Crystal Chandelier Buying Guide - Types of Crystal Chandeliers

If you want a truly eye-catching light fixture for your home, then you should consider a getting crystal chandelier. Crystal chandeliers are sophisticated modern lighting pieces that can fit in just about any home, making it look more dazzling and elegant. They are available in many different types and styles, as well.
Chandeliers which use crystal have several advantages over the more common glass chandeliers. For one, crystals are harder, although their actual hardness varies depending on their composition, so they are not as easily breakable. Crystals are also able to refract more light, especially if they have a high lead content, and also possess a clarity and depth not found in glass. Because of this, a crystal chandelier is more expensive, costing from several hundred dollars to a few thousand.
Although most crystals are clear, they can also come in different colors just like glass to make the chandelier more attractive. In some cases, the colored crystals are even combined with the clear ones in order to create a dazzling spectrum of light.
There are several different types of crystals that are known to be used in crystal chandeliers. The most expensive is the Strass crystal, considered to be the most perfect kind of crystal in the world, although for this reason, it is more commonly used in jewelry. Rather, the Swarovski crystal, which is made by the same company based in Austria, is the one that is more commonly used in chandeliers, being less expensive and yet still very brilliant.
There is also the gemcut crystal which is made in Egypt which is sharp and well-polished and the handcut crystal from Turkey. Each handcut crystal is unique, having gone through a process that has been in place for centuries.
Some chandeliers also use Italian crystal, which is molded instead of cut, making it radiant, while others use the cheaper Chinese crystal, rock crystal or quartz crystal. The overall quality of the chandelier depends on the type of crystals it uses so the finer the crystals, the more beautiful the crystal chandelier is, as well, and the more expensive. If you want, you can have it custom made so that you can specify the kind of crystals you want to be used with the chandelier, as well as their shape.
Once you have your chandelier in place, you will notice an immediate difference in the room, both in its appearance and the ambience. You can accentuate this difference even more, though, with supporting light fixtures. Indeed, the chandelier is your central light fixture but it does not have to be the only one. Rather, you can choose other modern lighting pieces which can be also made of crystal to help make the room even more stylish, such as crystal wall sconces and table lamps.
One thing you should know, though, is that crystal chandeliers can be difficult to clean, especially since you may have to wait for it to drip dry after spraying it or washing it with a special cleaner. Still, this is a small price to pay for the effect it creates in your home, which, if experts are to be believed, is more than just a decorative effect but also a flow of positive energy that can make the home more relaxing.