Why Crystal?

Heavier and with more sparkle than regular glass, crystal contains lead oxide, which makes it more reflective, so giving it its brilliance. 'The kind of cut crystal your grandma keeps for special occasions may have up to 35 per cent lead, as this makes it softer, so easier to cut,' says Richard Haliday, marketing director at Dartington, 'but generally 24 per cent is fine.' The lead is also why crystal is costly and feels heavy.

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