Arcoroc Salto Tumbler 32 Cl Blue - 6 Pieces
Onis Icon Tumbler 35 Cl Grey - 6 Pieces
Bormioli Rocco Slot Tumbler 29 Cl Pink - 6 Pieces
RCR Pedro & Rosa Tumblers 36 Cl Assorted - 6 Pieces
How glass gets its color
Color throughout: metal oxides are added to the molten glass. Cobalt gives blue, chromium and iron green, selenium and cadmium red and orange, manganese purple, and gold a pink tint. The color runs through the entire glass, never wears off, and withstands any dishwasher. This is how colored Picardie glasses and colored crystal are made.
Color on the glass: a lacquer, coating or spray on the outside of clear glass, sometimes fired on. It's cheaper and the colors are brighter, but it wears off. After a few months in the dishwasher, the rims become dull and the clear glass starts to show through.
How to spot the difference
Look at the rim: if the color is throughout the glass, the rim is the same color as the rest; with a coating, the rim is often clear or the color stops just below it. Scratch the bottom of the base with a fingernail: you can feel a coating as a thin layer. And hold the glass up to the light: glass colored throughout is evenly translucent, while coated glass sometimes has streaks.
If you're unsure, check the product details: dishwasher-safe and colored throughout are the terms to look for. Read all about what the dishwasher does in our article on glasses in the dishwasher.
Is it safe?
Modern colored drinking glasses from Europe comply with food-contact regulations; the metal oxides are locked into the glass and do not leach out. Old colored glass from before the 1970s may contain lead or cadmium, especially red, orange and yellow glass and exterior painted decorations. Use it for decoration, not for everyday drinking.
For a table setting: choose one color for the water glasses and keep the wine glasses clear, so you can see the wine and the table looks calm. Or deliberately mix all the colors from one collection. Browse the colored glasses.
Colored throughout glass
Duralex's Picardie in pink and yellow is tempered glass colored throughout: dishwasher-safe and the color lasts. Find all colors in the colored glassware collection.
Duralex Picardie Tumbler 25 cl Pink (4 pieces)
Duralex Picardie Tumbler 25 cl Yellow (6 pieces)
Good to know
Why are colored wine glasses less popular with wine experts?
Because you can't see the wine's color. A glass with a colored stem or foot and a clear bowl is the solution.
Does colored glass fade in the sun?
Mass-colored glass does not. Some coatings fade after years outdoors.
Can I engrave or print on colored glass?
Yes, engraving creates a beautiful contrast. Printing is possible, but light colors on dark glass require an extra white underlayer. Read more about printing on glasses.
Frequently asked questions
Can colored glass go in the dishwasher?
If the color is in the glass, yes, without restriction. If the color is a coating on the outside, it will wear off over time. View our colored glassware.
Is colored glass safe to drink from?
Modern colored glass is. Old colored or painted glass from before the seventies may contain lead or cadmium.
How is glass colored?
By adding metal oxides to molten glass: cobalt for blue, chromium for green, selenium for red, gold for pink.
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