Month: August 2022

Tempered glass is about four times stronger than ordinary glass. And unlike annealed glass, which can shatter into jagged shards when broken, tempered glass fractures into small, relatively harmless pieces. As a result, the inside remains in a state of tension, while the outside goes into a state of compression. These competing forces are what make tempered glass so much stronger than annealed glass.

What is Tempered Glass?

Manufactured through a process of extreme heating and rapid cooling, tempered glass is much harder than standard glass. Regular, annealed glass undergoes a thermal tempering process that increases its strength and changes its composition to shatter differently.

In a furnace, the glass is heated to a temperature of more than 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit before being rapidly cooled with high-pressure air blasts. Due to this, the glass’s exterior layers cool much more quickly than its interior layers, which causes the interior to cool and separate from the outer layers. 

Who Invented Tempered Glassware?

The Duralex factory in France invented the tempering process for glassware and its Picardie range of glassware sets is the top seller among tempered lines. It’s used in restaurants, cafes, and bars worldwide and also sold in retail sets for home use.

The picardie glasses come in a range of different colours, as well as sizes.

What Are Some Advantages of Tempered Glass?

It’s safer

The fact that tempered glass was created with safety in mind gives it a significant benefit over annealed or regular glass. Tempered glass shatters into tiny, relatively safe granular fragments as opposed to annealed glass, which shatters into big, deadly shards.

It’s tougher

Tempered glass is produced using a thermal tempering technique that significantly increases its strength compared to regular glass. Strong gusts, direct hits and bumps, and small explosions cannot break tempered glass.

It’s heat-resistant

The maximum temperature that tempered glass can withstand is 470 degrees Fahrenheit. Tempered glass is perfect for use in kitchen appliances and in rooms like the bathroom because of this quality, where it will likely be exposed to heat frequently.

It’s crystal clear

Despite tempered glass being extremely robust, its clarity is unaffected. Tempered glass works well in windows, glass doors, and exhibition cases because it is transparent and optically clear.

It doesn’t scratch easily

Tempered glass is made with a manufacturing process that also makes it scratch-resistant. This makes tempered glass the perfect material for windows in passenger cars, kitchen appliances, and screen protectors for smartphones.

So there you have it. If you’re looking for glass that will last a lifetime, look no further than tempered glassware.

With a dedicated team of craftspeople, Crystalex has been the center of the Northern Bohemian glass industry, offering the best of Czech glassmaking craftsmanship. The company remains the largest manufacturer of drinkware in all of Czechia and ranks among the top glass manufacturers globally. 

Sparkle™ glass is used in the production of every one of product, therefore they chose to develop a trademark that would encompass all of its distinctive qualities under a single symbol. The premium Bohemia Sparkle™ trademark caters mostly to the segment of hotels, restaurants, and catering (HoReCa). Products carrying this logo satisfy the requirements for professional glassware, including a thicker glass wall and a firmed rim.

The Bohemia CrystalTM trademark, which ensures the highest quality in both materials and production processes, has been on Crystalex products for more than 50 years. Products marked with this distinguished trademark have come to represent the tried-and-true excellence of Czech glassmaking craftsmanship.

The brand flaunts several ranges, of which we stock:

Sandra Range

Raise a glass with these sculptural glasses from the Sandra Range. Crafted with expert precision, the crystal glasses are distinguished by their streamlined silhouette and weighted bowl. These glasses are generously sized, which allows them to maximise the flavours and aromas of red and white wines alike.

Xtra Range

A natural for happy hours and special gatherings, these easy-care pieces from the Xtra Range are durably made and maintain their clarity through years of use. These versatile glasses come in classic shapes to show off a wide range of wines, champagnes, and cocktails.

Tulipa Optic Range

The Tulipa Optic Range is an entertaining staple and makes for a great gift. Sophisticated with an intricate pattern, the high-end glasses add visual interest and style to the table or home bar. The collection offers every glass you might need, from a beer glass to a champagne flute.

Turbulence Range

These glasses are made using a special technique that makes decanting wine quicker than ever before. Give the glass a light swirl, and the Turbulence glass will oxidize the wine in mere seconds, allowing the full bouquet of flavours to bloom on  your palate. The one-of-a-kind design eliminates the need for traditional decanting which can take hours.

Established and proudly produced in South Africa, Crane Crystal is a brand that highlights its commitment to sustainable processes by giving back to nature, one box at a time.

All glassware and packaging are made in environmentally friendly factories, and the crystal is made of crystalline sand and free of lead, BPA, and other toxins.

Ivo Zrcek, the director of Crane Crystal, was inspired by his love of animals to work with World Wide Fund for Nature South Africa. He spends a lot of time photographing the untainted African terrain, exploring the wilderness, and being in nature. He is acutely aware of the loss of biodiversity and the plight of endangered species, which amplified his desire to support the cause.

Each Crane Crystal range is represented by a threatened species.

The Blue Crane, the national bird of South Africa, represents our Lara Range. With their rounded bodies, both are graceful and majestic. The red and white wine glasses, champagne flutes, and all-purpose tumblers are for your enjoyment.

The Bistro Range has been strengthened and toughened for usage in the hospitality and industrial sectors, making it as rugged and durable as the Rhino. The set has a wide selection of glasses, from gin glasses to wine glasses.

The Cheetah is the emblem of the Club Range. These tumblers are slim and lightweight yet standing tall and having graceful lines.

The Vision Range is represented by the shark, because of its wide open mouth. The versatile glasses include a lightly weighted base to keep your drinks cool and are simple to sip tall and short drinks from.

Have a whale of a time with the Stemless Range. The collection is great for travelling and socialising and come in 3 sizes.

Every Crane Crystal purchase contributes to the conservation effort.

Although it is much easier to drink straight from the bottle or a can, you really are not doing any justice to beer or your taste buds. It is always advised to use the proper beer glassware to enhance your appreciation of the beer style.

The shape and size of a glass will allow specific styles of beer to best showcase their aromas, flavours, carbonation, colour and head, allowing you to enjoy the beer at its very best.

Let’s examine the most common types of glasses and the beers that go best with them.

IPA

The IPA glass has a distinct appearance and personality. It is specifically designed to release complex and volatile aromas that a beer style like an IPA naturally possesses. Its distinctive form brings out the hops’ citrus and grapefruit flavours while balancing the strong bitterness and sweetness of the malt. Its distinct ridges also work to aggravate the beer, refreshing the head with each sip.

Our Favourite:

Pint

A pint glass is the most typical type of glass you’ll encounter. These medium-sized, cylindrical glasses have an opening at the top and a body that is only slightly narrow. The broader top gives room for the head, or “foam,” that forms at the top of a beer and lets the beer release its aromatics. Although simple to produce and convenient to drink from, these glasses are not the best choice for aromatic beers because the aroma will escape from the broad mouth far too soon.

Our Favourites:

Tulip

Barrel Aged Beer represents the height of a brew master’s talent and passion. When it comes to the aroma, flavour, taste and mouthfeel of these speciality beers, long-term wood ageing gives beer the most complex character possible. The Tulip Beer Glass is exclusively designed for a beer connoisseur to admire the speciality beers.

Our Favourite:

Pilsner

Pilsner-style beers have an aromatic structure that is mainly characterised by delicate hop aromas. Along with having a thick head and a light, refreshing body, it also has excellent carbonation. The Pilsner glass enhances the colour and carbonation of the beer while also supporting the thickness of the beer.

Our Favourites:

Hefeweizen

The shape of this tall glass highlights the flavours and aromas that are present in Weissbiers by nature. Hefeweizen glasses are large in order to hold volume and display a creamy/fluffy head. This glass is suitable for wheat beers made in the Bavarian style.

Our Favourites:

What About Mugs?

Although mugs are the traditional container for drinking beer, they are not the best form for serving it. However, we won’t disagree that they add a certain amount of traditional fun to the beer-drinking experience.

Our Favourites:

In the end, the greatest glass to drink beer from is the one you choose. It doesn’t matter what shape or size it is; it’s the one you like to hold and look at, and maybe it even stirs up some good memories for you.

What’s the difference between lead and lead-free crystal wine glasses? And why does it matter? In this article, we clarify the differences between the two, outline why lead-free crystal stemware is made, and list the advantages of both.

What is Crystal?

Crystal contains the same components as glass (sand, soda, ash, and limestone) but must contain at least 24% lead. The lead component is very traditional, but it also adds layers of cost to the product.

Why Was Lead-Free Crystal Created?

In modern history, the potential health risks of lead have led to the development of lead-free crystal. It has a similar refractive index to lead crystal, but it is lighter and it has less dispersive power. The lead-free crystal is made by replacing the lead oxide in production of the glass with barium oxide, zinc oxide, or potassium oxide. These replacements to lead weigh far less and provide greater strength and flexibility.

How Can You Tell the Difference Between the Two?

Generally speaking, crystal that contains lead can be very fragile, and the lead adds weight to the glass.

In general, you can recognize lead crystal products by the fact that they are slightly heavier than lead-free crystal products. 

What Is Each Used For?

True lead crystal is incomparable to substitutes in terms of brilliance and heft. The production is also more demanding, which also translates into a higher price for the products. As a result, this material is primarily utilized for luxury and gift items.

Lead-free crystal is more often used for the production of thin-walled table, household, and gastro glass (glasses and decanters), but it is also used to make vases, bowls, and jewellery.

Note: wine (and other acidic beverages) may leach the lead out of the crystal in unsafe quantities, therefore you should not store liquors or wine in lead crystal decanters for extended periods of time. Use of lead crystal for small quantities of time, say at the dinner table, are acceptable.