The unique shape with the characteristic nine facets not only makes the glasses in the Picardie series from the traditional French manufacturer Duralex comfortable to hold, the striking design has also made them a cultural icon that stands for French table culture all over the world. However, the classic drinking glass is not only a "set" in many design exhibitions, but also proves its worth from the "pique-nique" to the "table du déjeuner", on festive occasions and in everyday life far beyond France's borders.

Duralex in central France has been producing utility glass from tempered glass for decades. The process of making glass less impact-sensitive and at the same time heat-resistant by alternating between heating - to around 600 °C - and rapid cooling in the annealing lehr has now also been mastered by others. However, hardly any glass has achieved such worldwide fame as the bistro glass from the "Picardie" series, which has long been an integral part of French pubs.

Tempered glass is considered impact-resistant and shatterproof. Nevertheless, you should handle these drinking glasses with the same care as any other "normal" glass, as tempered glass is under tension so that the vessels are also suitable for hot drinks. Microscopic cracks in the material - caused by knocks or blows, for example during the cleaning process in the dishwasher - or material fatigue due to ageing can cause the stress ratios to become unbalanced and the glass to break.