A crystal reads perfectly well in daylight on its own. In a hallway in November it does not, and that is the whole job of a light base — it fires light up through the bottom of the glass so the engraving stands out in a dim room.
Different sizes fit different shapes, and the bases split into two kinds: a plain stand, and a rotating one that turns the crystal so you see the depth of the engraving rather than one fixed view. Some run on a charger, some on batteries, some on either. The individual product page says which.
If you have not chosen your crystal yet, start with the full range of 3D photo crystals or our shape and size buying guide — the shape you pick decides which base fits.
Questions we get asked
Do I actually need one?
No, and we would rather say so. In good daylight the engraving shows well unlit. Buy a base if the crystal is going somewhere dark, or if it is one of the smaller shapes where the extra light makes a real difference.
How do I know which base fits my crystal?
Each base lists the shapes and sizes it takes. If you have already ordered from us and are not sure what size you have, send us your order number and we will look it up.
Charger or batteries?
It varies by base. Check the product page — several will run on either, which is useful if the spot you have in mind has no socket near it.
Guides and further reading
Worth reading before you order: how the image is engraved inside solid glass, whether a 3D crystal photo can fade, and what 3D crystal photos cost in the UK. Popular collections: rectangle crystals, photo cubes, heart crystals and memorial crystals.
