal, e.g. by trademark research
- Check the glasses for damage; Scratches and streaks reduce the value
>> Damage to the handle or the crown reduces the value considerably
>> Damage to the engraving or deep grinding should not be noticed during an inspection
BUT: don't throw it away right away, because rarities made of lead crystal have value even if they are damaged - There shouldn't be any turbidity. Polish the glass thoroughly beforehand to rule this out
>> Poor care, e.g. by washing in the dishwasher instead of by hand, reduces the quality - the refraction of the sun should bring out a brilliant shine, this may be confirmed by real lead crystal >> the less the glass sparkles, the worse the quality
- Check the sound of the crystal glass, only lead crystal sounds bell-like and clear
>> please be careful: older glasses are not as stable as the newer generation - look for a seam, no matter how strong, this means mass machine production; usually these are unsightly and immediately noticeable
If you are still of the opinion that it is crystal glass of value, you can now go to step 2:
Trademark research to determine the value of lead crystal glass
The basis of high-quality lead crystal are high-quality production facilities or traditional manufactories. Manufactories such as ARNSTADT Kristall have a long tradition and history. The quality of the lead crystal is the top priority here. Only the best material is used! All glasses are mouth-blown and ground by master craftsmen.
- many manufacturers use their own branding on the bottom of the lead crystal
>> here are imprints, scratched signs or factory engravings as indications of authenticity
Especially with older lead crystals, these are often rubbed off. If necessary, use a magnifying glass to identify fragments - some manufacturers have paper labels labeled 24% lead crystal
>> this does not guarantee that the material is of high quality, provided it comes directly from the manufacturer, but does not mean that it is an antique. Trademark research to determine the value of lead crystal glass
Antique dealers to determine the value of lead crystal glass
Going to the antique shop is now the most important step. Please do this step last and not first, as many professionals charge a fee for their knowledge. Auction houses can also provide exact information here. Catalogs from earlier times are used here to help determine the age.
More information on lead crystal and crystal glass
To the lead crystal glasses from Arnstadt Kristall
As a manufacturer of lead crystal, Arnstadt Kristall is one of the leading manufactories in the world. The manufacturing process of our lead crystal is 100 percent "handmade". Compared to other manufacturers, at Arnstadt Kristall, the glass is mouth-blown and cut by hand. This is what defines a lead crystal maker. Below you will find the link to our crystal glasses.