Getting the design checked by an expert may be needed in some cases.
Is all waterford crystal marked.
But ironically with scores of fakes flooding the market most glassware experts base their judgment using waterford crystal catalogs.
Pieces made between 1947 and 1999 have the word waterford etched into the bottom.
From the waterford catalog produced by waterford themselves not some ebay guide.
These are pieces sneaked out by employees yes it does happen.
One thing to remember is the marking may fade over time and use and one should not rely on that alone.
Pieces made since 1999 have waterford crystal s seahorse emblem etched into the bottom.
The authenticity marking on pieces of waterford crystal changed from the word waterford to a seahorse etching at the turn of the millennium as part of waterford crystal s millennium series.
If you had your magnifying glass and or a bright light and tipped the piece just so you might see this.
All genuine waterford crystal made since 1947 features some form of authenticity mark.
To identify waterford crystal hold the item up the light and use a magnifying glass to locate an acid stamp that says waterford alternatively if the item was made after 2000 look for an acid stamp in the shape of a seahorse.
It will most likely appear on the stem s base but can also be found in the grooves as well.
You can also look for a gold sticker featuring waterford s green seahorse emblem.
Waterford assures clients that their patterns will never expire.
Older waterford crystal carried a green and gold sticker with the logo.
Regular glass produces a yellow or green tint.
Under normal circumstances the acid mark or etch mark with the name waterford is on the base or bottom side of all crystal pieces produced by waterford crystal ireland.
Now some of the reasons that it may not be there include rogue pieces.
Any marked penrose crystal would say penrose waterford so when anyone speaks of antique waterford crystal they are speaking of crystal made in waterford ireland by the penrose glass house.
The first way to tell an authentic piece of waterford is to look for the waterford acid mark.
Not only did the estate sale rep write waterford in black nonpermanent marker on their crystal she also circled the etched word.
Unlike lightweight glass lead crystal is heavy.
When holding a piece up to the light it should be perfectly clear a silvery white.