Buying a designer lamp: how to recognise quality
In a photo, many designer lamps look alike. Only when it hangs in your home do you see the difference: how the metal shines, how the glass refracts the light, how the seams run. Those differences can be recognised before you buy. Seven points to look out for.
1. The material
Does it say brass? Then is it solid brass or a coating on steel or plastic? Real metal feels cool and heavy and scratches less easily. If in doubt, ask what the base material is. More about materials in which material to choose.
2. The finish
Look at the places you do not see right away: the inside of the shade, the underside of the ceiling plate, the joints between parts. On a good lamp there are no glue marks, burrs or uneven seams there. Welded joints are smoothly finished.
3. The weight
A quality lamp is often heavier than you expect. Thicker metal, solid glass and sturdy ceiling plates add up. Do make sure your ceiling can carry that weight; see hanging a heavy pendant lamp.
4. The light
A good lamp gives even, warm light without flicker or colour differences between parts. With built-in LED, look for high colour rendering, so skin, wood and fabric look natural. See integrated LED or a replaceable light source.
5. The details
Fabric cable or plastic cord, a refined ceiling plate or a crude one, an adjustable suspension or a fixed one. It is in those details that the difference lies between a lamp that is finished and a lamp that is almost finished.
6. The warranty
The longer the warranty, the more confidence the maker has in the lamp. Check what it covers: only the construction, or the whole lamp including electronics. On our stock lamps we give five years’ warranty on the whole lamp, on the exclusive collection ten years.
7. Who stands behind it
Can you see the lamp before you buy? Is there someone you can call if something happens? With a designer lamp you also pay for that certainty. A company with a showroom and a fixed contact person cannot disappear.
What a good designer lamp gives you
A lamp that is just as beautiful after ten years, that you do not have to replace because a part fails, and that defines the room rather than just lighting it.
Frequently asked questions
Why is one designer lamp so much more expensive than another?
Material, finish and the amount of handwork. Two lamps with the same shape can be made completely differently.
How do I know whether a lamp is really brass?
Ask about the base material and feel the weight. If in doubt, you see the difference at once in the showroom.
View our exclusive collection, handmade, with a certificate of authenticity and ten years’ warranty. Or come and see the lamps up close in Arnhem.
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