What is pressed and overcut crystal, as opposed to mouth blown and hand cut crystal?
Most hollow pieces can be mouth blown. The mouth blowing is done by the traditional age-old methods and are always more expensive obviously than machine pressed. The pattern is then cut into the crystal on the cutting wheel, hand guided by a master craftsman. Pressed crystal has the “cut pattern” introduced by pressing it into the glass while the product is still in a near-molten state. Overcut crystal is “pressed crystal” which has received its details and finishing touches from a master cutter who is a hand craftsman. What is the melting point for crystal? Lead crystal melts at 1,100-1,200˚C.and is workable at 400-600˚C. How much time does a glass-blower require to produce the basic product before it’s cooled? Depending on the piece, the time can be as little as 45 seconds or as much as five minutes. What happens to broken or defective pieces? They are remelted and become “cullet”. Does the delicate ring produced by tapping a piece of crystal identify quality? Not at all. The sound i
