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Stemware Buying Guide
The crystal on your dinner table can help create that wonderful and inviting look of a properly set table. The stemware can be an addition to a table that is functional as well as making your table look beautiful.
To select your stemware make sure that you consider your particular tastes, lifestyle and budget. Start by looking at available stemware and checking out different styles and patterns.
You should study the stemware choices, making sure that you not only love the look and pattern but also how it feels in your hand. Some wine drinkers hold glasses by the stem so that they do not affect the temperature of the wine, so check out how the stem feels when you hold it.
There are handmade or hand blown glasses as well as machine made. Hand made glasses may have some slight variations in them, which are indicative of something handmade. Machine made glasses usually tend to be less expensive.
There are many well-known crystal brands on the market today including Waterford, Mikasa, Christophle, and others. There are also many other different brands that you can purchase that are less well known. Whatever you choose, you should make sure that the brand that you select comes from a reputable and stable company. It would be a shame if you could not replace your red wine glass because the company went out of business.
Select the pattern of your crystal glasses to compliment your china pattern and silverware. If you have selected traditional patterns of dishes and flatware you may also want traditional stemware. If you have a more contemporary look for your china and silverware, you may want a contemporary look for your stemware as well.
When deciding on a style, consider the weight of the glass and the shape. Pick out something that is appealing to you. Hold the glass and make sure that you feel comfortable with it. Never choose something that is too delicate or you may find yourself not using it because you are afraid it will break.
When selecting fine crystal you should look at the amount of lead in the crystal. Usually higher quality crystal will have higher amounts of lead in it. The lead allows for the glasses to look beautiful and gives them that wonderful tone when clinking glasses together for a toast.
When you select a pattern of crystal, find out what other glasses and pieces that the brand offers. Try to educate yourself with additional glassware that may compliment your set and fit well with your lifestyle. Salespeople are usually knowledgeable and can inform you as to what else is available in the pattern you selected.
You will need to purchase water goblets, red wine glasses, and white wine glasses for the basic starting set. You can then consider your entertaining style and your lifestyle to enhance your collection with other pieces like highball glasses, double old fashioned glasses, cordial glasses, brander snifters, martini glasses and champagne flutes.
You should purchase the number of different glasses to match with the number of china place settings that you have as a rule of thumb. However, if you usually have smaller dinner parties and tend to drink mixed drinks and not much wine, you may find yourself purchasing 4 or 8 wine glasses rather than 12, or maybe only 4 brandy snifters.
Most glasses can be placed in the dishwasher but you should check out the brand that you selected. Some glasses have a gold or silver accent on them and they may be not able to be put in the dishwasher.
Also, be careful when placing glasses in the dishwasher so that other objects are not rubbing against the crystal or you may get scratches or chips. Take care when clearing the glasses from the table that you do not break them. However, you can replace broken glasses easily.
You should check out your etiquette book to make sure you know how to properly place your glasses. Usually the water goblet is placed above the knife with the next glass placed next to it on the right.
So make your decision on your stemware. Set your table and invite family and friends and make a toast to a wonderful dining experience.
Article By Karla Soule, June 2004.
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