So you have made the decision to buy a crystal chandelier for your home or business. The next step is choosing the best chandelier for the job. There are many different types of crystal chandeliers, so this can be very confusing. Before making the investment, be sure to read on to get the most crucial tips to finding the best crystal chandelier. (There is also a special section below on spotting the fake from the real).
Get a good start on choosing your crystal chandelier
First, get the ground work research done. You need to figure out exactly what context your crystal chandelier will be going in. Look at the room you will be putting it in. Take note of the height of the ceiling, location, and surrounding context.
Do you want a chandelier that will be bold and be the centerpiece of your room, or do you want a chandelier to be a little more subtle and blend into the existing colors of your room? What dimensions do you want your chandelier to be? Do you want a black crystal chandelier or a regular crystal chandelier? These are all important questions, so be sure to make a list of all the different design considerations you can think off, before going out to look at the options for crystal chandelier lighting.
Shopping
Next go out and see what there is out there. Chandelier crystals come in many different colors, so take your time to look around to see what this looks like with the chandelier turned off and on. You need to test different lighting conditions; if possible, check out what the crystal chandelier light looks like during the day, and lit up in the evening.
Bring in your ‘style’ sheet with your dimensions that you researched at the beginning and talk to a few people about what may best suit your needs. Remember a great way to get a good feel for thing s is to look at existing rooms that already have a chandelier, whether it is online or in a magazine, just to gauge what the chandelier will look like in context. You want to get a feel for the chandelier and the chandelier crystals in context, other than just seeing them next to other chandeliers in the shop.
Spotting fake crystals
Before you make the purchase, be sure to see whether the crystals are fake or not. Remember that a fake chandelier can still look just as good, and will be a lot more affordable too. (Your friends do not have to know if it is fake).
Remember to look for proper purity, clarity, cut and good color when looking at a crystal. The crystal should not have a green or gray cast, and the surface should be nice and smooth.
When made, crystals are polished either by fire, hand or machine. Fire polished crystal facets on the glass are not as crisp and are often the cheapest of all crystals. Next up are hand cut crystals which gives the glass crisper facets. The best crystals are machine cut to ensure precise and quality crystals every time. Some of the finest crystals made, such as the Swarovski crystal, are cut with a machine.
Now that you have done the initial work, gone for a look around and checked to see if your chandelier has real crystals or not, it is time to make the purchase and install. Remember that a beautiful chandelier combined with proper maintenance can last a very long time and spruce up the atmosphere of any room. Get the research done and follow the tips above to ensure you get the best crystal chandelier you are looking for.