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Our next destination was the Waterford Crystal showroom and plant. The selection of crystal in the gallery was something to see. All the pieces were highlighted with bright light to bring out the detail in the intricate designs and engraving. It was easy to see why this crystal has a hefty price tag, especially after taking a tour of the plant and witnessing the skilled craftsman who have made it by hand since the 1700s.
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Cutting and engraving. What these
craftsman do is unreal.
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At the left is the Times Square Millennium ball that was used for New York City's year 2000 new year celebration. It measures 6 feet across and contains lights, motors, wiring, and triangular crystal panels. Seeing this thing lit up was amazing.
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During the plant tour, our guide mentioned that about 40% of the crystal produced is rejected (and recycled) due to their very picky inspection process. No flawed pieces or factory seconds ever leave the plant. Of course, none of us could leave without buying a
piece or two from the gallery since it was a bit cheaper at the plant than it is in the
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