The difference between crystal and glass How to identify whether it is natural crystal

There are many varieties of glass and wide uses. In addition to the commonly used quartz glass and tempered glass, there are various types of optical glass, discolored glass, laminated glass and so on. Because of the variety of glass, it is more important to choose the right type. In order to be able to find the right glass products, we need to understand a variety of glass, familiar with the difference between crystal and glass.

The difference between crystal and glass

Crystal and glass are very similar in appearance, but they are two completely different substances. The main differences are as follows:

1. Different materials

Crystal is a crystal of silicon dioxide, and glass is just a molten mixture containing silicon dioxide.

2. Different efficacy

Glass only has a decorative role, and crystal in addition to the decorative role, there are piezoelectric effects and some special roles.

3. The price is different

The unit price of crystal is several times or even dozens of times higher than that of glass.

4. Different physical properties

1) Crystal is a crystal, with a high hardness (Mohs level 7), while the hardness of glass is lower,(Mohs level 5.5), the crystal can mark the glass, and vice versa.

2) Crystal is a crystal, good thermal conductivity, with the tip of the tongue to lick the feeling of cold. Glass, on the other hand, is warm.

3) The difference between polarizing mirrors, crystal can transmit light, and glass can not.

We can easily distinguish between crystal and glass according to the different physical properties they have.

5, processing technology is different

The glass can be hot-cast, saving material and labor cost. Crystal is a crystal, can not be reversed after heating melting, so can not use hot casting method, can only use cold processing method such as cutting grinding. Cost of materials, labor, high cost.

Crystal hardness is high, not easy to wear. The glass has low hardness and is easy to rub.

Crystal stability is good, long-term use will not change color. Glass tends to turn yellow.

How to identify whether it is natural crystal
(1) Eyes: Natural crystals in the formation process, often affected by the environment always contain some impurities, when observing the sun, you can see light uniform fine horizontal lines or catkins. And the fake crystal mostly uses the residual crystal ballast, glass ballast melting, after polishing processing, color imitation, there is no uniform stripe, catch-like material.

(2) Tongue licking: Even in the dog days of hot summer, licking the natural crystal surface with the tongue also has a cold and cool feeling. Fake crystal, there is no cool feeling.

(3) Light: Natural crystal vertically placed in the sun, no matter from which Angle it can release beautiful brilliance. Fake crystals don't.

(4) Hardness: the hardness of natural crystal is large, and the stone is gently scratched on the jewelry, without leaving traces; If there are streaks, it's fake crystal.

(5) Check with a polarizing mirror: rotate 360 degrees under the polarizing mirror, and the natural crystal with bright and dark changes is the false crystal.

(6) Check with dichroism: natural amethyst has dichroism, and false crystal has no dichroism.

(7) Check with a magnifying glass: check with a 10x magnifying glass under transmitted light, and the bubbles that can be found can basically be defined as false crystals.

(8) With hair inspection: Put the crystal on a hair, the human eye can see the double shadow of the hair through the crystal, it is natural crystal, mainly because the crystal has birefringence.

(9) Test with a thermal conductivity meter: Adjust the thermal conductivity meter to green 4 cells test gemstones, natural crystals can rise to 2 cells of color, and false crystals do not rise, when the area is large, rise to one cell of color.