Tibetan Singing bowls are among the most recognizable meditation and spiritual accessories. They have captivated the world with their calming and harmonic tones. Furthermore, people have used singing bowls for therapy and meditation. There are many types of bowls out there, and among the plethora of choices, two of them stand out among the rest. They are Metal Singing and Crystal Singing Bowls. But did you know that there are significant differences between these two types of singing bowls? Yes, although both of these are sound bowls, they are not the same. But what is the difference between Metal and Crystal Singing Bowls?
In this blog, we talk about the differences between metal singing bowls and crystal singing bowls. So, without any further ado, let’s get started!
Origin and History
Before we dive deep into the question of what is the differences between metal and crystal singing bowls, let’s talk first about the origins.
Metal and Crystal singing bowls are both commonly known as Tibetan Bowls. That said, although they are commonly known as Tibetan Bowls, the earliest known singing bowls originate from China and Mesopotamia.
This is where the similarity between the two types of bowls ends.
Metal Singing Bowls
Commonly known as Himalayan Singing bowls, they trace their origin back to the Himalayan region, around Nepal, Tibet, India, and Bhutan. They were originally used in meditation practices and religious ceremonies. Along with this, Metal bowls were also used in chanting and other spiritual practices. These bowls became popular much earlier and have been in the global market for a long time.
Crystal Singing Bowls
Also known as Quartz Singing bowls, they, too, have their origins rooted in ancient traditions. The specific origin of crystal bowls is still a mystery. Furthermore, unlike their metal counterpart, these bowls only became widely recognized recently. They rose in popularity in the later half of the 20th century.
Materials and Construction
Another core difference between these singing bowls is their material and construction.
Metal Singing Bowls
As their name suggests, metal singing bowls are made from metal. Modern bowls are generally made from brass, copper, and bronze. However, the traditional bowls are made of an alloy made from seven metals, each with its spiritual significance.
These metals and what they represent are as follows:
- Gold: Sun (Lord of Power)
- Silver: Moon (Lord of Emotions)
- Copper: Venus (Lord of Love)
- Iron: Mars (Lord of Auspiciousness)
- Tin: Jupiter (Lord of Wisdom)
- Lead: Saturn (Lord of Justice)
- Metal Mercury: Mercury (Lord of finance)
- Crystal Singing Bowls
As their name suggests, Crystal singing bowls are made from crystals. Although there are variants, they are mostly made from clear crushed quartz crystals. These crystals are heated to extremely high temperatures and then shaped into singing bowls by handicraft experts in Nepal and other eastern nations.
Characteristics of Sound
No two singing bowls produce the same sound. Therefore, it is natural to assume that the sound produced by these bowls also varies.
Crystal singing bowls produce more of a glassy sound. They are more profound and have higher vibrations. On The other hand, the sound produced by metal bowls is more harmonious and softer.
Another noticeable difference between the sound is the duration. The sound produced by crystal bowls lasts longer than metal bowls.
Maintenance and Durability
Besides the sound quality, durability is another noticeable difference between metal and crystal singing bowls.
Crystal Bowls
As you may expect from the crystals, they break rather easily, at least when compared to metal bowls. Don’t get us wrong, crystal singing bowls are hard to break, but in comparison to metal ones, they are less durable. However, they require little to no maintenance. They are, after all, just crystalized quartz that does not rust or ionize.
Metal Bowls
Unlike crystal singing bowls, metal singing bowls are highly durable. They do not break easily and are highly durable. However, they do require a decent bit of maintenance. You should not expose metal bowls to high moisture for long periods. If you do so, it can ionize. Furthermore, you should also be careful to clean them occasionally to enhance their sound quality.
Vibrational Properties
Besides the audible sound, both crystal and metal bowls carry distinct vibrational properties.
Crystal Bowls
These bowls have high vibrational clarity and purity. Quartz is a natural and powerful amplifier of vibrations and energy. Therefore, when played, the vibrations resonate through the air and body. Due to these resonations, it cleanses and aligns the chakra points and restores balance in the body. Therefore, they are also known as Chakra singing bowls.
Metal Bowls
Unlike crystal singing bowls, metal singing bowls have calming and grounding vibrations. The vibrations produced by metal bowls synchronize with the Earth’s natural frequencies and calm the mind and body.
Healing Properties
Both bowls heal the astral and spiritual body. That said, there is a slight difference in how they heal.
Metal sound bowls
Metal singing bowls have acoustic healing and grounding properties. They heal by grounding the negative emotions while generating acoustic vibrations. These vibrations protect the user from negative influences.
Crystal sound bowls
Like metal sound bowls, crystal bowls are used for acoustic sound healing. However, along with acoustic sound healing, they also provide crystal healing. Additionally, these bowls heal by stimulating the positive energies within our astral and spiritual bodies. Crystal sound bowls heal by stimulating and through the combination of acoustic and crystal healing.
Do note that while singing bowls have healing properties, there are some dangers of singing bowls as well. For further details on this, you can check out our blog on benefits and dangers of using Tibetan Singing Bowls.
Cost
Cost is another crucial difference between the Metal and Crystal singing bowls. While a wide range of costs fits both sound bowls, the metal ones are generally a bit cheaper.
At Nirvana Mala, you can buy the best Metal singing bowls ranging from $6.96 to $522.00.
On the other hand, the price of crystal sound starts from a bit above $100.
Metal Singing Bowl Vs. Crystal Singing Bowl
| Differences | Metal Singing Bowl | Crystal Singing Bowl |
| Materials | Made from Brass, bronze, Silver, and Copper | Made from crystal quartz |
| Characteristics of Sound | Soft and harmonic sound | Glassy Sound |
| Maintenance and Durability | High maintenance with high durability | Low maintenance with relatively less durability |
| Vibrational Properties | Soft grounding vibrations | High vibrational clarity and purity |
| Healing | Acoustic and crystal healing | Acoustic healing |
| Cost | Comparatively cheaper | Comparatively expensive |
Conclusion
Tibetan bowls are easily one of the most recognizable meditation and spiritual accessories. However, as you may have seen, not all sound bowls are made the same. There can be significant differences between two seemingly similar bowls, such as Metal sound bowl and Crystal sound bowls. So, what are the differences between metal and crystal singing bowls? Well, for starters, they are made from two distinct groups of metals. There are also differences in their history, sound, vibration quality, and healing properties. These are just some of the core differences.
Regardless, we hope you found this helpful. If you want further insights into sound bowls and other religious accessories, do check out some of our other blogs. If you want the best religious, meditation supplies, and spiritual accessories, feel free to contact us at Nirvana Mala. Thank you for reading till the end.
FAQ on the Difference between Metal and Crystal Singing Bowls
Q: Which is better: a crystal or metal singing bowl?
A: There is no clear-cut answer to this question, as both of these singing bowls have their pros and cons. Metal bowls are durable but require more maintenance, while crystal bowls are relatively less durable but require no maintenance. Similarly, crystal sound bowls have stimulating properties, while metal ones have grounding properties.
Q: What is the primary difference between metal and crystal singing bowls?
A: The primary difference lies in their composition. Metal bowls are made from various alloys, while crystal bowls are crafted from pure quartz crystal. This distinction affects their sound, energy properties, and usage.