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NovaScotian Crystal
Category: Shopping Arts & Crafts Arts & Crafts [Edit]
5080 George StHalifax, NS B3J 1M4
(888) 977-2797
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 9 am - 5 pm
Sat 10 am - 5 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
8 reviews for NovaScotian Crystal
8 reviews in English
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Review from Lacey H.
4/10/2010
Ting! Sparkle! Ping! These are my imagined sounds of light refracting off of the methodically crafted, unerringly beautiful pieces of crystal brilliance available at this shop. The art of crystal making is awe-inspring, and if you've ever seen hand-blown crystal being molded, you know that it's a serious craft.
This waterfront location is delightful, with unique pieces gracing shelves and luring in potential buyers. I own a couple of pieces, having received them as gifts over the years, I can safely say they age well.
This is a great place to stop by and peer in as the crystal-smiths work their magic, creating one of a kind pieces. If you're looking for a wedding present, or something fancy for a loved one with discerning tastes, NovaScotian Crystal will help you with your task. -
Review from Ben B.
3/21/2012
This spot has been a waterfront landmark for as long as I can remember. Within sparkle distance from the Halifax ferry terminal, NovaScotian Crystal puts Twilight vampires to shame when it comes to the bling department.
With several signature lines of crystal ranging from old school pomp to sleek and modern, their products seem to stand the test of time both for locals looking for a shiny touch, to visitors looking to bring home a piece of Nova Scotia. Pricy? Yes. But baby, this isn't your average glassware.
Of course, just because you don't have deep pockets or a wedding registry doesn't mean you can't enjoy the NSC experience. During the summers, the side door to their glassworks shop opens up so that you can watch their team mouth-blowing and hand-cutting these masterpieces right in front of your eyes.Listed in: The Waterfront Strip, Locally-made Hotness, Luxury Labels, Oooh...shiny!
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Review from Brian S.
4/3/2009 25 photos
A treat
for
the
eyes
This place is about as cool as it gets. It's located right on the docks in Halifax and usually has a crowd of people standing around watching. Watching what? Watching guys blow glass.
Part of the building is a small store with absolutely exquisite glass and crystal things. I admit I'm not very knowledgeable about glass, but even with my crude and unsophisticated eyes I could tell these things were works of art and require extraordinary skill to make.
What makes it even better is the other, larger part where the guys are actually making the crystal and it's all open so you can watch. Different people are doing different tasks; some are etching, some are shaping and some actually have hot glass on the end of a pipe in their mouths and are blowing it up like a balloon pulled out of hell.
It's absolutely mesmerizing to watch and every time we are in Halifax I end up spending time here just staring with my mouth open and a stupid look on my face. For some reason it is just so fascinating watching them do something that seems impossible.
The actually crystal is expensive and I walk around the small store with my hands by my sides trying hard not to break anything. Small items can run well over a hundred dollars but when you can actually watching these fellows make the stuff you can understand why. I hope this place and these skills are never lost.Listed in: In the wild, wild north
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Review from Joshua Y.
Vancouver, BC
10/9/2009 3 photos
Ever wake up in the morning and say to yourself, "I just want to buy some crystal today"? Me neither. But if I did, it would be from Nova Scotia Crystal.
This store and crystal making factory is impressive! Lets start with what attracts people to this store right away, the Crystal Makers. I'm sure they have a better title but I can't find it on their website. So for now they are the Crystal Makers which sounds like a group of superior aliens in a science fiction novel. Either way these gentlemen are incredible! You can actually walk by the store in the summer time and watch these men mould, shape and cut Crystal into beautiful pieces of art that you can buy later on inside the store.
They also have a really great sense of humor but don't start chatting them up. As they work really hard and you don't want to tell them a really funny joke while they are trying to mould a beautiful crystal Vase.
Now onto the store itself. The staff are very pleasant and helpful. The store feels a little like a museum with so much beautiful crystal. But it is fun to browse around. I would have thought at one point that any of this handmade crystal would end up costing far too much for my budget. But it turns out their prices are very reasonable! A Violet Crystal Vase only costs around $89! Not a price I spend on everyone but great for those special occasions. And if you want to show you really love your girlfriend, boyfriend, wife or whoever, you can buy them a single stem Vase for approximately $134.
So Nova Scotia Crystal deserves fives stars for quite a few reasons. They make their own crystal right in front of your eyes, their staff are friendly, knowledgeable and helpful and the prices are definitely fair for what you are buying. I did buy the Single Stem Vase and loved giving it to my girlfriend. The funny part was I forgot to put a flower in the Single Stem Vase. She rolled her eyes and laughed. She knows I miss a few steps at times but at least I can deliver the crystal. -
Review from Bethany J.
Halifax, NS
3/23/2010
Nova Scotian Crystal is one of those places where you don't take your toddler. Or teenager. Or yourself (if you, like me, are prone to clumsiness). All that being said, if you can find a way to scope the place out sans enfants, a feast for the eyes waits for you.
Nova Scotian Crystal is a unique hand-blown crystal shop on-site in the Historic Properties that line Halifax's waterfront. To the left is the fabrication shop, where you can watch crystal being made in real-time, and to the right is the sales center, filled to the brim with amazing creations all made next-door.
Prices are high, but not outrageously so. Hand-blown crystal is hard to find and the value of a local artisan is beyond mere price. Although the large pieces can seem out-of-reach, there are several smaller items available, meeting almost everyone's price point.
Stop into Nova Scotian Crystal, even if you aren't in the market at the time. It's worth a visit just to watch the creation process. -
Review from cheryl d.
Halifax, NS
6/16/2010 1 photo
Stop! This a must to visit when you are in Halifax and on the waterfront. It is also a good idea to call ahead to see if the display is going on. What I mean in the summer the side door opens and you can see inside of the workshop. You can actually see them blowing the glass and creating unbelievable pieces of glass. I can watch them for hours with the delicate blows and turns of the metal rods. Watching what they can create by this technique is just incredible.
Ok enough about that. This location will leave you saying wow that is beautiful or look at that sparkle. The pieces are all hand crafted and created on hand at this location as well on display. -
Review from Shawna D.
Chester, NS
3/6/2010 1 photo
If you ever want to escape into a crystal world, this would be your shop. I love this place. It is so beautiful, each and every piece you know has been made right there.
If you are lucky enough to visit here when the men are working, then you will get the see these masterpieces being made. The skill level of these men are incredible.
I have only been able to go into the show room and dream of all the pieces I would like to buy. There are so many that you can get lost in making choices.
The staff here are great, I happened to be there when there was a break in the Tim Horton Brier going on , so the shop had a few people in it.
If you are along the water front, stop in and admire what is truly Nova Scotia made. -
Review from Aaron B.
Wilberforce, ON
7/11/2010
Lucky enough to see the craftsmen making some items while we were there. Very cool to watch. Wandered in and found some very nice, high quality products, although we didn't have the need (or budget) to make a purchase.
