Founded in 1867 Edinburgh Crystal was one of the kings in glass making. The Edinburgh crystal factory was based most recently in Penicuik, Midlothian in Scotland. The company was taken over by Waterford Crystal and the factory in Scotland was closed and the prestige product was made in the Waterford factory in Ireland, the rest outsourced in quality Crystal making factories in Europe.
In January 2009 Waterford Crystal went into administration and in February 2009 was bought from the administrators by KPS Private equity Group a New York based equity company who specialise turning round and buffing up failed companies.
Since then we have been waiting for positive news on the fate of the Edinburgh Crystal brand. For most of 2010 there was the rumour that a restricted range of the best selling Edinburgh crystal patterns would be out sourced under the Stuart brand.
I have continued to pursue the fate of the Edinburgh brand so that we can keep our valued, patient and long suffering Edinburgh Crystal customers aware of what is going on.
In March 2011 I have finally been advised that there are now no plans to keep the Edinburgh brand nor to supply the best selling patterns under any brand.
Edinburgh Crystal has been allowed to slip ignominiously into oblivion – what a shame!
For what it is worth I would have continued to outsource the Edinburgh Tay, Skye, Orrin and Eclipse ranges in Europe and then produced the iconic ranges or Flower of Scotland and Star of Edinburgh from UK based cutters.
Why keep the Edinburgh brand, well if the management of Waterford searched on the Internet they would find that there are over 10,000 Global monthly searches for the Edinburgh Crystal brand which is very respectable.
What next.
I do not suspect that the Waterford management will have a change of heart, it would be too late now anyway.
What I would recommend for customers looking to replace or buy new glass is to take a good look at the Royal Scot Crystal range of glasses.
Royal Scot was set up 1987 by Malcolm Sergent who was formerly a Chief Executive of Edinburgh crystal so he knows a thing or two about Crystal.
Finally if you need any further advice on buying crystal please contact us.