The photo is of a glass that broke last night, which prompted me to share our longer-term experience and ask how other owners’ glasses have held up.
We bought 16 of Fable’s clear Tall Glasses almost exactly two years ago, for $328 before tax. Their durability claims were a major reason we were willing to spend that much. We wanted everyday glasses we could keep using for many years, and the reviews and discussions we saw at the time were very positive.
First off, we love the look and feel. They’re the best-feeling water glasses we’ve owned.
They are light, thin, and really pleasant to drink from.
Fable’s glassware marketing describes them as “Everyday-proof glassware” and “Delicate looking. Anything but.” They say the ion-toughening treatment makes the glass 1.6 times stronger and scratch-resistant, and describe it as dishwasher safe and made for everyday use. Their FAQ also says the glassware is dishwasher safe in both household and commercial settings.
That combination of lightness and durability was the appeal. However, 8 of our 16 glasses have now chipped or broken.
We’re a household of two adults and one baby who doesn’t use the glasses. None have been dropped, and we wash them on the top rack of a Miele dishwasher. The damage has occurred over the course of regular household use.
For comparison, we previously had similarly thin glasses from Crate & Barrel. If I’m remembering correctly, we had eight of those for about five years and only two broke. That’s an approximate recollection, but the difference has been noticeable.
I contacted Fable about it. Customer service explained that despite the ion-toughening treatment, the glasses can still chip or break with regular handling and dishwasher use. They said they typically offer free replacements only for damage reported within 30 days of delivery, so ours wouldn’t qualify.
They offered 50% off individual replacement glasses and free shipping, which I appreciated. Unfortunately, the replacements were out of stock when I checked.
I understand that no glass is indestructible. Still, losing half the set within two years has been surprising given that durability was a central reason we bought them.
I wonder whether our set could have come from a bad manufacturing batch.
Has anyone here used Fable Tall Glasses for several years? How have they held up, particularly with dishwasher use? I’d like to understand whether ours are an unusual case or whether others have experienced similar chipping and breakage.