Waterford crystal began in Ireland in the port town of Waterford in the late 1700's. The artisans who originally sculpted these crystal pieces were extremely particular about the quality of their creations. Soon trade ships from Europe and America were eager to obtain more of these spectacular pieces. The original company closed in the 1800's due to economic factors, but the crystal was still held  in very high regard. In the late 1940's the company was restarted and demand sharply rose again. Waterford crystal has the highest quality standards and as a result they are considered the premium crystal brand in the world. Their pieces are unique and are sure to catch the eye. Beautiful crystal stemware, chandeliers, and decanters are just a few things that Waterford has created into beautiful crystal.