How Is Waterford Crystal Made?
Lead Glass While Waterford crystal is highly valued for its craftsmanship and quality, the process of its manufacture begins much the same way as the production process of any other brand of crystal. All crystal glass begins as lead glass. In the manufacture of common potash glass, calcium is added to the base ingredient of silica to give the glass its structure. However, lead glass replaces the calcium with lead oxide. This creates a glass which is more malleable at cooler temperatures, thereby making it easier to shape into intricate designs. The lead content also increases the glass’ density, which allows for a clearer, heavier finished product with fewer imperfections such as air bubbles or cracks. The raw lead glass is made from three main ingredients. Silica sand is a mixture of sand harvested from sandstones and tiny crystals of quartz. Silica sand makes up about 48 percent of the final product. The rest is made up of the potassium compound called potash and red-lead, which is l
