The first way to tell an authentic piece of waterford is to look for the waterford acid mark.
Identification waterford crystal acid marks.
Regular glass produces a yellow or green tint.
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.
That s their seahorse in the photo below followed by an older variation of the sticker.
The most important step is seeking out a reputable dealer.
Pieces made since the year 2000 include the seahorse trademark.
Wash by hand in warm to hot water with mild dish soap.
Search online for images of authentic waterford acid stamps.
Identify by waterford acid stamps.
Using a magnifying glass or holding the crystal up to the light search for the stamp.
The bases of most waterford crystal have the word waterford etched on the underside.
The stem or the bottom of the bowl may be marked on pressed glass stems.
Now some of the reasons that it may not be there include rogue pieces.
Older stamps feature the name waterford in gothic script in either one of two designs.
The other method of identification requires that pesky magnifying glass.
Here s our decanter s sticker.
Identifying by acid stamps.
A waterford crystal marking.
Older waterford crystal carried a green and gold sticker with the logo.
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Almost all true waterford crystal items will have a brocade etching of the name as pictured above.
Unlike lightweight glass lead crystal is heavy.
Research the waterford marks.
You may be surprised to find that.
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.
Identification of waterford crystal can be tricky.
Crystal stemware marks go unnoticed on most pieces of fine glassware but stemware is often marked with an acid etch on the bottom sometimes around the rim of the foot and sometimes in the center of the foot.
Waterford s glassware is the company s most famous product but they create beautiful flatware bowls and many other elegant pieces.
The expansive array of waterford items and knock offs on the market would make it nearly impossible to identify true waterford crystal if not for one important quality shared by all of the company s products.
Some items like vases chandeliers and lights manufactured after the year 1986 will have this mark etched in the grooves and folds of the crystal since there may not be enough space at the foot of the item.
When holding a piece up to the light it should be perfectly clear a silvery white.