How can you tell the difference between glass and crystal?

Question

eg. does it break? how easily? appearance? etc...

Answer 1

Give your glass a small flick. The sound it produces is very intense.  

Answer 2

When you tap a crystal glass with fingernail or something similar, it 'tings', glass doesn't.

Answer 3

Obviously, if you drop it you will break it, but just so you know, crystal breaks into a multitude of tiny "diamonds".

Answer 4

Look at the label.

Answer 5

Hi Queenie,

Glass is made from sand and has many different degrees of quality.

Leaded glass (usually found in stemware) is simply glass that has been combined with lead to make the glass stronger so that they can make it quite thin and it wont be too brittle. It will "ping" if you flick it (for best results, do it somewhere where the glass is thinner).

Crystal is simply high quality glass. It does not have to contain lead (although it can) and it does not have to be cut (although it can). It is just a high quality glass.

Glass shatters the same way (whether it is crystal or not, leaded or not).  The only time glass shatters differently is when it is tempered (use in window panes, car windshields ...).  Tempered glass will shatter in very small pieces which prevents injury to people.

Hope that helps.

Mario

Answer 6

Tap a crystal surface with something like the bottom of a spoon. It will ring like a bell.  Ordinary glass will give a dull thud.  An expert can tell the quality of crystal by this sound.