A masterful combination of skill, sweat, and experience is required for refined glassware. Even the best machines cannot replicate the fine delicate human touch needed to craft something so ethereal. Not to mention the indescribable magic from something so beautifully hand made.
The hand-carved mold plays a critical role in the glassware design. In the photo the block is dry, but during construction the wood is fully saturated with water which prevents the mold from catching fire and lubricates the surface so the glass can be easily shaped. Master craftsmen then insert a pipe with glass into the mold, and carefully blow the molten material into the perfect shape.
Regular Glass is made primarily from sand. Sometimes minerals are added for color. It is not particularly strong, so it's made thick and heavy to compensate.
Crystal is made with ~75% standard glass materials PLUS a minimum ~25% strengthening minerals. The material composition allows the final product to be both lightweight and durable. This is the standard upheld within the European Union, which is higher than the rest of the world. The added metallic ingredients in crystal also dramatically increase the ability to refract brilliant light.
Crystal's strength is why it can be made to such fine specifications. The myth of them not being dishwasher safe is a carryover from days gone by when production methods only used lead additives. Fortunately, our modern glasses are lead-free and include strong non-toxic materials like titanium. These glasses are tough and will be perfectly fine in the dishwasher - in fact, it's recommended!
