Crystal Trophy Buying: The January Supply Window 💎

Genuine K9 crystal blanks ship from European foundries in late December and clear Thai customs by mid-January. This is the four-week window where you can specify real crystal at fair pricing — after that, the only stock left is the resin-blend lookalikes.

Real Crystal vs Optical Glass vs Resin

K9 crystal is leaded glass with high refractive index — clear, heavy, prismatic. Optical glass is lead-free and slightly less brilliant but environmentally cleaner. Resin is acrylic plastic that mimics the look from a distance but feels wrong in hand. A 20cm K9 awards weighs ~900g; an equivalent resin one weighs ~400g. Always ask which one is quoted.

Quote-Lock Before February

European import volumes drop sharply after Lunar New Year. Quotes given in January for delivery through Q2 are honored at January prices; the same trophy quoted in March often runs 18–25% higher because suppliers are working from limited remaining stock. If you have a Q2 ceremony, lock the quote in writing this month.