Waterford Crystal

The Waterford trademark is well-known in the crystal community and around the world. If asked to name a quality crystal, many people would respond with "Waterford". The Waterford factory in Ireland was shut down in 2009 due to the company being placed in receivership. However, the Waterford line is still being produced in locations throughout Europe by the company WWRD Holdings Ltd.

Waterford Crystal was founded in 1783 by George and William Penrose and produced fine flint glass that became world renowned. Unfortunately, their company closed in 1851. In 1947, a Czech immigrant, Charles Bacik, established a glass works in the city, due to the superb reputation of the original glassware. Because the company had been started in a depressed Ireland, it had been taken over as a subsidiary of the Irish Glass Bottle company by the early 1950s.

Designer Jasper Conran began producing his signature range of crystal for Waterford in 1999. His work has evolved into four unique lines for Waterford and a complimentary tableware collection in fine bone china for Wedgwood.

Waterford has produced chandeliers that hang well-known buildings like Windsor Castle, Westminster Abbey, and the Kennedy Center. The time ball used on New Year's Eve in Times Square is produced by Waterford. They have also designed the trophies for the Peoples' Choice Awards.

Photo credit and more information about Waterford Crystal can be found here.

This beautiful lead crystal figurine honors that special couple on their very special day. Give them a treasure to remember!

A gift that will be used and loved for years to come. Any picture will "dazzle" when placed in this Waterford Crystal picture frame. Holds a 5X7 photo.

These beautiful champagne flutes will easily become treasured heirlooms. This elegant stemware will get used every anniversary and other special occasions requiring a toast or champagne. Parents will pass them down to their children on their wedding day to keep the tradition alive. Show the happy couple how much you care for them with exquisite gift.

A wonderfully crafted 24% lead crystal bowl by Waterford will add elegance to any table setting. Fill it with fruit or flowers and use it as a centerpiece when it's not serving one of your favorite recipes. A gift that will be treasured and handed down for generations.

Celebrate your new arrival with this adorable Waterford Crystal baby bottle. Can be personalized by engraving the baby's name, date of birth, and any other information you want to share. Great gift for new parents or grandparents!

Another engrave-able crystal piece for baby! Start their collection today. Rocking horses are always a favorite.

This adorable Teddy Bear is sure to please! He's not soft and cuddly, but he'll be loved just the same.

Lead glass is a variety of glass in which lead replaces the calcium content of typical potash lass. There is typically 18-40% lead content. Modern lead crystal, historically known as flint glass, contains a minimum of 24% lead and is desirable because of its decorative properties. The use of the term lead crystal remains popular for historical and commercial reasons. It originally stems from the Venetian us the word cristallo to describe the rock crystal imitated by glass-makers.

The brilliance of lead crystal relies on the refractive index cause by the lead content. Crystal cutting techniques exploit these properties to create a sparkling effect as each facet is cut. When tapped, lead crystal rings, unlike ordinary glasses. This technique is still used by consumers to differentiate lead crystal glasses from cheaper glasses.

Lead crystal is lead glass that has been hand- or machine-cut with facets. The addition of lead during the molten period adds much greater sparkle to the glass. Crystal can consist of up to 35% lead, at which point it has the most sparkle.

It has been proposed that the historic association of gout with the upper classes in Europe and America was cause by their extensive use of lead crystal decanters to store fortified wines and whiskey. Items made of lead glass may leach lead into the food and beverages contained. A study performed at North Carolina State University showed the amount of lead migration was measured for Port wine stored in lead crystal decanters increased dramatically over time. After 2 days, lead levels were 89 micrograms/liter and after 4 months rose to between 2,000 and 5,000 micrograms/liter. White wine doubled its lead content within an hour of storage and tripled it within four hours. The study also showed that citrus juices and infant formula leach lead from crystal just as effectively as alcoholic beverages.

I would suggest only using lead crystal containers for the short term!