Crystal Clear
A comprehensive guide to cover all facets of buying and investing in quality crystal
It’s that time of year when the bonhomie of the New Year may have worn a little thin but the patina of fatigue has still not tinted the cheer. So it’s a good a time as any to think about some retail therapy and serious buying. Whether your buys feed your indulgence or satisfy the time-honoured tradition of gifting families and friends, here’s the time to shatter the glass ceiling.
Gift of craftsmanship
✿Crystal stands the test of time when it comes to the fine balance between the traditional techniques, know-how and design that is made contemporary. It is not confined to a gender or a specific lifestyle. Be it for a homemaker, working professionals, newly-weds or wine amateurs, crystal makes for great gifting. Investing in crystal is not a simple gift, it is a manifesto of good taste and lends support to the exclusive craftsmanship which has been passed down
and enriched from generation to generation. With the number of handmade pieces decreasing with each passing year, craftsman-led crystal is a novelty. Mouth-blown and hand-cut by master glassblowers and glasscutters have been named among the very best in France.
The perfect pick
Given the exclusivity of crystal, there are certain aspects to choose the right crystal piece. My advice: pick a double-layered crystal to a painted one as the colours will be more vibrant and the radiance clearer in the former. One must also choose hand-cut over other mechanical cuttings; the depth will be gorgeous and the shapes will be sharp. Since crystal fits beautifully across all aspects of one’s life, there’s no dearth of what one may choose for the perfect gift. However, barware, home décor pieces and office accessories are preferred picks. From Saint-Louis, I would recommend the Royal doublelayered boxes, Folia portable lamp, the Chess Game, a paperweight with vintage millefiori pattern or composition, a table lamp especially from the Folia collection, a set of glasses and especially the one dedicated to degustation; Manhattan for mixology and Twist 1586 for wine degustation.
Limited edition
One of the foremost trends in gifting crystal has been to consider ‘sets’ that represent a portion of lifestyle for the receiver— votives, candleholders and barware collections. However, lately I find a new trend that is emerging since the last two years given ‘exclusivity’ that becomes a key watchword while selecting gifts—limited editions by designers or pieces that require sophisticated craftsmanship.
Make it personal
Customisation is another truly extraordinary hallmark. As a result of special orders from royal courts, the first chandeliers appeared at Saint-Louis in the mid-19th century. Ever since, the manufacture has continuously been drawing inspiration from its classics, producing customisable (cuts, decoration, colours) range of lighting.