Thank you! That one is gorgeous! Very similar in appearance just copper and much better quality.:)

Those are beautiful and in fashion, but that glass is very high maintenance. Especially outside:(

The big box stores like Lowes are going to get you better pricing because of the volume they sell. And, to keep the prices low, they will try to use cost effective materials. Your light is painted steel. That is less expensive than copper. But it will work just as well. Bottom line is that there is nothing wrong with your light and it should last without problem for years.

The difference in pricing is volume, yes, but the lighting companies that make product for the big box stores, make it a little lighter weight, so the cast aluminum is a little thinner than something you would get in a showroom line. it's ok because cast aluminum is fine for outdoors - you don't need copper. The disadvantage to a hanging fixture as opposed to a wall mount, is that they swing in the wind, so you have to anchor it somehow, or risk breakage. If the glass breaks, it's not always replaceable, so you buy a new fixture every time. More expensive fixtures will have removable glass panels that get rid of that problem. Oh, and the light bulbs are a decorative style where the glass is cut at angles, to reflect the light and sparkle. You can probably find in a grocery store, hardware store - just look around.

I agree with most of what you've said. Although a lot depends on the exact light that you purchase from a big box store or a lighting showroom, I'd agree that generally lights from the box stores are lighter weight and made of less expensive materials. That said, most of those things affect the appearance of the light more than the function. Most lights that you buy at Lowes, etc. will function great and last a long time. So, if you like the way it looks, you'll probably be just fine. Most lights that are in new homes are "builder grade" and similiar in quality to those you'll find in the big box stores.

In regards to the glass breaking, although that is always a consideration for exterior lights, replacing the glass can be just as hard and potentially more expensive for a designer light as it is for a box store light. It really varies depending on the actual light you purchase.