22 Aug 2025
In May 2025, luxury crystal house Waterford unveiled a dazzling collaboration with one of music’s greatest icons, Elton John. Launching with the release of the Red Crystal Heart Ornament, the partnership fused artistry, heritage, and philanthropy in a piece designed to celebrate Pride Month while raising vital funds for the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
Handcrafted from lead-free crystal, the ornament was infused with a rich scarlet hue, finished with a radiant starburst etching, and sandblasted with both Waterford and Elton John motifs. The effect was bold and romantic, a timeless expression of compassion and identity rendered through the craftsmanship that has defined Waterford for over 250 years.
The release was more than decorative. From May 2025 to May 2026, 10 percent of all sales are pledged to the Elton John AIDS Foundation, a leading independent organisation founded in 1992 to end the AIDS epidemic and fight stigma around HIV. “The Red Heart Ornament is a beautiful tribute to Pride, inspired by Elton’s lifelong commitment to equality and his unwavering support for the LGBTQ+ community,” said Anne Aslett, CEO of the Foundation.
The collaboration underscored Pride’s legacy, rooted in the first marches of 1970 that commemorated the Stonewall Uprising, and reimagined it through a contemporary lens of luxury, inclusivity, and solidarity. With Elton John’s enduring influence and Waterford’s artisanal mastery, this partnership delivered a keepsake that is as meaningful as it is beautiful.
The Red Crystal Heart Ornament is now available globally via waterford.com, retailing as a limited-edition emblem of love and equality. For collectors, it marks the beginning of a larger creative journey between Waterford and Elton John, with more designs promised later this year.
