Crystal Gifts

A complete range of crystal and glassware gifts

Crystal can be defined as fine glass to which are added ingredients to such as lead oxide. The leads makes the crystal easier to cut and is responsible for the 'bell-like' ring that is produced when a piece of crystalware is pinged. Crystal gifts are very popular today and provide a connection to an industry which has existed for over 400 years. Craftsmanship is a key factor in crystalware and glass manufacture with many items still hand-blown using traditional manufacturing techniques. Whilst crystal remains a traditional gift item, glassware is also now very popular and thanks to its versatility can be formed into a number of every day gift items. 24% is considered the optimum amount for full lead crystal (and is a legal requirement) to achieve the best weight, level of colour, sparkle and hardness.

At Roberts of Rhyl we are fortunate to be able to offer a wide range of items. Some of the most popular gifts made from crystal are sets of champagne flutes, glasses or goblets, sometimes with a decanter and sometimes not. Our purchasing power means that we can offer many items with huge savings. More traditional items include bowls, vases and photoframes. The reason crystal remains such a firm favourite is the feeling of quality that the receiver experiences immediately they unpack their gift. The weight and finish of a fine piece of crystal giftware becomes obvious and many of our customers place their presents in display cases. Often backlit, these can provide a nice feature within a dining room or kitchen and easy access for occasional use.

Glass gifts and Glassware (an article of glass made for a table setting) in itself is growing in its importance as a gift. The reasons for this are the wonderful creations being manufactured by some of the leading designers in the industry. Glass as a material is far more flexible (when molten) and can typically have colours added to it to introduce a further dimension to the glass product itself. The manufacture of glass has been around for many centuries and predates Roman times.

Points to consider when purchasing a piece of crystalware or glassware include:

Occasion - what occasion is the gift celebrate ? Often pairs of items such as wine goblets are chosen if a young couple are the recipients or a larger single item such as a fruit bowl or vase.

Budget - obviously an important consideration.

Delivery - some items are more delicate than others so please make sure you can safely transport the gift. Whilst most items are well packed, extra care is needed when using carrier services. There is nothing worse than arriving after a long journey only to find that the packaging suffered transit damage and the item has brocken or been chipped. As an addition we always recommend that clients insure the item whilst in transit.

Practical use or keepsake - some gifts are more practical than others and some more of a keepsake which will be expected to rise in value of the years. Where will the gift be placed inside a home or office ? Will it be safe and out of the reach of troublesome hands ?

Insurance - most of the giftware and collectables we sell will rise in value. They are either limited edition pieces or will have a short manufacturing life. For this reason they will rise in value and we recommend that the recipients photograph them and log the details with their insurers.

Gender - sometimes overlooked we often consider crystal and glassware for female partners and friends but a suitable piece of crystal such as a photo frame or bowl can be just as well received by their partners.

Roberts of Rhyl stocks a wide range including crystal and glassware by the following well known companies:
Caithness Glass - Delyn Glass - Royal Doulton Crystal - Royal Scot Crystal - Waterford Crystal

If you cannot find what you are looking for please email us or contact us direct.