House of Waterford Crystal

Places to See | Waterford City, Ireland

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World-renowned Waterford Crystal has recently moved to a new home, and it should be top of your list of places to see in Waterford City.  During a factory tour, you can indulge your passion for the world’s most famous crystal, while feeling the heat of the furnace and watching the craftsmen at work.

The factory tour starts with a presentation on the proud heritage of Waterford Crystal and explains why it the company is world famous for its craftsmanship and design. In the Blowing & Furnace room you can watch the blower breathe new life into the molten crystal. At each stage of production, the crystal is carefully inspected to ensure each piece meets Waterford Crystal’s standards, and you see this for yourself when you visit Quality Control.

In the Cutting Room, master craftsmen rely on an abundance of skill and dexterity to cut the pattern onto the crystal using diamond tipped wheels. This is a precise and skilled job. Too much, or too little, pressure means the cutter has to start the piece over again.

In the Sculpting and Engraving area, skill is used to sculpt shapes from solid blocks of crystal. Hundreds of hours can be spent using Copper Wheels to engrave trophies and limited edition pieces.

After walking through the Exhibition area, where you will see replicas of some of the world’s most famous trophies and statement pieces, you can visit the world’s largest collection of Waterford Crystal, and maybe pick up an iconic piece for yourself in the Retail Store. What better way to remember your visit to one of Ireland’s top attractions?

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