crystal

The winner of the Readers' Choice Award in the glassware category is Baccarat, which has sold its creations to the royal families of France, Japan, Russia, Arabia, Morocco and even the White House, since it was established in France in 1764.

Since its founding, Baccarat has continued expanding its influence, inspired in roots stemming from an ingenious handcrafted work of the highest quality, throughout the world.

To this day, Baccarat crystal is still handcrafted in the village of Baccarat located in Lorraine in eastern France. The crystal pieces it creates are described as both divine and exhilarating. Yes, they are extravagant but always elegant.

Nothing tastes better than when drunk from a Baccarat crystal glass.

Nominations have been received and vetted for the best-of-breed in lighting, furniture, antiques resource, dishware and glassware. The Luxist Readers' Choice Decor Awards will be awarded based on your voting.

Each of finalists for the Readers' Choice for the Best in Lighting is a leader in the industry. One is credited with founding modern interior lighting designs, while another creates sculptural masterpieces. A third produces lighting that radiates beauty from every angle while the crystal chandeliers of another have been sought out by royalty. Last, but not least, there's one which melds exquisitely cut crystal with its masterful designs.

The Readers' Choice for the Best in Furniture nominees offer a range of original artistry from simple and pure to the exotic; from traditional to the ultra-modern. Their creations are collected by connoisseurs and museums alike.

The Readers' Choice for the Best in Glassware for a Luxist Award include award-winning brands from France, Sweden and the United States. Each represents the finest of quality and artistry while offering the most exquisite of designs.

Nominees for Readers' Choice for Best in Dishware include companies that have been producing china for centuries. Two have roots in the Limoges region of France, the cradle of the French porcelain industry. One nominee is quintessentially English while two produce American classics. Dishware created by each of these nominees are owned by the who's who of world leaders from the King of Saudi Arabia and the Queen of England to the President of the United States.

Readers' Choice nominees for Best Antiques Resource include the most prestigious art and antiques fairs in the world. These fairs, which are international in scope, are annual destinations for serious connoisseurs, collectors and museum curators who are in search of the best. Each of these fairs have rigorous vetting processes in which the quality, condition and authenticity of each piece is carefully investigated.

Vote now for what you believe is the best of breed for each of these categories. Readers' Choice Awards for Decor will be announced on October 31st.

Orrefors, the Swedish glassmaker, is a nominee for a Luxist Award for best glassware.

Its beginnings date back to 1726, when Lars Johan Silversparre received permission to build a furnace and a smithy at "the beautiful river that flows into Lake Orrenas". The iron works was given the name Orrefors, which means "the Orre waterfall".

The company's international breakthrough came at the Paris Exhibition of 1925. From the Hotel de Ville, the Town Hall of Paris, the Swedish pavilion borrowed a magnificent glass goblet designed by Simon Gate that had been presented as a gift to the City of Paris from the City of Stockholm in 1922. The goblet became a sensation, and the prestigious Grand Prix award was given to Orrefors and its designers. The glassblowers and engravers received gold medals

Since then, Orrefors has won thousands of design and glassmaking awards. Its pieces have been collected by individuals and museums and showcased in exhibits and public installations the world over, from the Cooper-Hewitt Museum in New York to the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.

Tiffany & Co. is a nominee for a Luxist Award in both the dishware and glassware categories.

Over the past two centuries, Tiffany & Co. has built an international reputation as a premier jeweler and is renowned for its fine china and crystal. Today, its signature blue gift box topped by the white silky bow is an icon for luxury.

Tiffany & Co. was founded by Charles Lewis Tiffany and John B. Young in the late 1830's. Starting out as a stationary and fancy goods store, the partners soon expanded to include silver hollowware and flatware, and later jewelry, luxury table, personal and household accessories. Tiffany first achieved international recognition at the Paris Exposition Universelle in 1867. The company was then awarded the grand prize for silver craftsmanship---the first time an American design house had been so honored by a foreign jury. By 1870, Tiffany & Co. was America's premier purveyor of jewels and timepieces, as well as luxury table, personal, and household accessories.

Throughout the jeweler's history, the most prominent members of American society were devoted Tiffany customers from Vanderbilts, Astors and Whitneys to J.P. Morgan, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Paul Mellon, all of whom commissioned Tiffany to produce their gold and silver services. Tiffany china has also set the stage for countless White House dinners.

The tradition continues into the 21st century. Today, Tiffany & Co. is one of America's best known institutions.

Nominated for a Luxist Award in the glassware and lighting categories is Baccarat, which has sold its creations to the royal families of France, Japan, Russia, Arabia, Morocco and even the White House, since it was established in France in 1764.

Since its founding, Baccarat has continued expanding its influence, inspired in roots stemming from an ingenious handcrafted work of the highest quality, throughout the world.

To this day, Baccarat crystal is still handcrafted in the village of Baccarat located in Lorraine in eastern France. The crystal pieces it creates are described as both divine and exhilarating. Yes, they are extravagant but always elegant.

Since 1824, Baccarat has been presenting magnificent crystal chandeliers. The Maharajah of Gwalior ordered a large chandelier, weighing about a ton to decorate his new Palace. A series of candelabras were created for the Czar Nicolas II's St. Petersburg Winter Palace. Baccarat's magnificent lighting includes crystal chandeliers, sconces, lamps, floor lamps, candleholders and candelabras. Each piece has ethereal qualities as it glistens with the incomparable luster of crystal.

There's nothing like the light that emits from Baccarat crystal, and perhaps nothing tastes better than when drunk from a Baccarat crystal glass.

Caring for and protecting for your fine crystal is important and should be done properly. Here are a few tips, courtesy of the experts at Baccarat, which has been creating some of the world's finest hand-crafted crystal since it was established in France in 1764.

Can Baccarat crystal be washed in the dishwasher?

Yes. Select the "fragile" or "average temperature" cycle on your dishwasher (the temperature should not exceed 40 degrees Celsius or 104 degrees Fahrenheit). Separate and prop up the glasses so that the force of the water does not move them or knock them into each other.

Baccarat further recommends using "gentle dish washing tablets" designed especially by Baccarat to protect the crystal's original radiance. These gentle care tablets are suitable for washing your crystal by hand or in the dishwasher, perfect for preserving the crystal's radiance and shine.

Are their any tips for washing fine crystal by hand?

If washed by hand, each glass should be washed separately so that they do not bump into each other. Rinse the glass under running water, with the bowl facing down, and finish by rinsing the base

How should fine crystal be dried after it is cleaned?

Place the glasses on a thin cotton or linen cloth or on absorbent paper. Dry the glasses with caution by placing the thumb outside and turning the glass towards you. Always hold the glass by the stem to avoid excessive pressure. Use a thin cotton or linen cloth (one which is not fluffy) and arrange the glasses in their boxes or place them upright.

How to care for crystal decanters

It is better not to leave the wine in the decanter after use and to rinse it immediately with clear water. To absorb the humidity inside the decanter, place a long thin cloth or some absorbent paper inside the decanter and leave it in place for a few hours. Should there be colored marks inside the decanter, place alcohol, vinegar and coarse salt inside, shake and rinse.

How you should care for fine crystal vases

Hard water can damage the crystal and leave a water line on the upper part of the vase, says Baccarat. If there is no mineral water available, it is recommended to change the water level daily when changing the water. If your vase is heavy and bulky, and thus difficult to move, we suggest to not fill up the vase completely but to add water or even ice cubes on a daily basis.

How to care for fine crystal chandeliers

Baccarat recommends that very large chandeliers be maintained by experienced professionals who know how to take them apart, to clean each part and to place everything back correctly. Small and medium sized chandeliers should be dusted regularly in order to avoid more integral cleaning procedures. Here's how: Put on a pair of cotton gloves soaked in methylated spirits and rub gently the crystal pearls and ornaments. Methylated spirits evaporate very quickly, so soak your gloves into the spirits from time to time while cleaning. The result is astounding, but be careful not to clean around flames as methylated spirits are highly flammable.

How to care for crystal candlesticks

Do not stick wax candles into candlestick holders by using melted wax. Baccarat recommends the use of non-drip candles. In case the wax sticks to the candlestick holders, gently wipe it away by using lukewarm water or methylated spirits. Baccarat also recommends not letting the candles burn down entirely (leave approximately 3 inches standing). The contact with a flame could make the crystal burst.

How to care for crystal decorative items

Clean them with a soft cloth. Anti-static detergents help to protect the items from dust.

In this case the answer to the question is an extremely rare single malt in a limited edition decanter: The Macallan 57 Lalique "Finest Cut". Containing an exceptionally rare 57 year old single malt whisky from the famed Speyside distillery founded in 1824, the Finest Cut crystal decanter is valued at $15,000 and will be available by special order beginning in October. The precious bottling comes on the heels of the recent record-breaking £11,750 ($19,000) sale of one of The Macallan's 50th anniversary bottles at an auction in Scotland that my colleague Deirdre Woollard reported on.

The Finest Cut is inspired by the fraction of the new make spirit which is filled into casks for maturation. At The Macallan, this fraction is a mere 16%; the best of the best, it's delivered at a very slow rate of distillation to maximize flavor and produce a distinctively rich, fruity, viscous character. Designed exclusively for The Macallan by the legendary French crystal house Lalique, The Finest Cut decanters are individually numbered and produced in a very limited quantity - only 72 of the 400 launched worldwide will be available in the U.S.

"In homage to the beauty of Lalique's Finest Cut decanter, we chose a particularly rare 57 years old Macallan single malt whisky," says David Cox, Director of Fine & Rare Whiskies for The Macallan. "It is the second oldest The Macallan whisky ever released, only surpassed in age by the legendary 1926, a 60 year old bottled in 1986." The 57 follows in the footsteps of its two predecessors in the Six Pillars series, a 50 year old Macallan celebrating the exceptional oak casks and a 55 year old inspired by the distillery's insistence on natural color, both coveted collector's items.



The 57 year old has been vatted together from six casks made from two different species of oak; the first, a 1950 American oak sherry butt, and the second, a vatting of Macallan from first fill Spanish oak sherry butts originally filled in 1949, 1951 and 1952. The result is a sumptuous single malt, showing off the classic dried fruits, spice and hints of peat redolent of The Macallan house style of the early 1950's. The age statement of 57 years old is determined by the youngest cask which was filled in 1952.

The decanter features the 'stilligoutte' of a perfume bottle, the long piece of pure crystal flowing down to a point from the base of the bottle stopper. A portion of the stopper has been left completely clear and not "satinee," running from the top down to the point. This clear portion represents the 16% "finest cut". Crafted at Lalique's crystal making facility in Wingen-sur-Moder, Alsace, each piece was worked on by up to 15 craftsmen.

For any parent with an infant or toddler, a pacifier can be a blessing and your worst nightmare. In times when your little one may not be able to settle themselves down, pacifiers seem to work their magic instantly. Thank goodness! In other times, it can be your worst nightmare. For example - when you can't find a pacifier at all or when you have lost their favorite binky and according to your crying baby no other one will do. And it can be especially problematic when you are trying to ween your little one off the pacifier's magical spell. During the tumultuous times of your little one having a meltdown and you feel as though your head will jump off your body, take a nap and never return, a little humor to lighten the mood may help. The Aristabrat Crystal Pacifier incorporates a bit of fun by extravagantly adorning the typical pacifier with colorful Swarovski crystals and a mad face that will make any baby, parent and passerbys put a smile on their face. Available in blue and pink. Price: $120.

You can buy simple, classic flip flops anywhere these days, from Target, to Kmart, to mall stores. But wouldn't you rather have Swarovski crystals on your flip flops? If you think yes, and are willing to spend a bit to make it what we like to call a small splurge, you need Deborah Evans's crystal embellished footwear.

Evans has blinged up three lines, using Havaianas from Brazil as the base: Resort, a 3/4-inch soled sandal available in 13 colors ($130); Metallic, a 3/4-inch soled sandal available in 5 colors ($98); and High Wedge, a 2-1/2-inch wedge sandal available in 4 colors ($185). These come in basic colors like black, brown and white.

For more pizzazz, you need the D-Street line, which is made from Evans's own line of rubber sandals, but still has the crystals and comes in 2 styles: the Street, a 3/4-inch soled sandal available in 15 fun colors/patterns, including animal prints ($120); and the Mini-Wedge, 1-1/2-inch soled sandal available in 15 even brighter colors, but luckily still in animal prints ($150).

How much do you love your dad? Enough to buy him a $5,000 bottle of Scotch for Father's Day? You know he'll appreciate it, right? Scotland's storied Glengoyne Distillery founded in 1833 has just announced its oldest, most valuable Highland single malt ever, the Glengoyne 40 Year Old (above). The rare whiskey is bottled in a hand-blown Glencairn Crystal decanter with an individual number engraved in the base, decorated by an engraved sheaf of golden wheat on the stopper. The decanter is housed in a lacquered, piano-finished, solid oak wood presentation box, complete with gold plates on the front and hand-stitched cream leather interior. Only 250 bottles will be available worldwide, priced at about $5,000 apiece.

[via JustLuxe]

Engineers live in a world full of numbers and strange formulas that rarely make sense to observers, and this Engineering Collection designed by Ruckl Crystal Glassworks is designed just for them. Each clear crystal piece is simply designed and has its dimensions clearly etched onto the side so the engineering type can continue to indulge their love of numbers and calculations even while enjoying a good stiff drink. The Engineering Collection is manufactured in the Czech Republic of cut 24% leaded crystal and sells for $275 - $640.

Via acquire

No snowflakes are alike and so Swarovski offers a different snowflake for each year to celebrate the holiday season. The Holiday Ornament, Annual Edition 2008 has chosen a faceted-crystal snowflake with a blue satin ribbon and a small silver-tone tag with year of issue 2008. It retails for $75 and is available at Swarovski boutiques nationwide. Swarovski is donating $250,000 from the sales of its Annual Edition holiday ornament to Clothes Off Our Backs to benefit children's charities worldwide.

I always love looking at bathroom fixtures that include crystal accents but I have to admit I don't ever plan on having any in my home because although they're very beautiful they also look outrageously difficult to keep shiny and clean! But I still enjoy browsing and these latest designs from Joerger are as pretty as any I've seen. You can go classic and opt for silver hardware with clear or frosted crystal knobs, or more modern and styled by choosing colored crystal in one of five hues including the red shown here. No matter which you choose, they're sure to make a statement of luxury and refinement in your bathroom.

Via Trendir

Although this creation by Christian Louboutin is a handbag, the Loubinight Satin Clutch still manages to channel the high heeled shoes with signature red soles that he's so famous for designing. Bright, vibrant green satin on the outside and rich, 'signature red' satin on the inside, this clutch's most endearing feature is the darling pair of miniature crystal Louboutin heels (you can tell because they have red soles!) that stand on the bag's top and double as the clasp.

If you're one of those who just can't get enough shoes, then this is the perfect way to wear more than just one pair at a time. $960