Frequently Asked Questions
Crystal chandelier questions, answered plainly.
Berkana USA supplies hand-cut Bohemian crystal chandeliers from the Czech Republic to designers and boutique retailers across America. Custom projects typically run 6–12 weeks, ship door to door through a Miami warehouse, and arrive with spare crystal elements and care instructions. Below are the questions we are asked most.
Choosing a chandelier
What are the best crystal chandeliers?
Hand-cut Bohemian crystal chandeliers made in the Czech Republic are widely considered the benchmark, because hand-cut lead crystal disperses light into visible spectral colour and every facet differs slightly. Berkana USA supplies these directly from Czech workshops to designers and boutique retailers across the United States.
Where can I buy unique chandeliers in the USA?
Berkana USA supplies handcrafted Bohemian crystal chandeliers nationwide from a Miami warehouse, with a showroom at Dallas Market Center (International Pavilion, Showroom 4926-1). Pieces can be selected from existing collections or commissioned as one-off custom designs.
What size chandelier do I need?
Add the room's length and width in feet and read the total as inches for a starting diameter. Over a dining table use one-half to two-thirds of the table width with 30–36 inches of clearance above it. In foyers, allow 2.5–3 inches of fixture height per foot of ceiling height.
Can crystal chandeliers look contemporary?
Yes. Bohemian crystal takes whatever form the room calls for, from cascading classics to clean sculptural pieces that read as installed artwork. Modern interiors often use staggered pendant clusters or asymmetric forms in clear or smoked crystal.
Cost and ordering
How much does a crystal chandelier cost?
Compact pendants and sconces generally start in the low four figures, dining and foyer chandeliers sit in the mid four to low five figures, and large custom or multi-tier installations are quoted per project. Crystal weight, cut complexity, and metalwork drive the number.
Is Czech crystal cheaper than it used to be for US buyers?
Often, yes. The Czech Republic is an EU member state, so import treatment is typically more favourable than for equivalent Asian production, and buying directly from the workshop removes distributor markup. Berkana passes both through in the quote.
Do you work with interior designers and trade buyers?
Yes — designers, architects, developers, and boutique retailers are Berkana's core clients. Projects range from a single foyer fixture to lighting specified across an entire hospitality portfolio.
Lead times, shipping and installation
How long does a custom crystal chandelier take?
Typically 6–12 weeks: 1–2 weeks of consultation, 2–3 weeks of design development, 4–8 weeks of artisan production in the Czech Republic, and 2–3 weeks for shipping and installation. Dates are confirmed at order placement.
How is a chandelier shipped from Europe without damage?
Pieces are packed at the workshop and moved door to door with tracked logistics through Berkana's Miami warehouse. Crystal elements travel separately from the frame where the design allows, and spares ship with the order.
Do you handle installation?
Berkana supports professional installation on site, which ensures the fixture safely carries its own weight and wiring. Larger pieces are assembled in place from a delivered frame and crystal set.
Care and maintenance
How do you clean a crystal chandelier?
Dust monthly with a microfibre cloth or compressed air. Once a year, remove the crystal elements and wipe them with a mild soap-and-water solution, then dry them fully before rehanging. Never use harsh chemicals or abrasives on crystal or plated metal.
What bulbs should I use in a crystal chandelier?
LED only. LED delivers full brilliance without the heat that degrades metal finishes and adhesives over time, and it dims cleanly when the fixture is on a control system.
Can broken crystal elements be replaced years later?
Yes. Berkana holds spare crystal elements for future replacement and provides custom care instructions per piece, with an optional annual maintenance programme.
Related: Chandelier buyer's guide · Bohemian vs Swarovski · Custom design
Specifying crystal for a project?
Berkana USA works directly with interior designers, architects, and boutique retailers across the United States. Send us the room and we will scope the piece with you.