Material Reference

The information below will school you on the different types of materials we offer; highlighting their pros and cons.

24% Full-Lead Crystal

Full-lead crystal ranges from colorless to a subtle blue tint. Excellent sparkle. Larger pieces in this category are exceptionally heavy due to lead content. Glass will ring when pinged. Expect minor bubbles and swirls that are inherent to full-lead crystal. Variations will occur on styles with hand-cut patterns due to its hand-crafted nature. Not suitable for hot liquids.

Acrylic

J.Charles exclusively uses cast acrylic for all products. Cast acrylic is an optically clear thermoplastic. Lightweight. Shatterresistant. Excellent clarity. Pure and colorless. Dimensions may vary slightly due to polishing. Acrylic is a generic term for trade names: Crylux, Plexiglas, Acrylite, Lucite, and Perspex.

Aluminum

Machine-cut aluminum. Brushed finish is bead-blasted or radial-sanded. Dimensions are consistent.

Art Glass

Mouth-blown and formed by hand. Expect bubbles and swirls that are inherent to mouth-blown and fully hand-crafted glass. Dimensions and weight will vary from piece to piece. Designs and patterns within the glass may vary significantly. Colors are brilliant. Weight is substantial.

Bent Glass

Machine-made. Small bubbles and other imperfections may occur. Dimensions are consistent. All planes are highly polished. Glass has a deep jade tint. The thicker the piece, the more pronounced the jade color.

Break-Resistant Crystal

Small imperfections may occur but are not very common. Dimensions are consistent. Crystal walls are medium weight. Crystal is colorless. Excellent sparkle. Drinkware is dishwasher safe. Stemware is dishwasher safe providing the dishwasher is not too crowded. Not suitable for hot liquids.

Ceramic

Expect minor blisters or other imperfections inherent to ceramic products. Dimensions may be slightly inconsistent. Actual colors may vary from catalog photos.

Chrome, Copper & Bronze-Plated Resin

Resin items are formed in a mold and then chrome, copper, or bronze-plated. Small imperfections are the nature of this process and may occur.

Chrome & Gold Plated Metal

Metal items are formed in a mold and then chrome or gold-plated. Substantial weight. Small imperfections are the nature of this process and may occur.

Color Opitc Crystal

Machine-made. No imperfections. All planes are highly polished. Available in a variety of colors. Excellent clarity and sparkle. Exceptionally heavy. Black and white optic crystal is very opaque. Dimensions may vary slightly.

Granite

Though more consistent than marble, granite is a natural material and by its very nature is not perfect or consistent from piece to piece. Expect minor variations in color and patterns. All granite products are hand-crafted and slight variations in size and shape will occur.

Hand-Blown Crystal

Expect minor bubbles and swirls inherent to hand-blown crystal. Dimensions and weight will vary from piece to piece. Crystal may have a very subtle aqua tint. Very good clarity and sparkle. Substantial weight. Variations will occur on styles with hand-cut patterns due to its hand-crafted nature. Not suitable for hot liquids.

Jade Crystal

Machine-made. No imperfections in the glass itself. All planes are highly polished. Glass has a deep jade tint. The thicker the piece, the more pronounced the jade color. Good clarity. Thicker pieces in this category have substantial weight.

Machine-Blown Crystal

Small bubbles and other imperfections are rare and not considered defects. Dimensions are consistent. Crystal walls are thin. Crystal is colorless. Excellent sparkle. Not suitable for hot liquids.

Machine-Made Glass

Small bubbles and other imperfections may occur and are not considered defects. Dimensions are consistent. Not suitable for hot liquids.

Marble

Marble is a natural material and by its very nature is not perfect or consistent from piece to piece. Expect variations in color, texture, and veining; small surface cracks may also occur. All marble products are hand-crafted and slight variations in size and shape will occur.

Optic Crystal

Machine-made. No imperfections. All planes are highly polished. Pure and colorless. Excellent clarity and sparkle. Exceptionally heavy. Dimensions and bevels may vary slightly and are not considered defective.

Starphire Crystal

Machine-made. No imperfections in the glass itself. All planes are highly polished. Glass has a slight aqua tint but is not nearly as green as jade crystal. Very good clarity and sparkle. Substantial weight.

Tempered Glass

Machine-made. Small bubbles and other imperfections may occur and not considered defects. Dimensions are consistent. Clear mugs may have a slight aqua tint. All tempered mugs will have a seam opposite the handle. Substantial weight. Durable. Safe for hot drinks and the dishwasher.

Wood

Wood is a natural material and by its very nature is not perfect or consistent from piece to piece. Expect variations in color and texture. All wood products are hand-crafted and slight variations in size and shape will occur.