Acrylic vs. Glass Awards: What is the Difference?

 When purchasing an award or a trophy to honour someone at school, work, business, or a sports club, the award should be a direct reflection of the achievement. For this reason, only choose high quality and optically pure glass awards as opposed to acrylic. Here are more insights.

How is acrylic different from crystal glass?

Crystal is a material in the glass family that has a higher lead content compared to normal glass. The high lead content gives crystal its diffracting properties and weighty feel. Unlike in acrylic, when light travels through glass crystal, it is diffracted, causing a bright shimmery effect.

Acrylic, on the other hand, while it is often categorized under glass, it is a synthetic polymer. It is utilized as a type of plastic for all purposes and intents. When placed against glass crystal, acrylic looks different and feels like plastic.

Does the Weight Variance Make a Difference?

The difference in weight between acrylic and a crystal glass award is felt as soon as you hold both trophies. Due to their weight, glass awards feel better and are of high value and quality compared to acrylic awards. On the other hand, acrylic is lightweight and cheap and thus not as highly valued by the recipients.

Which one is more Durable?

Acrylic is more impact resistant; thus, it handles general wear and tear much better compared to crystal. However, due to its softness and plastic nature, it is more susceptible to scratches. Glass and crystal awards, on the other hand, have low impact resistance. However, the surface is strong, highly durable, and resistant to daily wear and tear scratches. That means, if well taken care of to prevent shattering, glass awards still look their best for years.

In conclusion, glass awards take the day compared to acrylic awards. They are best suited for people in different positions and for different purposes. All you need to do is customize it for the ceremony at hand.