Waterford Crystal to Open State-of-the-Art Visitor Centre in 2010!

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Jan 25, 2010, 01:46 ET

WATERFORD, Ireland, Jan. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- To celebrate the sparkle of a new beginning for the world's finest crystal brand, WWRD Holdings Limited today announced plans to open a new Waterford Crystal Prestige Manufacturing Facility, Retail Outlet and Visitor Centre in June 2010!

Located in the brand's namesake city of Waterford, Ireland, the high-tech facility will exclusively produce 40,000 luxury hand-crafted crystal pieces using traditional artisan methods for their most discerning customers and for the thousands who will come to visit the new facility. In addition to serving as a brand laboratory for innovation and modern design, Waterford Crystal Factory Tours will be open to the public seven days a week and all year round.

The Waterford Crystal factory tour will leave visitors staring spell bound as they are taken through a visual journey of over 225 years of glass making and are shown how each individual piece of crystal is created by highly skilled craftsmen using unique and traditional methods.

Visitors will also be able to marvel at a replica of the Waterford Times Square Ball without travelling across the pond and will be impressed by the varying exhibitions whether it be Sport, Statement Design or a favourite by many - the Faces and Places exhibit which showcases specially commissioned Waterford Crystals pieces that have been presented to famous Celebrities, Presidents and dignities!

If that wasn't enough, the world's largest display of Waterford Crystal will be showcased in the Retail Experience, including pieces from world famous designers such as John Rocha, Michael Aram and Jasper Conran!

The state-of-the-art Waterford Crystal Visitor Centre is located 2 miles from the city centre on the N25 Cork Road in Waterford, Ireland. Factory tours are open to the public all year round, Monday to Sunday. Guided Tours are also available seven days a week.

For more information about the new Waterford Visitor Centre please visit www.waterfordvisitorcentre.com.

About the Waterford Brand: Waterford designs, manufactures and markets an extensive range of crystal stemware, barware and giftware for distribution throughout the world. In recent years, Waterford has built upon its reputation as a leading source of prestigious tabletop and gift products by expanding into several new businesses. Significant expansions into tabletop and gifts have occurred with the launch of the Marquis by Waterford, the addition of Waterford Fine China, Waterford Fine Flatware and Waterford Holiday Heirlooms. Each of those initiatives reflects the company's commitment to creating prestigious products – for gift giving, entertaining and home decorating – with classic designs that transcend time.

About WWRD US, LLC: WWRD Holdings Limited, the leading provider of luxury home and lifestyle products worldwide, manufactures, distributes and sells well-recognized brands including Waterford, Wedgwood, Royal Doulton, Royal Albert, Minton, Johnson Brothers and Franciscan. WWRD maintains unique licensing arrangements with some of the most high-profile innovators in the home and lifestyle market, including Vera Wang, Jasper Conran, Monique Lhuillier, John Rocha, Barbara Barry, Gordon Ramsay, Martha Stewart and Michael Aram. WWRD products are distributed through premium department stores and independent retailers and wholesalers around the world, including the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, Canada, Australia and Ireland. The company employs more than 3,000 people worldwide.