REVIEW: Czech Cut Crystal

Oh, cool, I was just thinking/wondering about the Czech crystals ) Thanks
for the review!

Got a question for ya: I've seen "Celestial Crystal" being sold in a number
of places lately (I had previously thought they were a FMG *exclusive*).
Are those the Chinese crystal you are talking about? Or are they Czech?
I've never bought any, because, honestly, I am wary of anything called
crystal and priced that low. I was raised in a "you-get-what-you-pay-for"
home ;o)

--
Kyla Nicole
http://tinyurl.com/3dweh -My scrap gallery
http://digi-bits.kylanicole.com/home.html -FREE digi-scrap graphics!
http://www.kylanicole.com -Handmade sterling jewelry

snip
So that's it: The Austrian crystals are still the nicest, but their
lead is narrowing. If I worked for that company, I'd be sweating and
doing everything I could to make my beads even nicer, so that I could
maintain my reputation for the ultimate in crystal bead quality. The
Czechs are catching up very quickly, and for the money, they provide
one whole lot of glitter. The Chinese stuff, sad to say, is crap,
and is not really worth buying in bicones, at least. Their cubes
aren't too bad for the money.
snip
Kathy N-V

Thanks Kathy! I love your reviews!

--
Jerri
www.beadbimbo.com

Can you suggest some sources please?

Tina


"Kathy N-V" wrote in message
.com...
A little while back, I mentioned that some of the crystal I saw in
the Czech Republic was every bit as lovely as Austrian Crystal.
However, until recently all I've seen was Czech fire polished glass,
which is nowhere near the same thing. Our friends at Shipwreck Beads
have changed that though, and are now selling a huge assortment of
cut Czech crystal.

I bought a few packages to compare it with Austrian crystal, simply
because the price is so good that I can use it in giveaway items.
Giving away Austrian crystals is a lot more than I can afford, and
besides, it makes my stomach hurt. Like lampwork, I thnk that most
people don't appreciate the beauty of those expensive crystal beads
that begins with an "S" and ends with a "rovski," if you know what I
mean.

Because I use bicones most of the time, that's what I bought: clear
AB, light siam and dark topaz AB. I have some of the good stuff in
each of those colors at home, and did my own totally non-scientific
comparison. I took a sampling of each type and compared them in room
light, under fluorescent light and under my Ott light. I looked at
the holes and the facets as well as the color and coating to see how
well it was done. I also compared the clear AB crystals with some
Chinese cut crystal I have kicking round.

The Austrian crystals are still the nicest, but the Czech stuff is
catching up quickly. I was unable to find out the lead content of
the Czech bicones, but it seems to be a lot higher than that of the
Chinese crystal, which looked sad compared to the other two kinds.

The faceting on both the Czech and the Austrian crystal was
beautiful, and I can't really choose one over the other. The
Austrian crystal may have had a very slight edge because of greater
quality control, and because I buy from Letrinka, who culls out the
bad ones before shipping. One clear edge the Austrian crystals has
is in he AB coating: the Austrian crystals are much more nicely done
than those from the Czech Republic. The non-AB beads are a whole lot
nicer, and would be a worthy substitute.

So that's it: The Austrian crystals are still the nicest, but their
lead is narrowing. If I worked for that company, I'd be sweating and
doing everything I could to make my beads even nicer, so that I could
maintain my reputation for the ultimate in crystal bead quality. The
Czechs are catching up very quickly, and for the money, they provide
one whole lot of glitter. The Chinese stuff, sad to say, is crap,
and is not really worth buying in bicones, at least. Their cubes
aren't too bad for the money.

I think I'm now all caught up on the reviews I've promised. Hooray!
My next task on the list to to get caught up on the orphanbeads I
want to distribute and the Princess Auctions, of course. I need
several more hours each day, or a clone - a healthy one, of course.
;-)

Your intrepid reporter,

Kathy N-V

Tina:
She mentioned Shipwreck in her opening paragraph.

Lisa
"Christina Peterson" wrote in message
...
Can you suggest some sources please?

Tina


"Kathy N-V" wrote in message
.com...
A little while back, I mentioned that some of the crystal I saw in
the Czech Republic was every bit as lovely as Austrian Crystal.
However, until recently all I've seen was Czech fire polished glass,
which is nowhere near the same thing. Our friends at Shipwreck Beads
have changed that though, and are now selling a huge assortment of
cut Czech crystal.

I bought a few packages to compare it with Austrian crystal, simply
because the price is so good that I can use it in giveaway items.
Giving away Austrian crystals is a lot more than I can afford, and
besides, it makes my stomach hurt. Like lampwork, I thnk that most
people don't appreciate the beauty of those expensive crystal beads
that begins with an "S" and ends with a "rovski," if you know what I
mean.

Because I use bicones most of the time, that's what I bought: clear
AB, light siam and dark topaz AB. I have some of the good stuff in
each of those colors at home, and did my own totally non-scientific
comparison. I took a sampling of each type and compared them in room
light, under fluorescent light and under my Ott light. I looked at
the holes and the facets as well as the color and coating to see how
well it was done. I also compared the clear AB crystals with some
Chinese cut crystal I have kicking round.

The Austrian crystals are still the nicest, but the Czech stuff is
catching up quickly. I was unable to find out the lead content of
the Czech bicones, but it seems to be a lot higher than that of the
Chinese crystal, which looked sad compared to the other two kinds.

The faceting on both the Czech and the Austrian crystal was
beautiful, and I can't really choose one over the other. The
Austrian crystal may have had a very slight edge because of greater
quality control, and because I buy from Letrinka, who culls out the
bad ones before shipping. One clear edge the Austrian crystals has
is in he AB coating: the Austrian crystals are much more nicely done
than those from the Czech Republic. The non-AB beads are a whole lot
nicer, and would be a worthy substitute.

So that's it: The Austrian crystals are still the nicest, but their
lead is narrowing. If I worked for that company, I'd be sweating and
doing everything I could to make my beads even nicer, so that I could
maintain my reputation for the ultimate in crystal bead quality. The
Czechs are catching up very quickly, and for the money, they provide
one whole lot of glitter. The Chinese stuff, sad to say, is crap,
and is not really worth buying in bicones, at least. Their cubes
aren't too bad for the money.

I think I'm now all caught up on the reviews I've promised. Hooray!
My next task on the list to to get caught up on the orphanbeads I
want to distribute and the Princess Auctions, of course. I need
several more hours each day, or a clone - a healthy one, of course.
;-)

Your intrepid reporter,

Kathy N-V

Can you suggest some sources please?

Our friends at Shipwreck Beads
have changed that though, and are now selling a huge assortment of
cut Czech crystal.


~~
Sooz