Discovering a valuable treasure in the sale of a property can be one of the most exciting experiences of your life. If you are a crystal collector looking for a specific type of item, digging up a good piece is a great thrill. However, be careful about buying glass at a real estate sale until you have learned a few necessary facts about identifying real glass.
Often times, glassware and stemware manufacturers all of their products look like real crystal when they are simply glass, and they are misleading the buyer. But since property sales typically sell antiques and other vintage and collectibles, chances are the glass you find there is authentic.
One important thing to remember is that if the piece of glass you want is rare, intricately detailed, high-quality and heavy, old, and in excellent condition, then you can expect it to be at the forefront in terms of value. Here are some other rules of thumb to help identify real glass when selling a property:
- Look for the manufacturer’s marks: Most true glass pieces will have a manufacturer’s mark on the bottom. It can be the name of the manufacturer, the country where it was produced, and / or a number or symbol of some kind. If you have been buying glass at property sales for a period of time, you will generally be able to know who the manufacturer is, even if there are no brands. If a piece of glass was made under special circumstances, such as for a royal family event, and there is evidence of it in the piece, its value increases enormously. Manufacturers such as Baccarat, Waterford, Belleek, and Lalique are just a few of the best glass manufacturers to keep an eye out for in your property sales searches.
- The older and heavier the better! When it comes to glass, age is a big determining factor in deciding its value. Old parts are even more valuable when they are out of production. Another way to tell how old a piece of real estate sales glass is is by using the pattern. Often times, popular patterns are easily recognizable as being made by a particular manufacturer. Hard-to-get parts are also more valuable, as rarity is a huge plus. Also, true glass is heavier than typical glass due to the weight of the lead oxide it contains.
- Condition is king: A piece of crystal in perfect condition is of great value. Condition drastically affects value, and complete sets are more valuable than sets with missing pieces. Some things that can reduce the value of the glass are chips, cracks and scratches. However, if the part is an old part, a defective part may be valuable. The quality of the glass found in the sale of a property also has a great effect on its value.
One last tip is a very easy and quick test that you can try: tap the curved area of the glass with your finger. The glassware will produce a distinctive, clear ringtone that will continue to vibrate slightly for a few seconds. If you do the same with ordinary glass, it will just create a pinging sound and it will not vibrate at all. Are you interested in learning more about the differences between glass and crystal? Visit this site.
This short list of tips for finding value when looking for glass in the sale of a property is far from exhaustive, but if you use it as a general rule of thumb, chances are you will be taking home a treasure.
