Awards.com says buyers misunderstand crystal awards

Awards.com has released a guide to crystal awards that aims to correct common buyer mistakes about crystal, engraving and durability. The company says the guide is meant to help shoppers choose the right material and finish for corporate recognition pieces.

Why it matters: - Buyers often make crystal-award decisions based on myths about what crystal is and how it performs. - Awards.com says those mistakes can lead shoppers to compare the wrong materials, choose the wrong engraving method and overlook durability tradeoffs. - The guide is aimed at corporate recognition buyers, including employee awards and years-of-service programs.

What happened: - Awards.com published a guide on buying crystal awards. - The guide explains that crystal is a type of glass, not a separate material. - The guide says the optical crystal and K9 crystal used in quality awards are lead-free glass. - Vincent Nero, VP and General Manager at Awards.com, said buyers should focus on the grade of glass instead of debating glass versus crystal. - Awards.com says the full guide and the crystal awards collection are available on the company's website.

The details: - The guide says the old link between crystal and lead comes from lead crystal glassware, which is a different material made for a different purpose. - Awards.com says two awards can both be labeled crystal and still be very different pieces. - The guide says buyers should compare clarity, edge color, weight and the quality of the cut and polish. - K9 crystal is described as the grade most often seen in premium awards. - Awards.com says K9 crystal is water-clear and has no green or gray tint at thicker edges. - The guide explains two engraving methods: sandblast engraving and subsurface laser engraving. - Sandblast engraving creates a frosted, white-etched mark that is visible from across a room and lasts for the life of the piece. - Subsurface laser engraving places an image or logo inside the crystal for a 3D effect. - Awards.com says neither engraving method is better in the abstract, and the right choice depends on the design. - The guide says crystal will not yellow or fade. - Awards.com says crystal and glass awards hold their clarity for decades and are more UV-stable than acrylic. - Acrylic can yellow after long exposure to strong light. - Crystal can chip if dropped because crystal is glass. - Felt-padded bases and careful placement help address that handling risk. - Awards.com engraves every piece free, provides a proof before production and has no order minimum.

Between the lines: - The guide frames crystal awards as a buying decision about material quality, visual clarity and engraving style, not just price. - Awards.com is positioning its free engraving, free proof and no-minimum policy as part of the value proposition. - The emphasis on durability and UV stability appears aimed at reassuring buyers who compare crystal with acrylic alternatives.

What's next: - Buyers can review the guide before ordering crystal awards. - Awards.com says shoppers can also browse the company’s crystal awards collection online. - The company is likely to keep steering buyers toward grade, finish and engraving choice as the main purchase criteria.

The bottom line: - Awards.com wants crystal-award buyers to stop asking whether crystal is glass and start asking which glass grade, finish and engraving method best fits the award.