J-Line

First decide whether the glass should mainly catch the eye or mainly do its job. The figurative models, such as the water glass shaped like a bird or a chilli pepper, are each different and look best as a loose collection. The quieter series, such as the ribbed and woven water glasses, can be carried across an entire table as one set.

Then look at the capacity. The water glasses run from roughly 30 to 48 cl, ample for water with ice or a soft drink. The wine glasses sit between 31 and 64.5 cl, with the larger bowls intended above all as a centrepiece rather than to be filled to the top. Champagne glasses range from 15 to 32 cl. Finally, check the quantity: some models come in sets of four or six, while others are sold individually because every piece is slightly different. If you want to lay a table for six with the same shape, check whether the model comes in a set.

Use this glassware when the food is understated. A table set with simple crockery and one striking glass per place works better than a table where everything competes for attention. At a lunch or a drinks party the figurative water glasses serve as a talking point; at dinner keep them for the water and use a more neutral bowl for the wine.

For outdoors, the acrylic and plastic models are the practical choice. From half a metre away they look like glass, but they survive a tiled floor or the edge of a pool. That makes them excellent for an aperol spritz on the terrace or for mocktails at a children's party. Pour fruity drinks into the clear models, because that is where the colour of the drink shows best. With the coloured and mirrored models it is the glass itself that matters; fill those with water or with a drink whose colour does not matter anyway.

With the real glass, care depends on the finish. Plain and ribbed glass can simply go in the dishwasher. Models with a mirrored or metallic layer and with applied decoration should be washed by hand in lukewarm water with a little washing-up liquid, because a hot dishwasher cycle attacks such a layer over time.

Acrylic and plastic do not belong in a hot dishwasher. The combination of heat and aggressive dishwasher powder leaves the material dull and prone to scratching after a number of cycles. Hand washing with a soft cloth keeps them clear for years; do not use a scouring pad. Mouth-blown glass also nearly always has small bubbles or a slightly uneven rim. That is not a fault but the hallmark of how it is made.

If you are here mainly for the colour, the coloured glasses give you the full overview, including brands that make glass coloured all the way through. If instead you want quiet, stackable glasses for everyday use, look at the water glasses. And anyone who likes the decorative character but prefers something older on the table will find a related mood among the vintage glasses and the champagne flutes.