- Design Inspo
10 Crystal Glass Sets That Are Music to Our Ears
Even crystal glassware can be a YouTube star, thanks to a curious instrument called the glass harp. This crystal glass musical device isn’t sold, per se: it’s created with a life hack using fine crystal glassware. When you run a moistened fingertip around the rim of genuine crystal, it “sings” —or, at least produces a high-pitched tone similar to a note. When crystal glasses are filled with varying water heights to hit different notes and assembled and secured along with a narrow table, the glass harp is born. So, if you’ve ever seen someone do this at a restaurant or at a party, they’re inspecting the goods. (You can also see it in action in this film of street musician Petr Spatina playing Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.”) Fully grasping this magical instrument requires acquainting yourself with the best crystal glassware.
Benefits of Crystal Glassware
Fortunately, there are more standard ways than glass harps to benefit from crystal glassware sets. Because of the mineral content (which doesn’t include lead, as it has in the past) crystal is more robust and can be made into thinner and more elegant yet durable glassware. Of course, this comes with a higher price than standard glass. However, the refined ways that crystal glass can be cut to produce an exquisite object is hard to resist. Nest Casa has compiled the best sets of crystal glassware sets to start a collection that you can use for entertaining and dining—or playing music, if you desire.
Editor’s Picks: Best Crystal Glassware Sets
Crystal Barware Sets
This is the crystal starter set for beginning a luxury barware collection. From storied French crystal house Baccarat comes the Harmonie collection, aimed at those who love cocktails or a finely aged single-malt whiskey on the rocks. This set includes four tumblers and an ice bucket. Complete the collection with a coordinating decanter (sold separately).
Ralph Lauren’s Isabel crystal glassware has all the bases covered. From stemware (including water goblets, wine glasses, flutes, and even martini glasses) to highball and old-fashioned glasses, this set is for those who like to be prepared for any occasion. The hand-cut, faceted pattern crafted by Hungarian artisans is modern yet classic. Round the group out with a matching decanter, shaker, and ice bucket.
Crystal Champagne Flute Sets
Reserved only for the most delicate bubbles on the best of occasions is this Mille Nuits (a.k.a., one thousand nights) set of four flutes. In vibrant colors of red, green, yellow, and blue, these distinctive flutes dress up any table. Try to pick your favorite color (we bet you can’t).
Baccarat has mastered the mix-and-match approach to their crystal glassware, presenting a modern take on traditional stemware. The luxury crystal maison aims this set at those individuals who love to revel all night long without having to choose. It’s a truly unique set, featuring a single glass from six different Baccarat collections: Mille Nuits, Vega, Harcourt Eve, Diamant, Château Baccarat, and Massena.
Black Crystal Sets
Almost nothing creates a more striking look for your place setting than this black-edged crystal glassware from Waterford. Called the Lismore, it features five key styles to accommodate any beverage: the wine glass, the flute, the highball, the tumbler, and the brandy glass. This glassware is the definition of glamour.
Don’t forget the Lismore martini glass. With its dramatic black rim that borders the delicately cut crystal glass, this chic glass is perfect for housing a sophisticated martini cocktail.
Crystal Wine Glass Sets
From Riedel, the trusted German glassware brand founded in 1756, are these no-nonsense crystal wine glasses. They’re specifically designed for pinot noir—but, we won’t spill the beans if you decide to put white wine in there, too. These delicate yet sturdy, lead-free crystal wine glasses are smartly priced and dishwasher safe.
From the crystal furnaces of Saint-Louis crystal, Europe’s oldest glass factory, comes this playful set of wine glasses that you will want to shout about: Twist 1586. This delightful pattern reimagines the iconic Venetian stripe, which circumnavigates the glass bowl. These glasses will have you dancing with joy in three slightly different shapes that are perfect for young wines, mature wines, and sparkling wines.
Crystal Highball Sets
Each glass in this set of four highballs is designed with a different crystal cut base for a truly unique drinking experience. This set also comes in red glass, emphasizing the precise and stunning cuts.
Ralph Lauren adds the same amount of panache to these distinguished highball glasses as he does to his eponymous line of refined, classic American clothing. To wit, these crystal vessels made for tall drinks take cues from the brand’s highly styled tuxedo shirts.
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