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Shop Now. Colored Christmas Ornaments Shop Now. Waterford crystal is often an item people sell at estate sales and many sellers have no idea what their Waterford is worth. If you are looking to sell your Waterford, or purchase some at your next estate sale , read on to learn all about this long-standing tradition in crystal glassware.
Wait a second. Crystal is a type of glass, specifically glass made with lead. Most crystals have a combination of silica, soda and lead-oxide. Lead crystal is very strong and often used in wine glasses and decorative ornaments.
In the 90s, there was a health scare as the Food and Drug Administration issued a warning about consuming your food out of lead crystal. Even the Waterford website discourages customers from storing liquids and foods in the crystal, which would give the lead more time to leach from the crystal into the food.
Ultimately, the answer is no-lead crystal is no more of a risk to your health than your average diet. The Environmental Protection Agency says it is safe for drinking water to carry 15 micrograms of lead per liter, which is far more than one will consume from drinking wine out of a crystal glass for a few hours.
That said, those beautiful Waterford wine decanters are for show-not for actual storage. In the US, any glass with a lead monoxide content of one percent or more qualifies as crystal, while in Europe, crystal has to have between 10 and 30 percent of lead monoxide. The increased lead content means that crystal takes longer to cool off than glass, which allows glassblowers more time to carve the intricate patterns often seen on crystal items.
The lead content of crystal changes many of its qualities. When compared to traditional glass, it is often thinner, more clear, and heavier. The higher lead content also causes crystal to refract light in a different way than glass, which creates that well-loved sparkle. Waterford has become a casual, household name for very fine, luxury crystal. Waterford Crystal is an Ireland-based crystal manufacturer in the town of—you guessed it—Waterford, Ireland.
The original Waterford company was first opened in by William and George Penrose. The brothers, neither of whom had a background in glass production, produced fine flint glass, a very popular decorative glass in England at the time. The Penrose brothers were opportunist businessmen. After 70 years of building a reputation for the finest and clearest glass, including a nod from King George III who had his vacation home outfitted with Waterford crystal, the original Waterford factory was closed in because of lack of funds.
Havel studied products of the original Waterford company that were on display in the National Museum of Ireland. From the cutting designs created by the original Waterford brothers, Havel created Lismore, a crystal pattern that would eventually be regarded as the best-selling and finest crystal pattern worldwide. Waterford has a long history as a company and, as a result, a long list of different crystal items that the company has produced.
We have a set of Tiffany stemware that we use all the time. Probably down three or four pieces since we got it as a result, but it's out whenever there's more than just two of us having a glass of wine. No sense keeping it stored someplace. We have a set of eight Lenox cut crystal glasses, which were a wedding gift ages ago, but I don't like them as much as the more casual, up-to-date sets we have bought for ourselves much more recently. That makes me sad, but honestly they are just gathering dust.
I've thought of selling them often, but am not sure they would get much or sell particularly quickly. In the same vein, do people buy formal china or flatware any more? Tiffany holds its value, and Waterford more than the other names. I think the fancy stemware is fun for kids, but when I have wine, I like it in the stemless glasses, now. I can see his point when it comes to white wine, since the hand's warmth raises the temperature of the wine through the bowl of any glass hence the stem but I STILL like those stemless glasses, particularly for a nice, rich, red wine.
I have a pile of Mikkasa Old Dublin wine and water glasses. Basically fake Waterford crystal. I never use them, and now drink wine out of lighter glasses. Was thinking of selling them on ebay, but this thread has me discouraged to even try. I like them too, but can't bring myself to buy them for the same reason. They're very attractive, but just not practical for white. I have our wedding Lenox crystal and wish I used them more.
If we've had people over for dinner, we've used them, but I think it makes most people uncomfortable - like it's too formal. Although they're very very simple. Our china is the same way plain white with platinum rim , but they're delicate and they just give too formal of a vibe. So, outside of Thanksgiving or Christmas, they don't get used. I have water goblets that were my grandmother's, but there's no marking on them so I don't know what they are - probably a wedding gift to them in the s.
It's a shame - I may just have to start using the wine glasses for every day That is my trouble, too, Tiger.
The Lenox just seems very formal, in a rather outdated way. Of course, we have recently been working our way through the 35 wineries that grace Connecticut, and at nearly all of them, a tasting includes a logo glass. So we now have logo stemware in various shapes for about 14 wineries, and counting.
Some of them are the stemless, and I find I'm using them, even for white wine. BTW, I also understand about not having kids and feeling bad about not having anyone to pass along heirloom stuff to. I also doubt that my niece and nephew would appreciate most of the stuff that I cherish. Oh, well.
Define what makes a "perfect glass" for you, please? PeggyC said: BTW, I also understand about not having kids and feeling bad about not having anyone to pass along heirloom stuff to.
FWIW, I truly believe we should buy things we'll cherish in our own lifetimes, and never worry about what happens to it when we're gone. Also hoping someone will want my well-preserved ugly wedding dress. My aunts neither of whom have kids have offered many things to pass on. So far, with only one exception because it has silver value have I offered to take anything I didn't actually "want. I have no intention of taking my mother's Blue Willow china Never has food looked more unappetizing when eaten off of a blue plate , or the crystal that was her mother's.
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