We talk a lot about "warm white" vs. "cool white," but one of the biggest requests we get at Christmas Light Source is for that nostalgic, deep-color glow that we all remember from childhood. You know the one—the multicolor painted glass bulbs that looked like little ceramic drops of color.

For years, LED technology has come close but has still struggled to really replicate that specific look. We are happy to say, we think we've found a solution. The only difference is the color mix. 

To achieve a direct duplicate of the traditional color set, you'll have to order white bulbs separately. Either pure or warm would work well, but warm white would have the more traditional glow.

Shop the Comparison

C9 Illuminance LED
(Opaque Finish)

Shop LED C9

C9 Traditional Glass
(Painted Finish)

Shop Glass C9

C7 Illuminance LED
(Opaque Finish)

Shop LED C7

C7 Traditional Glass
(Painted Finish)

Shop Glass C7

The Test: Glass vs. LED

I took the photo below last night to put our new Illuminance Multi Opaque Bulbs to the test against Traditional Glass bulbs.

Left: Illuminance Opaque LED | Right: Traditional Painted Glass

• The 5 Bulbs on the Left: These are the new Illuminance Multi Color Opaque LEDs. They are made of durable polycarbonate (no shattering!) and use modern LED diodes.
• The 5 Bulbs on the Right: These are traditional, painted glass incandescent bulbs.

The Verdict?

As you can see, the Illuminance bulbs match the traditional glass almost perfectly in terms of diffusion and glow. They eliminate the 'hot spots' you sometimes see in transparent faceted or smooth LEDs, giving you that soft, vintage look without the fragility of glass—or the heat.

In fact, the look is so convincing that Dave actually reached out to touch the green glass bulb during the shoot and was surprised to feel it heating up. 'Hey, that's not LED!' he exclaimed. At a glance, it really is the only way to tell the difference.

Here is a closer shot highlighting the green and blue bulbs.

Taking a closer loser look. 

Technical Specs & Safety

Beyond the aesthetics, switching to these LEDs means you save massive amounts of power. However, even with the low wattage of LEDs, you still need to respect the limitations of your wire!

• Wire Gauge: This applies when using standard 18 AWG wire.
• Max Run: Please remember that no single run should exceed 250 feet. Even though the LEDs draw less power, exceeding this distance can create an electrical hazard. 

We are so excited to finally offer a bulb that satisfies the "purist" in us while keeping your electric bill low and your installation shatter-proof!