I'm in the market to purchase new wine glasses and drinking glasses.
Anyone familar with iittala? Bought them?
My husband about choked at the $40 dollar price tag for a set of two glassses, I do agree they are very expensive.
The iittala - essence,white/red wine glasses are classic with a modern twist having a slight squarish bowl. The stem is slightly thicker at the base which makes it seem sturdy. Style wise would be nice w/our midcentury home.
I noticed the white wine glass is small compared to today's large bowls.The tumblers are also available in colors as well as clear too.
Bloomingdales is having a 20% off sale, the best price anywhere I am sure, it helps but the price remains high at $16 per stem.
Iittala makes pretty vases and candleholders
but I'm not a fan of their stemware.
Have you thought about Riedel? If you like the Iittala Essence, take a look at the Riedel Vinum Extreme; it's angular like the Essence but a lot more subtle, and in my opinion it's more elegant. Price is about the same.
Riedel stemware
Mark, Yes I've considered Riedel glassware too.
Clarify if you will....... is the Vinum lead free, or no??
The Riedel stemware looked a bit top heavy to me and the stems are exceptionally thin, they appear as if they'd be prone to breaking easily.
I do agree, they are nice looking glasses though.
Decisions, decisions!
Riedel stemware
Mark, Yes I've considered Riedel glassware too.
Clarify if you will....... is the Vinum lead free, or no??
The Riedel stemware looked a bit top heavy to me and the stems are exceptionally thin, they appear as if they'd be prone to breaking easily.
I do agree, they are nice looking glasses though.
Decisions, decisions!
Zencat
Many of Riedel's products are made from lead-free glass, but the Vinum and Vinum Extreme lines are 24% lead crystal.
It's generally accepted that while it's prudent to avoid storing wine in leaded decanters for long periods, drinking from leaded glassware is safe for adults who aren't pregnant.
Soaking new glassware in vinegar for a day before using it will remove some lead from the surface of the glass. Avoiding the dishwasher is a good idea, too, for the usual reasons and also because harsh ingredients in dishwasher detergent (it used to be phosphates, now it's something else) can microscopically etch the surface of the glass and expose more lead.
The link below is to the Canadian health department's "Lead Crystalware and Your Health" page; you may also want to look at other presumably-unbiased scientific sources before deciding for yourself whether you want to buy leaded crystal. After doing my own research, I decided to compromise: I use lead-free Riedel glasses for water, juice, etc., but I drink wine and spirits from leaded Riedel glasses and I've never felt betttttttttttttttd;lkh nsdln fkls ksldflkdf ;oiaerh eiogeo;gss ah ajkarke nblm
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/iyh-vsv/prod/crystal-cristal-eng.php
nothing
gene,
There is nothing wrong with Iittala stemware. I always thought the Verna line was attractive and nearly indestructable.
Just as there is nothing wrong with Baccarat stemware. I do not drink wine, but I like to drink my water at the table from the Barbara Barry, Tranquility water glass for Baccarat.
Use what you can afford and enjoy. To each their own.
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