Virtually unbreakable drinking glasses are made one of three ways; by tempering, annealing, or using a molecular infusion of glass and metal such as titanium. Each method produces extremely break-resistant glass drinking glasses. While no glass is truly “unbreakable” under high impact, glasses made using these methods withstand far more abuse than standard glass drinking glasses.
If you prefer real glasses over plastic drinkware, you’re in luck. There are many reputable glassware brands that craft extremely durable glassware and we’ve rounded up our top picks for you. All are proven performers in the restaurant and bar industry, so they can certainly withstand the knocks and bumps of any busy home. And being made of glass, they’re all dishwasher-safe and BPA-free, too.
Tempering is a heat-treating process that creates very resilient glassware and the closest thing to unbreakable glasses that you’ll find. However, excessive force and repeat impact can still cause tempered glasses to break. The most notable benefit of tempered glassware is ultra-strong rims and bases that resist chipping — even when stacked — making it popular for bar and restaurant use.
The Duralex factory in France invented the tempering process for glassware and its Picardie Glassware line of glassware sets is the top seller among tempered lines. It’s used in restaurants, cafes, and bars worldwide and also sold in retail sets for home use.
Bormioli Rocco is another major tempered glassware brand making resilient, nearly unbreakable heat-treated glassware. Again, tempered glass is not guaranteed unbreakable under unusual or repeated impact. But like Picardie, Bormioli Rocco tempered glassware is a proven player in restaurants and bars worldwide and available in retail packs for home use.
Libbey is another huge glassware manufacturer that makes a durable rim-tempered glassware line called DuraTuff, which has proven itself for years in busy bars and restaurants. Cardinal‘s Arcoroc line is another terrific tempered glassware line that’s made for restaurants and bars and is also available in smaller retail packs.
Annealing is another heat-treated process that produces durable, break-resistant glassware. Annealing glass involves a controlled cooling stage which reduces the molecular stress and fracture points common to plain glassware. The result is very durable glassware that, if broken, cleaves into a few large pieces rather than hundreds of razor-sharp shards.
Annealed glassware sets tend to be less expensive than tempered glassware so you can find it in several decorative styles and designs in Libby’s extensive foodservice line.
While both tempered and annealed glass are great choices for unbreakable drinking glasses, annealed glass breaks faster than tempered glass.
When tempered glass does break, it shatters into many small pieces. However, these aren’t sharp. This is why tempered glass is used for safety glass in windows, cars, and things like display cases. If you do happen to break your tempered glassware, it’s generally not dangerous, you just sweep it up.
Several crystal lines are using a newer process that combines titanium and glass at the molecular level. The result is a very strong lead-free crystal glass that supports lightweight, thinner-wall designs that are far more durable than plain glass or crystal. Many fine stemware and crystal manufacturers are using this method to enter the “unbreakable” glassware market.
Schott-Zwiesel and Spiegelau spearheaded the introduction of titanium- or platinum-infused dishwasher-safe crystal and many other top crystal glassware brands have followed suit.
The infusion process creates rugged, break-resistant glassware sets that withstand everyday knocks, bumps, spills, and even drops. That means it usually survives being tipped over on tables, shuffled about in the sink, and clanked in the dishwasher — situations where regular stemware and thin-walled crystal stemless wine glasses often meet their demise.
The infusion process doesn’t deliver the nearly unbreakable glassware that tempering creates. However, the result is far more durable than regular crystal glassware and fine stemware. Plus, titanium crystal products are completely lead-free, marketed as dishwasher-safe, and offer the same gorgeous clarity as classic lead crystal.
Silicone-wrapped glassware and portable glass water bottles offer another option if you prefer glass over plastic. Lifefactory Drinkware leads the charge with a huge selection of silicone-covered drinking glasses, water bottles, baby products, and kitchen storage containers.
If silicone-wrapped glassware appeals to you, you’ll also want to check out products from Ello, which offers a full line of silicone-wrapped glass drinkware, baking dishes and pantry storage similar to Lifefactory products. It’s always nice to have a few options!
Remember, “unbreakable glassware” isn’t truly unbreakable like many high-end plastic glasses. But, certain types of real glassware like tempered glass, annealed glassware, titanium-infused crystal — and the new silicone-covered styles — are far tougher and more impact-proof than standard glassware.
Not surprisingly, most unbreakable glassware options were originally designed for restaurant and bar use, and work beautifully in busy homes. If you like the durability of plastic, but don’t like the idea of using plastic glasses day-to-day, unbreakable and highly break-resistant glassware is an ideal choice.
If you want more info on proven glassware brands, head over to our review of the best drinking glasses. You’ll recognize a few names covered above, plus you’ll find more options for colorful, decorative, and specialty glassware.
Durability -- Very durable by glass standards, but don't throw it on the tile floor!
Styling & Finish - Gorgeous styles and finishes, many have a fine crystal look and feel
Dishwasher-Safe - Made for restaurants and hotels, so it's all great in the dishwasher
Price - $$ to $$$ - Very reasonable, stemware can be pricey but Amazon generally has great deals
4.8
Glass is everywhere today.
We see glass in the walls of high-rise commercial buildings, in the windows of houses, in the windscreens of vehicles, around pools and as a part of doors. Then there are tumblers, fine crystal, cookware, bottles, jars, glassware, mirrors – and the list goes on.
There are so many types of glass, and while ‘it’s an aesthetically pleasing and useful material when enough force is applied, glass can break and shatter. With so much glass around us all, ‘it’s wise to be aware of the type of glass around your home and workplace.
So, here’s a short guide on the three most common glass types that are used and where, as well as how they break.
The classifications of glass and its features
There are many different types of glass for many different glass applications. Certain applications require that you use toughened safety glass, while others require double glazed or standard glass.
Here are the three most common glass types and their unique characteristics:
1. Float or Annealed (Standard) Glass
Float or annealed glass is a basic glass product formed from the heating and cooling stages of the “float” manufacturing process. This is the base glass that is used in the value-added production of other glass products such as laminated, various coated environmental glasses and the manufacturing of mirrors by using a reflective adhesive as a backing.
How it’s used: This glass is predominantly used for windows, decorative tabletops and mirrors.
How it breaks: Float/annealed glass breaks easily with only moderate force, shattering to produce long, sharp splinters which can pose a severe safety risk.
2. Laminated Safety Glass
Laminated glass is classified as a safety glass type, and is made up of two or more sheets of glass. These glass sheets are held together permanently by an interlayer such as polyvinyl butyral (PVB). Laminated glass is about two times stronger than standard float glass of the same thickness, with the advantage that in case of breakage, it generally holds together by breaking into a spider-web pattern.
How it’s used: Laminated glass is a cost-effective alternative to toughened glass and can be used for most of the same purposes as it can be cut to size after manufacture. This type of glass is most commonly used in motor vehicle windscreens.
How it breaks: Laminated glass may crack under high pressure, but all of the shard pieces tend to hold together, adhering to the plastic vinyl interlayer. This interlayer helps keep the broken glass together, which helps with security and weatherproofing (until it can be replaced).
3. Toughened Safety Glass
Toughened safety glass (also known as tempered glass) is up to five times stronger than standard float glass of the same thickness and has a much higher breakage and load resistance. It also has a lesser risk of thermal breakage compared to other types of glass.
How it’s used: You can see tempered or toughened glass throughout the home, from shower screens and front doors to windows and pool fences. It’s also used in furniture such as coffee tables and dining tables.
How it breaks: To break tempered glass, you have to target its weak points which are more towards the edges. When broken, the glass breaks into small square pieces that tend to be more blunt than sharp, reducing the risk of injury.
For more information, see What to do when glass breaks at home or the office.
Check out our O'Brien® glass experts smashing some glass below!
Safety around glass: what to look for when selecting glass and who can replace it
While glass is a fundamental element in any home or business, there are three main things to consider when thinking about using glass:
By choosing the right glass type, you can enjoy the view and natural light while helping to control UV and glare. You can also experience the benefits of the natural warming effect of solar heat during winter and reduce its direct temperature impact during summer, somewhat insulating your home against excessive heat loss or gain.
It’s strongly recommended to have all glass installed and replaced by a professional glazier. This is to ensure that the installation is carried out correctly and that you won’t have any issues later down the track.
Have your glass fixed and replaced by your local glazing experts
At O'Brien®, our local glazing experts can provide you with quality glass products and glazing services – from emergency replacement and new glass installation to glass shower screens, window tinting, pet doors in windows and glass doors and more.
Contact us today and we’ll help you prepare, protect and improve your home or office with quality glazing services – with the right type of glass for every application.
For more information about our services, call us on 1800 059 829 or send us a message to speak with one of our friendly staff.
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