Glass or acrylic: which display case for figures
Glass stays clear and resists scratches for years. Acrylic is lighter and harder to break, but it scratches easily and its static draws dust. For a figure that stays in one place, glass is the quieter choice. For a case that travels, or sits where it may be knocked, acrylic is the safer one.
Side by side
| Glass | Acrylic (Perspex, Plexiglas) | |
|---|---|---|
| Scratches | Hard to scratch with normal cleaning | Scratches easily; needs special cloths and cleaners |
| Dust | Little static, so less dust clings | Holds static, which pulls dust onto the panels |
| Over the years | Does not yellow or craze | Some grades can yellow or craze with age |
| Weight | Heavier | About half the weight |
| If knocked | Can break | Much harder to break |
| Sunlight (UV) | Ordinary glass lets most UV-A through | Ordinary acrylic also lets UV through; UV-filtering grades exist |
Museums choose between the two the same way: glass for long, still display; acrylic where weight or safety comes first.
Why low-iron glass
Ordinary clear glass holds a little iron. It shows as a green tint, strongest at the edges. Low-iron glass, sometimes called ultra-clear glass, has far less of it. Colours behind it read true, and the edges look clear rather than green.
Where VESPERA stands
We work only in glass. The VESPERA Hero is 4 mm low-iron glass: five panels, overlapped corners, polished edges, joined with a thin clear line of silicone. The lid sits down into a groove in a matte black base, which helps keep dust out. Inside 250 × 250 mm, with about 340 mm clear height above the felt floor. Outside 258 × 258 × 354 mm. No frame. No acrylic.
Glass weighs more and can break, so it travels slowly and carefully. The case is our responsibility until it reaches you.
Obsession, under glass