To that end I am significantly reducing my hours. I'm also in negotiations to transfer ownership of Crystal Clear to an interested party - early days yet.
Please check the home page for latest opening hours.
Reduced hours means that orders might take a day or so extra to complete so please consider that when ordering.
]]>We survived an incendiary device attack in 1970, a terrorist bomb in 1972 (which destroyed EVERYTHING) and numerous recessions since then.
After the bomb in 1972, while the buildings were lying in rubble, my parents brought their caravan up to the site and slept in it to protect what little was left. They also converted it into an office and answered the phones, took orders and tried to 'carry on'!!
Dad and his co-director Ernest took the van to England on numerous occasions to replenish stock so the company could continue to trade. They were testing times for sure although very many businesses and families were in the same position at that time.
The biggest selling items then were 'Business as Usual' signs which were seen on all boarded up shops and offices that had been damaged by bombs.
For all that sadness & pain of yesteryear this is more serious as COVID-19 is indiscrminate, deadly and easily spread. We all have to play our part.
Keep well and stay safe out there.
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These are great value for money and have generous areas for engraving. Check them out.
Also added is a new decanter:
A nice chunky piece it is too.
And finally some new plaques for presentations and corporate awards:
Check them all out!!
]]>New items have been added:
- Crystal hand shake!!- Jade sail plaque
- Kyoto vase & bowl. Very modern!!
- great value facet paperweight
- lovely stemmed beer glass
- excellent value bubble base tumbler & hiball from Krosno
Check them out here
]]>This high quality plaque has removeable blocks which can be engraved to record the winners' names over a period of time.
We hope you agree it is a most innovative and unusual piece. It's also very heavy so will make a substantial presentation.
]]>Why not check them out....
]]>This really is a very well priced desktop piece which will not look out of place in any modern office/home environment.
Beautifully presented the landscape format of the handle allows for a reasonably good engraving area.
]]>A most eyecatching piece with undoubted star quality!
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Same hand sculpted shapes & edges however the final polish has been left out resulting in slightly frosted highlights in places.
I feel, if you can even see them, these frosted highlights compliment the frosted engraving.
These are great pieces to engrave on with very generous areas.
Blue presentation boxes.
]]>These Flare tablets have an attractive flare from the bottom to top making for a slightly more interesting looking presentation.
They come in an attractive blue presentation box and (as you can see) have a generous area for engraving.
]]>Some exciting new products will be launched over the next few weeks as we look forward to a busy first quarter of the year.
I will be clearing out some discontinued stock so give me a call for a chat to see if there is anything that might be of interest.
]]>I will be in and out of the office at various stages over the holidays so if you need anything send an e-mail. I MIGHT be able to help.
In the meantime have a great Christmas and a healthy New Year
]]>I would have been in that shop at least 3/4 times a week for the past 30+ years under its various owners. It was such a reliable port of call.
Now it has gone I can't help but feel a bit vulnerable. It's business life mirrored mine for so much of the time..........
Good luck to all the staff.
]]>Two very high quality (and heavy - 2.4kgs) decanters with lots of space for engraving.
These are a significant change from our normal square decanters and will complement the Boston decanters beautifully.
]]>- Galway Crystal LIBERTY flute & goblet (great value, good quality glasses!!)
- the latest Inverness Crystal ship's decanter
- Strangford tankard (an old favourite back into stock)
- Stellar tankards - very nice budget tankards. Good quality and reasonably priced
The new decanters have arrived in but I'm waiting for the photos to come through before putting them up on the website.
]]>Plain, high quality, 24% lead crystal they will engrave beautifully.
We'll post photos soon.
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I managed to get caught up on paperwork this afternoon after I had set up a few orders which will give me a good start on Monday.
Listening to the radio over the course of the day I can't help but feel we are likely to face a period of great uncertainty what with the hung Government and Brexit just round the corner.
Interesting (& worrying) times ahead methinks......
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My first delivery of Waterford Crystal arrived!!
It's the first time I've ordered direct from Waterford Crystal and it appears to have gone pretty smoothly.
The first three vases will be engraved early next week....
]]>Today has been a 'catch up on paperwork' and 'tidy my desk' day although I managed to get through a right bit of artwork set-up most have of which has already been confirmed.
Am just about to start developing some of the films for next week so I can make a quick start on Monday morning.
Also just completed the Ulster Rugby Supporters Player of the Month Award for January/February. It's to be presented next week.
]]>Artwork just signed off, plaques on the bench ready for work to begin....
It's cold in the old workshop at the moment so I'll be wrapped up well!!
Chilly for March....
]]>Ireland defied all the odds today when they beat England depriving them a Six Nations Grand Slam & of course the Triple Crown.
While Inst were favourites Ireland were very much the underdogs but put together a truly memorable performance.
Looking forward to watching the match again....
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Okay......just had confirmation the the Waterford Crystal pieces are available and should be with us in the next week or so.
A number of items have been pre-ordered so we're off to a good start!
Check out the items here.
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Hopefully, in the not too distant future, we will be in a position to supply and engrave a small range of Waterford Crystal products.
Initially we will be looking to stock a couple of Lismore vases and a Vintage Hour Glass decanter.
Some other items within the John Rocha range should follow.
Check back soon......
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These would be regarded as budget pieces however the quality and packaging certainly belies their price points.
Engraving is on the back of the plaque making for a pleasing effect when viewed through the glass.
Good areas for engraving mean inscriptions can be large for best presentation and viewing.
See them here
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Last Saturday I went to watch my old school, RBAI play Campbell College in the quarter finals of the Ulster Schools' Cup.
It was a sad occasion for me as my Dad wasn't able to make it being rather ill at the moment.
He hardly missed a Schools' Cup game where Inst were involved and so many folk spoke to me about him....wishing him well.
Dad played in 2 Schools' Cup finals, losing 1 but winning the 2nd one as Captain. He captained Ulster Schools that year (1951) and had a senior debut for the full Ulster side (against Connacht) while still eligible for the Schools' side.
I shall miss his company and enthusiasm for school rugby which started when he played as a youth, following my brother & I during our playing days and the school for as long as I can remember.
I think he had been to every Schools' Cup final since he started Inst bar one or two. I reckon he's been to around 64 Schools' Cup finals!! He just loved the Cup so much.
We will miss him .......
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The Clear/Black glass 'V' plaque is avilable in 2 sizes:
-34cm
-39cm
These are two very substantial pieces offering a good canvas for engraving and which come in an attractive presentation box.
Check them out here.
]]>As you can see they are an elegant, modern shape and have the bevel frosted to frame the inscription.
With generous engraving areas on all three sizes these are very nice, budget plaques.
Check out them out here.
More new plaques will be posted tomorrow sometime.
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