Duralex

Founded in 1945 in La Chapelle-Saint-Mesmin, France, Duralex is legendary for inventing the tempered glass molding process. Duralex glasses are famously marketed as “virtually unbreakable,” becoming a staple in French school cafeterias and bistros worldwide.

Duralex glass is soda-lime glass, but processed differently. It is heated to approx. 700°C and then suddenly cooled by cold air ventilation.

• Strength: This creates controlled stress in the glass, making it 2.5 times stronger than annealed glass of the same thickness.
• Safety: If it does break, it shatters into non-cutting “pebbles” (like a car windshield), preventing serious injury.

The Picardie tumbler is the definition of French design.

• Shape: Its faceted, flute-like curves fit perfectly in the hand.
• Stackability: Designed to be stacked high without getting stuck (vacuum locked).
• Cultural Status: It has been featured in MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) and famously used by James Bond in the film *Skyfall* (where he drinks Macallan whisky from it).

Despite financial challenges in recent years, Duralex maintains that every single glass is manufactured in France, sourcing sand and raw materials locally, ensuring a low carbon footprint and consistent quality control.

— See Also:

• Tempered vs. Annealed Glass
• The Picardie Tumbler