Our Favorite Crystal Patterns of All-Time

We've got the china, we've got the silver, we've got the linens…now, we need to talk about the crystal. Just like when deciding which china and silver patterns to grace your table with, selecting a crystal pattern is just as fun (and maybe stressful?). Fine crystal is truly an art to behold; it's hand-blown, can be plain or cut, can be banded in gold or silver, and must be crystal clear if of the highest quality. You have your water goblets, white wine glasses, red wine glasses, champagne flutes, highball glasses, double old-fashioned glasses, decanters, and the list goes on and on. It's up to you to decide which pieces are most important to you, and you can focus on collecting those first.A good rule of thumb when choosing a crystal pattern is known as the "two-to-one" rule: meaning that on your table—between the china, silver, and crystal—there should only be two ornate patterns and one pattern left simple. This rule is to help avoid overwhelming the table with loud patterns that clash or are just too much together. You love beautifully cut crystal glasses (as so many do)? Then, go with a simple flatware. It's all about balance. We kept long-time iconic crystal brands and modern brands in mind when narrowing down our favorite crystal patterns, and we aimed to strike a balance of ornate and simple patterns to show variation. So, here are our favorite crystal patterns of all time—and man, are they pretty.