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The Effect

A black velvet bag is shown out of which six crystals are tipped. Two are clear, two yellow and the remaining two are purple. These are split into to sets of three, each set containing one of each colour.

The spectator selects one of the sets and drops them into the bag leaving the remaining set on the table. The spec removes one crystal from the bag with their left hand and another with their right hand. The performer picks two crystals from the table, one in each hand and the spec reveals their selection. both sets match in colour and in the hand that is holding them.

The spec drops their two crystals back into the bag which is shaken and the spec is asked to pick up all three and mix them inside of their hand while their hand is still inside the bag. The spec then drops one of the crstals inside the bag and removes two in their clenched hand. Again the performer selects the matching crystals from the table.

Finally, the crystals are replaced inside the bag which is shaken. This time the spec takes a single crystal fromthe bag and places it in their pocket. The performer selects a crystal from the table which is shown to match the spectators selection.

Cost

£25 from Mike Danata at http://www.mikedanatasmagicstudio.co.uk

Manufactuered by Five of Hearts Magic.

Difficulty
(1=easy to do, 2=No sleights, but not so easy, 3=Some sleights used,
4=Advanced sleights used, 5=Suitable for experienced magicians only)

1 - very easy to do.

Review

If you like Marc Oberon's Odd Ball then this is a great alternative piece of mentalism that works on a totally different principle. Where as the former needs several people, Crystal Clear can be performed on a single person although it works just as well with a number of people.

The bag is very well made in black velvet with red trim and is to the usual high standard the you expect from 5oH, with the red heart motif stitched on the top corner.

The crystals are plastic and look it - although this is not important and they can be insepcted. The method is NOT in the touch, their size or weight.

I've perfomred this four or five times since yesterday and admit that this has so far been tested on family members but each time they were left baffled and without a clue as to how this worked.

If you liked Odd Ball then in my view this is much better and you're very likely to love this just as much if not more. It's a great piece of mentalism that works well for magicians too.

Overall

I rate this highly and it works nicely with ESPecially Wild as part of a routine which I reviewed here: http://www.talkmagic.co.uk/ftopic28230.php

Thank you good review. Looks like another trick I will invest in.

I now have this trick its great and easy to do.

Sigh. I might just have to get this.

Just one question: Would it work if you replaced the supplied plastic "crystals" with real crystals?

You don't even need to use crystals, but yes you could change them if you wanted to!

All good wishes

Mike Danata

I've changed my plastics for real ones without any problem whatsoever although now I've done so, I realise that there's no need to. You could do this with opal fruits.

Very clever routine this one

Oh well, I'll just have to go buy it then! And maybe some Opal Fruits...

I think that Opal Fruits are now starburst aren't they? - my mistake, not that it will make a difference.

You won't be disapointed.

I thought they were changing them back. The people have spoken!

Well, I've bought the thing. Very straightforward indeed. Does everybody else's pouch smell vaguely of incense? I also got a lot of loose velvet crumbs all over everything, but a good trimming of thread ends and going over with tape loops solved that.

I think I will exchange real crystals for the plastic ones, not just for aesthetic effect but because the real ones would be heavier and smoother, and more likely to do what you need them to do.

Robbie wrote:Does everybody else's pouch smell vaguely of incense?
.

Well there's a thing, what a thing to ask!!!


Mike

Robbie wrote:

and more likely to do what you need them to do.

Having played around a lot with this, real crystals are actually LESS likely to do what you need them to do

I've gone back to using the plastic crystals provided and haven't had any problems. Specs DON'T focus on these and to be honest, what you get is probably the best for this.

This could turn into a very similar debate about the balls supplied in Marc Oberon's Odd Ball routine where people were looking to replace these.

dat8962 wrote:Robbie wrote:

and more likely to do what you need them to do.

Having played around a lot with this, real crystals are actually LESS likely to do what you need them to do

I've gone back to using the plastic crystals provided and haven't had any problems. Specs DON'T focus on these and to be honest, what you get is probably the best for this.

This could turn into a very similar debate about the balls supplied in Marc Oberon's Odd Ball routine where people were looking to replace these.

Well, I must bow to the voice of experience. The plastic crystals I got had some flash around the mould seam, and I've trimmed this off to make them smoother. They still seem too light, though, and hang up on the inside of the pouch. Probably just my handling, so I'll fiddle about a bit more.

I'm not worried about spectator reaction to the crystals. They're really quite attractive.

Speaking of Odd Ball, I'm still considering painting the white ones to match the black more closely. I know all the arguments that specs only take one ball each, so it's not necessary, but I'd like to show the balls at the start, and they really look like they don't go together as a set.

They do seem light but it's not a weight issue that the secret as you know. The best way to find out what you do and don't like is to take it out and perform it using the routine supplied to start with.

What I've found when using this in a darkened room is that real crystals aren't as translucent as the ones supplied and that's what you need to consider.

Also, as a tip, make sure that you hold the bag fairly high when asking the specs to remove their selection from the bag. If you hold it too low then they can see into the bag from above and the secret can then be revealed. If you want a little more on this then please feel free to PM me.

Cheers

I am feeling the pull of CUPS very strongly here, but firstly how examiable is this and what is better overall, this or Oddball?

Chris Tennant