Oh, how beautiful this Waterford is that sits in your cabinet to be adorned and admired by all who visit your home, when you entertain your guests at the dinner table and speak of how the sun reflects the shimmering light and colors of the rainbow through the tall goblets while drinking your chardonnay, or a story of how this magnificent piece of crystal was mouth blown and hand carved by master craftsmen of Waterford Crystal Ireland. But how do you really know for sure, if your Waterford Crystal is authentic or fake?
Well, there are some ways to check if your Waterford is the real thing and the following will outline and help you with some of the basic tests that can be performed by the average person with an untrained eye, depending on whether its a single piece or a complete set of crystal.
Finding out first of all where the crystal was purchased is probably the obvious place to begin. Was it a reputable store? Did you receive a certificate of authenticity? Was the piece signed by the Waterford craftsman? Did it have the acid-etched watermark stamped on the base? Did it have the Seahorse label? Does it ring when you circle your moist finger around the top of the rim? Maybe so.
Some of these questions will have a certain significance to determine the outcome of whether your Waterford Crystal is the real McCoy or not, but?
Did you know that Waterford Crystal Ireland, with the help of the FBI, investigated several manufacturing plants in the United States that were producing pirated copies, of the famous renowned Waterford brand and that these companies produced a whole line of the crystal giftware, including all the popular patterns, not just the same designs but with the watermark stamp, the seahorse label and even the certificate of authenticity.
Having worked with Waterford Ireland and Lenox Crystal USA for over 26 years as a Master Crystal Cutter/Engraver, I have to report coming across thousands of these so-called Waterford Crystal fakes. Yes, they were purchased in reputable stores and also had the acid-etched watermark, had the seahorse label too, but I can assure you that they were not authentic and not produced in Waterford Crystal Ireland. So, I just want you to know first hand that you have every right to be concerned, if your Waterford Crystal is authentic or fake.
