For football fans, victory is a moment that marks the culmination of countless hours of practice, passion, and teamwork.
As the official trophy maker of the 2025 Aer Lingus College Football Classic held in Dublin, Waterford worked to blend Irish heritage with the spirit of football for an iconic trophy that symbolises excellence both on and off the field.
At Waterford, crafting a trophy requires vision, precision, and skill. Over the course of months, our master craftspeople cut, shape, and engrave each trophy with determination and care. Each trophy showcases their dedication, and the techniques passed down through our 240-year history.
Every Waterford trophy begins at the House of Waterford, where artists start by sketching a concept blending athletic symbolism with our signature Irish elegance.
The journey continues in the molding room, where molten crystal - heated to over 1,300°C/ 2,400 °F - is hand‑blown by master artisans into wooden molds. Once shaped, the crystal passes through six rigorous inspection stages; any imperfection earns it a return to the furnace and back into the molten mix.
Next comes hand marking: a temporary geometric grid guides our cutters, who commit intricate patterns to memory over an eight‑year apprenticeship. Using diamond‑tipped and sandstone wheels, these masters carve precise facets, relying solely on feel and decades of experience to judge wheel pressure and pattern depth.
Finally, engravers use copper wheels to add intricate detail to the trophy’s surface. Each piece is then polished to radiant brilliance before passing through a final quality check. From there, it’s ready for the winning ceremony at the Football Classic.
Experience the skill behind every trophy by visiting our factory.
