About Duralex
Duralex is the iconic French tempered glassware brand founded in 1945 in La Chapelle-Saint-Mesmin, in the heart of France. Using tempering techniques developed by Saint-Gobain in the 1930s, where moulded glass is heated to 600°C then rapidly cooled, Duralex creates glassware that is 2.5x stronger than regular glass, chip-resistant, thermal shock-resistant, and safe for dishwashers and microwaves. The brand's most famous creation is the Le Picardie tumbler, designed in 1954 and known worldwide as the "original French tumbler." Named after the Picardie province in northern France, this stackable glass became a staple in French cafés, bistros, and homes. The Gigogne glass, another Duralex icon, is in the permanent collection of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris. The brand name itself derives from the Latin "dura lex, sed lex"—"the law is harsh, but it is the law." After over 80 years serving cafés, restaurants, and homes worldwide, Duralex faced challenges from rising energy prices. In 2024, employees voted to convert the company to a cooperative, and a 2025 public fundraising appeal for €5 million received over €19 million in pledges—testament to global love for this French glassware heritage. Find Duralex tempered glassware at UK retailers and compare prices on Grocefully.













