How to Identify Stemware

Stemware is a great addition to anyone's wine cabinet, whether you're a wine connoisseur or not. A lot of stemware--especially crystal--can be worth a pretty penny if you know who made the glasses. Whether you've been handed down some pieces from a relative, found them at an estate sale, or simply found the stemware gathering dust in your basement and don't know how they even got there, identifying them helps find their worth, manufacturer or--at least--is a conversation starter.

• 1

  Inspect the stemware, specifically the base. Many manufacturers will etch their name or logo onto the bottom of the stem. Keep in mind that many companies may just etch their logo, which you can easily look up on online. For instance, the Lenox logo is an "L" surrounded by a horseshoe-shaped wreath; the Waterford logo is a seahorse; and the Swarovski logo is a swan.

• 2

  Take the stemware to the company that made the glasses, if possible. The sales representatives from stores like Swarovski, Baccarat, Lenox and Waterford will help you to further identify the stemware, including the year it was made.

• 3

  Take the stemware to an antique show. Antique shows have professional appraisers who are experienced in identifying almost anything--including stemware. They will most likely be able to tell everything from the manufacturer, date it was made, and how much (if any) it's currently worth.

• 4

  Call a private appraiser in your area and have the stemware identified by an expert appraiser. Although you may have to pay a small fee for the service, the appraiser will be able to tell you a lot about the stemware you have.