Moser Lead-Free Crystal Guide: Glasses, Decanters & Care

Moser is hand-made Czech crystal from Karlovy Vary. The engraver Ludwig Moser opened his first workshop there in 1857, and in 1893 he opened his own glassworks with his sons Rudolf and Friedrich. Moser says it has used only lead-free crystal ever since. Its pieces are still made entirely by hand, and Moser says a single piece can pass through forty pairs of hands or more.

If you are new to Moser glass, this guide explains what lead-free crystal is, why it can still be called crystal, and how to choose and care for Moser glassware. Paris Tableware & Gifts, a family-owned store in Ridgewood, New Jersey, carries Moser and ships across the continental US, with free shipping on orders over $150.

What Makes Glass “Crystal”?

The word is older than any rule. In the mid-15th century, the Murano glassmaker Angelo Barovier produced a very clear glass called cristallo, named for its resemblance to rock crystal, the clear natural quartz. In the 1670s the English glassmaker George Ravenscroft developed a glass made with lead oxide, heavier and more brilliant, and for many buyers “crystal” came to mean lead glass. Strictly speaking, no glass is a crystal at all, since glass has no regular crystal structure.

In Europe, a 1969 directive set out four grades. Full lead crystal must contain at least 30% lead oxide, and lead crystal at least 24%. Two further grades, including the one labeled crystal glass, need at least 10% of potassium, barium, zinc or lead oxide, alone or together, depending on the grade. So in Europe a glass can be sold as crystal glass with no lead in it at all. In the US the word is used more loosely: the Corning Museum of Glass has described “crystal” as a popular term that may be used for any fine glass tableware, with or without lead. On a label, “lead-free” tells you more than “crystal” alone.

Why Moser Crystal Is Lead-Free

Moser melts a batch of high-quality glass sand, soda, potash, limestone and other ingredients at about 1,500°C (about 2,700°F), with no lead added. Without lead’s softening effect, Moser says its crystal is harder than lead crystal: more demanding to cut, and able to hold the sharp, hand-polished edges Moser is known for. Moser also says lead-free crystal keeps its colors cleaner, because it doesn’t create rainbow reflections, and that it is better for the environment and for the health of the people who make it.

Lead crystal has its own strengths. It feels heavier in the hand, it splits light into more prismatic fire, and its relative softness suits cut decoration. Lead-free crystal is lighter, and Moser says its own is harder. Which you prefer is a matter of taste.

Is Lead Crystal Safe to Drink From?

The main concern is storage rather than serving. Moser itself says that drinking from a lead glass won’t poison you, because the lead is chemically bound in the glass. Time changes things: in a 1991 study published in The Lancet, port kept in lead crystal decanters rose from 89 to 3,518 micrograms of lead per liter over four months. Health Canada advises using lead crystal only from time to time and only for serving, never for storing food or drink. It notes that highly acidic foods and drinks can take up more lead, and that during pregnancy or breastfeeding lead can pass to the baby. Lead-free crystal avoids the question for a decanter that stays filled and for glasses used every day.

Lead-Free Crystal Wine Glasses

Moser stemware runs from thin, light sommelier glasses to cut crystal with gold. Leo Moser, the founder’s son, introduced Moser’s color palette in 1929, inspired by precious stones, so many of the colors carry gem names such as Alexandrite, Beryl, Topaz and Aquamarine. See the whole Moser Wine Glasses collection.

Moser Oeno Wine Glass 500 ml

Patrik Illo designed the Oeno glasses drawing on the advice of professional sommeliers: thin-walled and light, yet stable, in clear crystal that lets the color of the wine show. It holds 500 ml (16.9 fl oz). See the Moser Oeno collection.

Moser Optic Wine Glass 350 ml

Lukáš Jabůrek’s Optic design varies the thickness of the walls, so color is deepest at the base and stem and fades toward the rim. In clear and a range of Moser colors, including Alexandrite, which Moser says looks dark purple in daylight and light blue under fluorescent light. For toasts, there is the Moser Optic Champagne Glass 200 ml.

Moser Lady Hamilton Wine Glass 310 ml

Made since 1934 and hand-cut with Moser’s papal cut, a pattern whose proportions and depths must be kept perfectly even, on a bowl that is thick at the base and very thin at the rim. It holds 310 ml (10.5 fl oz).

Moser Splendid Red Wine Glass 340 ml

Made since 1911, with a cut body and a wide band of 24-karat gold in relief, applied and polished by hand. Moser says Splendid was the Czechoslovak president’s wedding present to the future Queen Elizabeth II in 1947. See the Moser Splendid collection.

Lead-Free Crystal Whiskey Glasses

For the home bar, Moser’s tumblers pair heavy bases with long histories. See the whole Moser Whisky Glasses collection.

Moser Bar Tumbler 220 ml

Designed by Rudolf Eschler and made since 1934: a massive square base and hand-cut lines that look like melting ice when whiskey catches the light. In clear and a range of Moser colors; 220 ml (7.4 fl oz).

Moser Whisky Set Pebbles Tumbler 370 ml

Oldřich Lípa’s Whisky Set shape, made since 1968, with a pebble band cut by hand by Moser’s glass cutters, so each glass is an original. The plain Moser Whisky Set Glass 370 ml is the classic it grew from.

Lead-Free Crystal Decanters and Carafes

A decanter is where the choice matters most, since wine or spirits can stay in it long after the bottle is opened. For help with shapes, see how to choose a whiskey decanter, or browse all decanters.

Moser Oeno Carafe 1000 ml

The carafe follows the droplet motif of the Oeno glasses and holds 1,000 ml (33.8 fl oz): room for a full 750 ml bottle of wine, or water for the table.

Moser Solaris Carafe and Two Glasses Set

Designed by Petr Larva: a 750 ml carafe and two 310 ml glasses, each cut with 12 facets that reflect the 24-karat gold on the convex base. See the Moser Solaris collection.

Caring for Moser Crystal

Hand-wash only. Moser asks that its crystal be washed by hand, never in the dishwasher. Lead-free does not mean dishwasher-safe.
Use only gentle cleaning agents and dry each piece right away with a dish towel.
Mind the rim. It is the most fragile part of a glass, so keep pieces from knocking together in use and in storage. Don’t leave pieces with gold or platinum rims standing upside down on them.
Avoid sudden temperature changes, such as putting a glass in the freezer. Moser also says its pieces are not suited to drinks hotter than 40°C (104°F) and should never go in a microwave or oven.

Our crystal guide covers crystal care in more detail.

Moser Crystal as a Gift

A pair of Moser glasses or a carafe suits a wedding, an anniversary or a new home. For more ideas, see our wedding gift guide and luxury hostess gifts, or add pieces to your wedding registry. For other crystal houses we carry, see our guides to Lalique crystal and William Yeoward crystal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Moser crystal lead-free?

Yes. Moser says it has used only lead-free crystal since opening its glassworks in 1893, and every Moser piece we carry is lead-free crystal.

Why is lead-free glass still called crystal?

The word began as a name for very clear glass, not for one recipe. European rules allow “crystal glass” made with potassium, barium or zinc oxide instead of lead.