A Crystal Rose Bouquet Lasts Longer

With roses covered in treasured metals like gold & silver are becoming more & more popular, just envision a rose immortalized in hand cut crystal that matches the other loved crystal pieces you have in your household. A crystal rose or 2 or three, would be a beautiful addition to any collection. Or, if you aren't lucky enough to own crystal, a rose in crystal could be the beginning of something that can blossom into the future. Crystal is a timeless memento that can be treasured for years to come.

Glass has existed since the third millennium BC, although nobody is quite certain exactly when or where glass was first made. Crystal glass doesn't come until much later, when an Englishman named George Ravenscroft discovered crystal in 1676. He found that by adding lead oxide to the glass, made a more brilliant sparkle.

Crystal glass originated in Europe, with factories in Germany, France, Italy & the Czech Republic. This is done by mixing the sand & lead oxide and, depending on the quality of each factory polishing techniques are the clarity of the sparkling crystal varies. The iron found in sand, glass with a greenish colour often the result after mixing. It's for this reason that the sand of the highest purity (such as white sand) is applied.

Benefits of using lead, when making crystal will result in the glass, which is heavier, shinier, more transparent & clearer & brighter, but the lead content also means that the crystal is soft & fragile. To lead crystal (as discovered by Mr. Ravenscroft), gives the glass sparkling effect that's highly valued worldwide.

For the environment today, lead in crystal is replaced with a lead-free material called optical crystals. Besides being better for the environment, this glass is very flexible & easier to shape.

Knowing that you can buy a hand-crafted crystal rose that makes them even more attractive to have. The craftsmanship designed with each crystal rose is amazing and you can be sure that no two will look the same. This only adds to the beauty of each piece & each is one of a kind. Roses have always symbolized eternal love, but to have a crystal rose need not mean anything special other than to admire the beautiful art immortalized in one of the most popular flowers. The next time you're thinking of buying a bouquet of roses that'll last only a short time, why not consider a crystal rose bouquet instead?

Sophia Grace is a collector of unique rose items including crystal roses. You can view a huge selection of unique roses and other plated rose gifts at Plated Gold Roses.