Creating A Custom Crystal Award: How We Craft Custom Crystal
Custom crystal awards are one of the most elegant and highly 
prized mementos that an organization can create. Lachman is one of the few companies in the world that has the skill and experience to create premier awards, uniquely sculpted of crystal.
Our crystal awards are handcrafted. Each piece painstakingly polished to our exacting standards to assure excellent light refraction and incredible beauty. To show you how it's done, we share the story of the 1949 Buick Roadmaster convertible which graces our website page that describes our custom crystal awards.
A bit of history: The first Cranbrook Concours d’Elegance was held on the stately grounds of the Cranbrook Educational Community in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan in 2003.
The Buick Motor Division of General Motors was title sponsor for the Concours and Bob Lutz, GM North America chairman and vice chairman of product development, served as honorary Concours chairman and chief judge.
Cranbrook was the perfect venue for an event of this type. “Cranbrook is one of the most significant and historic art and educational communities in the country. Its 315 acres of rolling lawns, gardens and elegant trees are interspersed with sculptures by renowned artists from all over the world.”, states Carrie Lachman, President, and 3rd Generation owner of Lachman Awards. A stunning array of more than 200 motorcars graced the grounds for the event, and among them was a 1937 Talbot Lago 150-C that took Best of Show and a 1936 Stout Scarab. Both vehicles were invited to Paris for the Louis Vuitton Classic (one of the most prestigious Concours in the world), after appearing at Cranbrook.
The official poster of the 2003 Cranbrook Concours d’Elegance featured the 1949 Buick Roadmaster convertible which was owned by a local collector.
We designed our crystal Buick from this model for the first Cranbrook Concours d’Elegance held in the summer of 2003.
Notes on our custom crystal awards:
Carrie Lachman shares, "We start with our customer’s ideas and 
designs for the custom crystal piece. Of course, budget and quantity are always a concern. Projects like these make the most sense when a customer has need for a quantity of about 24 pieces or more in order to keep the costs down, but smaller quantities can be produced. We start with our customer’s drawings or sketches if they have any, and provide finished drawings for approval to the customer. From there we can either produce the piece, or produce a pre-production sample for approval."
The crystal car, a replica of the 1949 Buick Roadmaster convertible is a crystal sculpture that was handcrafted from several pieces of highest quality optical crystal. This is crystal which is extremely clear and free from bubbles, imperfections or inclusions. Each finished piece is completely unique. due to the fact that they are individually handcrafted. Custom pieces may utilize a logo or customer drawings in which case, the piece is exclusive. The crystal award sculptures can be sandblasted or laser etched and may include logos or text.
Prices are based on size, quantity and complexity of design and could range from several hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. All of Lachman's custom crystal award sculpture pieces are carefully nestled in their own custom fitted box. Each box is shaped with foam inserts made to fit the piece.
Production time for a unique, handcrafted crystal sculpture, from concept to delivery is generally about 8-12 weeks.
Lachman is proud to be among the select few award companies who offer premier, handcrafted crystal and other award products. Quality, craftmanship and overall satisfaction are Lachman's creedo in providing unique, world-class awards and trophies.
Personalized gifts, recognition awards and trophies & awards have been provided by Lachman and Company for over 115 years. Four generations of the Lachman family have provided custom awards, executive gifts, golf tournament gifts, corporate awards, bronze donor plaques, brass placques and etched crystal to wordwide companies. Located in Michigan, Lachman has established a reputation for quality awards and impeccable service.