Duralex
Picardie Small Indigo Glasses Set Of 4
These Duralex Picardie small indigo glasses (set of 4) are 250 ml (8 oz.) tempered glass tumblers made in France. Measuring 3.25 inches (8 cm) in diameter and 3.5 inches (9 cm) tall, they are thermal shock resistant, dishwasher and microwave safe, with a ribbed indigo design. Reviews highlight their durability and versatility for cold and hot drinks, desserts, and everyday use, though some recent batches have reported occasional spontaneous shattering.
- Color
- Indigo
- Material
- Thermal shock-resistant tempered glass
- Style
- classic
- Category
- Home & Garden > Kitchen & Dining > Tableware > Drinkware > Tumblers
Color
Size
Specifications
Set of 4 Picardie small indigo glasses, thermal shock-resistant tempered glass, dishwasher and microwave safe, made in France.
Thermal shock-resistant tempered glass, dishwasher and microwave safe, 250 ml capacity, set of 4.
- Color
- Indigo · blue
- Material
- Thermal shock-resistant tempered glass
- Style
- classic
- Gender
- unisex
- Condition
- new
- Dimensions
- 3.25x3.25x3.5 in
- Category
- Home & Garden > Kitchen & Dining > Tableware > Drinkware > Tumblers
Additional Attributes
- Thermal shock-resistant tempered glass
- Dishwasher and microwave safe
- Made in France
- Set of 4 per package
- 250 ml (8 oz.) capacity
- Matching items available
Product Insights
A continuous design icon since 1954, the Duralex Picardie small indigo glass delivers the definitive French bistro experience through its marine-blue-to-indoor translucency and tapered, stackable form that allows one-handed unstacking. Its core promise is exceptional durability: tempered glass withstands rapid temperature swings from -20°C to 100°C, survives drops and dishwasher cycles, and breaks into safe cubes when it fails, with many users reporting over a decade of daily use. The main tradeoff is that while the low center of gravity makes it stable for children and the 250 ml capacity suits small portions, recent batches have shown spontaneous shattering in dishwashers, and the small size requires frequent refills for adult water consumption.
Verified claims
- Design heritage
- Produced continuously since 1954 from the same mold, the Picardie is the definitive French bistro glass.
- Stacking
- Tapered design nests without jamming and allows one-handed unstacking.
- Aesthetic effect
- Indigo glass shifts from marine blue in daylight to darker indoors, with jewel-like translucency and bistro charm.
- Thermal performance
- Withstands -20°C to 100°C; rapid temperature changes may cause shattering, especially in some batches.
- Handling
- Low center of gravity makes them stable; stacked glasses breathe to avoid mustiness.
- Authenticity
- Genuine Duralex has base marking; counterfeits exist – buy from authorized retailers.
- Thermal shock
- Thermal shock-resistant tempered glass allows stacking from dishwasher straight to refrigerator.
- Use cases
- 250 ml size is ideal for children and small portions but needs refills for adult water.
- Thermal endurance
- Tempered glass tolerates -20°C to 100°C for hot drinks and fast cycles.
- Kid safety
- A 6-year-old can use these without tipping, and tempered glass breaks into cubes.
- Spontaneous shattering
- One buyer reports a glass shattered spontaneously in the dishwasher.
- Breakage
- Buyers report occasional spontaneous shattering of newer batches, but they break into safe cubes when they do.
- Size and stability
- Low tipping risk for kids; 250 ml capacity is smaller than IKEA tumblers.
- Provenance
- Every Picardie is still made at Duralex's original factory in France.
- Craftsmanship
- Tempering preserves sharp tiers; tapered walls air-vent stacked glasses.
- Recent quality concerns
- Buyers report spontaneous shattering in some recent batches.
- Break pattern
- Breaks into small, non-sharp cubes that scatter widely.
- Replacement ease
- Picardie design unchanged since 1954; matching replacements available for years.
- Longevity
- Buyers report decade-plus daily use; glasses survive drops, dishwashing, and thermal extremes.
- Value
- $18 for a set of 4 glasses yields a per-use cost under a cent over a decade.
- Quality consistency
- Some buyers report recent batches shattering spontaneously in dishwashers.
Product record
- Title
- Picardie Small Indigo Glasses Set Of 4
- Brand
- Duralex
- Price
- 18 CAD
- Availability
- In stock
Deep Research
Design heritage of the Picardie glass
- The Picardie model was first produced by Duralex in 1954, during the height of post-war French industrial design, and has remained in continuous production ever since — this set shares the exact mold and material legacy of glasses that served in French bistros and school cafeterias for over 70 years, making each sip a small encounter with design history.
- While the original Picardie launched exclusively in transparent glass, Duralex has extended the line with embedded colors like indigo — this variant preserves the 1954 mold shape and tempered properties but adds a deep, modern hue that allows the classic silhouette to fit into contemporary interiors without sacrificing its heritage credentials.
- The Picardie's stackability and extreme durability made it the go-to glass for French school cafeterias, tabacs, and bistros beginning in the 1950s, cementing its status as a ubiquitous everyday object in French public life and giving it an unpretentious, democratic design appeal.
- Duralex was among the first to adapt automotive tempered glass for consumer drinkware after its founding in 1945, and the Picardie's thermal shock resistance (officially -20°C to 100°C) was a breakthrough that allowed a single glass to handle both hot coffee and cold water — a practical dual-use capability that became a hallmark of the brand's post-war innovation.
- Every Picardie glass is still manufactured in Duralex's original factory in La Chapelle-Saint-Mesmin, France — the same location where the brand has operated since 1945, ensuring that this set carries genuine French provenance rather than a licensed name on outsourced production.
Stacking design and café ergonomics
- The Picardie shape has been a fixture of French brasseries since the mid-20th century, its stacking practicality making it the default water glass in cafes from Paris to Provence — a design so functionally pure that it remains unchanged decades later, still made in France.
- Because the tapered walls prevent tight-sealing nests, air circulates between stacked glasses to fully evaporate rinse water, eliminating the trapped-moisture problem that leaves straight-sided tumblers smelling musty after back-to-back service.
- The -20°C to 100°C thermal tolerance means a stack of Picardies can move directly from a 85°C sanitizing dishwasher to a bar fridge without pause — enabling a wash-stack-cool-serve cycle that cuts the number of glasses a cafe needs to keep in rotation.
- The slight inward taper from the 8 cm rim — rather than a straight cylinder — lets a bartender pinch the rim of the top glass and flick it free without disturbing the stack below, a small ergonomic advantage that compounds over hundreds of pours a night.
- The short 3.5-inch individual height and thick tempered base produce a bottom-heavy mass distribution, so a multi-glass stack remains notably stable even when carried on a jostled serving tray.
What French manufacturing means for the glass
- Duralex uses a standard soda-lime-silica glass formulation, with durability coming entirely from the tempering process rather than exotic materials like borosilicate; this keeps the Picardie affordable and fully recyclable, while still delivering a thermal shock resistance that rivals borosilicate for everyday hot-to-cold versatility.
- Because Duralex tempers the glass after pressing it into its final beveled form — without any abrasive post-processing — the mold's fine details, like the Picardie's signature graduated tiers, remain sharply defined; this fidelity is part of why the design has endured since 1954 and is immediately recognizable, in contrast to cheaper imitations where polishing dulls the texture.
- The tempering is achieved through physical air quenching, not chemical ion exchange: glass is heated to a semi-plastic state and then rapidly cooled with precisely controlled air jets, inducing a balanced internal stress that makes the glass 2–3 times stronger than annealed glass — this is the mechanism behind the Picardie's ability to survive drops that would shatter ordinary glassware and to transition safely from freezer to microwave.
- Duralex has been applying its thermal tempering process to glass tumblers since 1945 at its factory in La Chapelle-Saint-Mesmin, France — the same location that still produces the Picardie today, which means the glass benefits from nearly eight decades of continuous process refinement and institutional knowledge, yielding a level of thermal and mechanical reliability that generic tempered glass often cannot match.
- The original Duralex tempered glass was developed to withstand the harsh washing and handling of French school canteens and hospitals; the Picardie inherits this over-engineering, which means it is built to a commercial durability standard that makes it remarkably hard to chip or crack in home use, adding real-world longevity that justifies the modest premium over fragile non-tempered alternatives.
Image Analysis
3 images- 01
Product
Three small tapered drinking glasses made of translucent indigo-tinted glass with vertical faceted ribs, visible rims and thick bases; one glass upright, one on its side, and a stacked group of glasses inverted.
- Overall shapeTapered tumbler silhouette with a wider rim that tapers to a narrower, thick flat base; vertical faceted ribs run from rim to base.
3 regions
x 0.05 · y 0.46 · w 0.28 · h 0.28 (high); x 0.33 · y 0.48 · w 0.35 · h 0.29 (high); x 0.72 · y 0.34 · w 0.22 · h 0.35 (high) - Surface texture and finishSmooth translucent glass with glossy reflective highlights and clearly visible internal reflections and refractions through the glass walls and base.
- Rim detailRounded rim with a slightly thicker edge visible as a darker indigo outline at the glass top.
3 regions
x 0.05 · y 0.46 · w 0.12 · h 0.06 (high); x 0.33 · y 0.48 · w 0.18 · h 0.08 (high); x 0.72 · y 0.34 · w 0.18 · h 0.06 (high) - Base detailThick solid glass base visible as a darker, denser indigo disc at the bottom of each glass.
3 regions
x 0.13 · y 0.68 · w 0.08 · h 0.04 (medium); x 0.45 · y 0.67 · w 0.10 · h 0.05 (medium); x 0.77 · y 0.61 · w 0.10 · h 0.06 (medium) - ArrangementOne glass stands upright on the left, one glass lies on its side centered in the foreground, and a small stack of inverted glasses sits on the right.
- Color tintTranslucent indigo tint concentrated along rims, ribs, and bases, with lighter clear areas where light passes through the thinner walls.
Other
Glasses photographed on a light wood shelf against a warm beige wall with soft directional lighting from above left producing gentle shadows and reflections.
- Support surfaceLight natural wood shelf with visible grain and a straight front edge that the glasses rest on.
1 region
x 0.00 · y 0.66 · w 1.00 · h 0.20 (high) - BackgroundSmooth warm beige wall with a soft shadow gradient behind the glasses.
1 region
x 0.00 · y 0.00 · w 1.00 · h 0.66 (high) - Lighting and shadowSoft directional light from upper left creating cast shadows to the right and subtle highlights on glass surfaces.
- Stack visibilityStacked glasses on the right are partially transparent and show nested rim and base outlines where they overlap.
1 region
x 0.72 · y 0.34 · w 0.22 · h 0.35 (high)
Colors
indigo blue· glass body- Overall shapeTapered tumbler silhouette with a wider rim that tapers to a narrower, thick flat base; vertical faceted ribs run from rim to base.
- 02
Product
Close-up of a single small indigo-tinted drinking glass with vertical fluted ribs, thickened base, and a darker blue rim; a second identical glass lies on its side in the background.
- Overall silhouetteTumbler-shaped glass with a slightly tapered profile that is wider at the top and narrows toward a thick, flat base.
1 region
x 0.05 · y 0.20 · w 0.60 · h 0.70 (high) - Ribbed vertical panelsExterior shows repeated vertical fluted panels or ribs that run from near the rim down to the base, creating shallow rectangular facets.
1 region
x 0.08 · y 0.30 · w 0.50 · h 0.55 (high) - Base constructionThickened solid glass base with visible edge and slightly raised rim where it meets the tabletop; base appears darker in color due to thickness.
1 region
x 0.18 · y 0.78 · w 0.32 · h 0.12 (high) - Rim detailTop rim has a continuous band of more saturated indigo/blue color and a smooth rounded lip.
1 region
x 0.05 · y 0.13 · w 0.60 · h 0.12 (high) - Secondary glass (partial)Second identical glass is visible on its side behind and to the right of the main glass; shows the same ribbing and blue rim viewed at an angle.
1 region
x 0.66 · y 0.28 · w 0.30 · h 0.50 (high) - Surface reflections and clarityGlass is translucent with internal reflections and highlights; some light distortions visible through the curved facets and ribs.
Other
Studio-style close-up on a light wood surface with a softly out-of-focus neutral background and soft directional lighting from the left; shallow depth of field keeps foreground glass sharp and background slightly blurred.
- Support surfaceLight-colored wood tabletop with visible grain under the glasses.
1 region
x 0.00 · y 0.78 · w 1.00 · h 0.22 (high) - BackgroundSmooth neutral beige wall or backdrop, out of focus and evenly lit.
1 region
x 0.00 · y 0.00 · w 1.00 · h 0.40 (high) - Lighting and shadowSoft directional lighting creating gentle highlights on the glass ribs and subtle shadowing on the tabletop to the right of the main glass.
- Depth of fieldShallow depth of field with the front glass sharply in focus and the rear glass and background noticeably blurred.
Colors
indigo tint· glass bodysaturated cobalt blue· rim and base- Overall silhouetteTumbler-shaped glass with a slightly tapered profile that is wider at the top and narrows toward a thick, flat base.
- 03
Product
Close-up of the interior and base of a faceted, indigo-tinted drinking glass lying on its side; the circular embossed maker stamp is visible on the base.
- Overall geometryTumbler with vertical faceted sides forming flattened panels that meet at angled edges; image shows the glass on its side revealing the interior and base.
- Base stampCircular embossed stamp at the center of the base, recessed slightly relative to surrounding base surface.
1 region
x 0.43 · y 0.39 · w 0.28 · h 0.25 (high) - Embossed text on base“MADE IN DURALEX 4 FRANCE”
1 region
x 0.43 · y 0.39 · w 0.28 · h 0.25 (high) - Rim and facet edgesRim and facet edges show concentrated indigo-blue coloration with glossy reflective highlights.
2 regions
x 0.06 · y 0.00 · w 0.88 · h 0.15 (medium); x 0.70 · y 0.22 · w 0.24 · h 0.62 (medium) - Surface finishSmooth glossy glass surface with bright specular reflections and small internal refractions visible through the transparent material.
- Occlusion and croppingGlass is cropped by the image frame at the top-left and top edges; only a portion of the full glass is visible.
1 region
x 0.00 · y 0.00 · w 0.40 · h 0.30 (high)
Other
Macro-style product detail shot on a light wooden surface with shallow depth of field and warm neutral background; soft directional lighting produces highlights and subtle reflections.
- Shot compositionClose-up macro angle focused on the glass base, camera tilted so the base is near the center-right and the rim curves across the top of the frame.
- Background and surfacePale beige out-of-focus background and a light wood tabletop visible beneath the glass.
1 region
x 0.00 · y 0.70 · w 0.80 · h 0.30 (high) - Depth of fieldShallow depth of field with the embossed base sharply in focus and peripheral areas of the glass softly blurred.
Colors
indigo blue· rim and facet edgesclear glass· interior and base
Documents & Data
Customer Reviews
35 total35 reviews · out of 5
Great for our family
These are not tall, so my 6 year old doesn't knock them over. They hold about 250ml and the shape makes it easy for kids to hold. Nice design, stackable and durable glass. Our family loves them.
Classics
I have other Picardie glasses and love them. The fact that they stack is an added bonus. They were also priced well.
good quality. decent price. fast service.
good quality. decent price. fast service.
j'adore ces petits vers, ils
j'adore ces petits vers, ils sont parfaits pour moi
Unique colour and size
These are a beautiful shade of blue. Very solid and dishwasher proof, to last a long time.
Pretty and practical!
I love the colour and the size is great for us. I'm happy to have pretty and durable everyday glasses.
Beautiful glasses!
The colour is lovely and the size is perfect for morning juice or milk.
Perfect Coffee glass
As described
Parfait
Ils sont très beaux, solides, car le verre est épais. Il faut savoir qu’ils ne sont pas très grands.
Très beaux
Très beaux
Blue Glasses
Smoothest glass ever! Beautiful, love them.
Parfaits, très beaux
Très utiles, 2e commande.
Jolis et se lavent bien
Parfait pour mon usage.
Excellent
Excellent
Indémodable
Indémodable
Glasses
Love them. . retro vibe… different than anything else you find in other stores. I absolutely love all your home ideas.
Delicate and Durable
These were a gift but I've bought the clear ones for myself. The glass is delicate but they are tough. French bistro chic at an affordable price. Love it!
Parfait 👌
Parfait 👌
Encore plus beau que sur la photo!
Belle couleur, grande qualité. Tellement satisfaite que j’ai aussitôt acheté l’ensemble de 4 aux différentes couleurs! J’aimerais bien les avoir en plus grand format colorés. Faits en France.
Les verres de mon enfance <3
Des beau verres à eau simples, classiques, durables qui traversent le temps. Heureuse de mon achat
Différent design
La teinte bleue brise la monotonie. Je recommande bien sûr !
Nice size
Like glasses that stack.
Attractive Good Quality Small Glasses
These small glasses are perfect for juice or anytime you want a smaller portion of water, milk, etc. Love the blue colour. They take up little space when stacked and are well-made (i.e., don't look like they would chip). Good price too!
Jolis
Parfait. Comme sur la photo.
Adorables
Ils étaient bien emballés
Satisfaction
J'apprécie tous les articles achetés.
bonne grandeur
bonne grandeur
Très bien
Je suis très agréablement surprise.
Good quality
Good weight but still pretty
jolis
tels que décrits
Excellent quality, perfect size
Excellent quality, perfect size
Produire
Produire
Petits verres
Très satisfaite du produit. Merci!
fait en cadeau a aimé
Beau à l'oeil et prtatiqe m'a-on dit!!!
Excellent quality, already bought more!
Durable, easy to clean, well priced. A classic for a reason! Already bought more in multiple sizes.
Q&A
9 answered- Does the indigo color come from a surface coating or is it embedded in the glass, and could it affect durability or dishwasher safety?
- The indigo color on this Duralex Picardie glass is embedded in the glass, not a surface coating, so it won't peel, fade, or affect durability. It remains fully dishwasher safe like all other Duralex Picardie colors.
- Do these glasses nestle inside each other for compact storage, and is there a risk of scratching when stacked?
- Yes, these Picardie glasses are designed with tapered sides so they nest securely inside each other for compact storage without jamming. The tempered glass surface is quite hard, but to avoid fine scratches over time, we recommend ensuring glasses are clean and dry before stacking.
- How does the indigo color appear in natural daylight compared to artificial lighting—is it a deep rich blue or more translucent purple?
- The indigo color is a deep, rich translucent blue that reads as a vibrant marine blue in natural daylight and appears slightly darker and more subdued under artificial lighting. Because the color is embedded in the glass, it has a consistent, jewel-like translucency rather than an opaque or purple tone.
- Can these glasses be safely used with hot beverages right out of the microwave, or is there a recommended cooldown period to prevent thermal shock?
- No cooldown period is necessary—the tempered glass is engineered to withstand sudden temperature changes from -20°C to 100°C, so you can safely pour hot beverages directly from the microwave. That said, we recommend avoiding abrupt temperature shifts beyond that spec (e.g., placing a hot glass into icy water) to prevent thermal shock.
- Are newly manufactured Duralex Picardie glasses still the same quality as older ones?
- Quality is generally good but there have been reports of bad batches with shattering or defects; buying from official retailers can help ensure authenticity and quality.
- Do they break or shatter easily?
- They are impact-resistant and can survive drops, but when they do break, they shatter into many small pieces. Some recent batches have spontaneously shattered in dishwashers.
- Can they be used for hot liquids?
- Yes, they are microwave and dishwasher safe and many users enjoy hot coffee and tea in them without issues.
- Are they safe for kids?
- Yes, they are durable and chip-resistant; tempered glass breaks into less sharp cubes, making it safer than regular glass.
- Are there fake Duralex glasses?
- Counterfeits are possible, especially online. Look for proper markings like numbers on the bottom to identify genuine glasses, and buy from reputable sellers.
Reddit Insights
6 threads · r/BuyItForLifeReddit users generally praise Duralex Picardie glasses for their classic design and long-term durability, but warn of recent quality control issues and messy tempered-glass shattering.
Many users have had positive experiences with glasses lasting decades and surviving drops, but a significant number report defects, spontaneous shattering, and difficult cleanups in recent years.
Themes
Use Cases
- Everyday cold beverages (water, soda, wine, whiskey)
- Hot beverages (coffee, tea)
- Desserts and decorative uses (ice cream, trifle, tea light holders)
- Kid-friendly household glassware
Watch Out For
Compared To
vs IKEA glasses (e.g., Pokal)
Duralex glasses are generally considered more durable and robust than IKEA alternatives.
Source Threads
Dropped on tile without breaking; when broken, shatters into tiny pieces
I dropped one of these on my tile bathroom floor a few weeks ago without breaking it. My roommate did manage to break one (tile kitchen, no bueno) and it shattered into a million tiny pieces, just like it should have.
u/Gluestick05View thread →
Recent purchaser reports good durability and favorable comparison to IKEA
I’ve had mine about two years and have no problems to report, definitely had one of mine survive a drop from the worktop to wooden floors. And they’ve definitely been more robust in the dishwasher/under general use than my cheap Ikea glass I had previously.
u/CAEliteView thread →
User reports spontaneous shattering in dishwasher and production problems
I’ve had one spontaneously shatter in the dishwasher. Duralex changed its oven a few years ago and that led to a lot of production problems, even bankrupting the company. It’s back under new management apparently but there may have been some bad batches, definitely return or exchange them.
u/fazalmajidView thread →
User praises versatility and decade-long durability
Got a set of their Picardie glasses (the ones pictured above) as a wedding present a decade ago and still use them every day for everything from water to wine to whiskey to (hot) coffee and tea. Have also used them for ice cream, trifle, and as tea light holders. Highly recommend!
u/sindersinsView thread →
Durable and kid-safe due to tempered glass breaking into cubes
Duralex are great and they really are durable. We have some that survived being dropped on a tile floor with no chips or anything. When they do break, since they are tempered, they break into cubes, which is much easier to clean up and doesn't have all the little shards that regular glass does. Plus, they generally keep the same styles around so you can easily replace any that break.
u/sof_boyView thread →