For the home, the first set of colored Pyrex opalware was introduced in 1945 in the form of the primary color mixing bowl set. The test kitchen's Lilla Cortright was instrumental in the research and development of a stacking set of refrigerator and oven dishes released two years later, also in primary colors.
The best way is to look at the bottom of the product. My vintage Pyrex, which is at least 40 years old, and definitely boro-silicate, reads “Not For Lab Or Stovetop Use - Corning N.Y. - U.S.A. - 516 - PYREX.” Newer products made of soda-lime glass do not read Corning N.Y., nor are they made by Corning.
Patterned Pyrex—such as the 1956 Pink Daisy or the 1983 Colonial Mist colorways—tend to be valuable as a collector's item. Other popular patterns include the 1957 Butterprint, which features an Amish couple and their crops, and has been valued at a few hundred dollars.
The first colored pieces of Pyrex were the primary colored pieces. There is a primary color mixing bowl set, and a primary color refrigerator set. The bowls are blue, red, green, and yellow. The refrigerator set has a yellow, blue, and two red pieces.
In 1963 a new product line called “Turquoise” was released, which included both Butterprint and Snowflake in the white pattern on turquoise background. The same blue tint was used in both product lines. Later the “Multitone Blue” 300-series bowl set was added to the Turquoise collection.
For the home, the first set of colored Pyrex opalware was introduced in 1945 in the form of the primary color mixing bowl set.
What Makes Pyrex Special. "Pyrex continues to hold its value because most of us associate it with memories of family and holiday gatherings and memories from their childhood," Wright says. "The vintage designs and patterns of Pyrex evoke a nostalgia, which adds to its value for collectors.
1952 Lime and Flamingo Pink joined the Pyrex Primary Colors. 1953 Dinnerware with colored rims in Lime, Flamingo Pink, Turquoise, and Dove Gray debuted. 1955 Speckled yellow and pink, called Desert Dawn was released. 1956 Pastel yellow, pink, and turquoise joined the solid color bakeware.
Pyrex dishes also hide a little secret code: Many contain a three- or four-digit number that corresponds to a specific dish. A series of Mixing Bowls will feature 401 (1.5 pint), 402 (1.5 quart), 403 (2.5 quart), 404 (4 quart). The iconic two-quart green-and-white casserole dish is a 232.
In 1915, the company launched its first Pyrex line (Pyrex combined "pie" and "Nonex") with 12 pieces, including pie plates and a loaf pan. The 8-ounce liquid measuring cup came out 10 years later; early versions had a closed, D-shaped handle and tick marks made out of molded glass.
The Most Rare Pyrex Pattern: Lucky in Love
The extremely rare pattern on it: Lucky in Love, a 1959 promotional pattern.
**PYREX® items with CAPITAL LETTERS in the logo are safer**
Corning used a logo with capital letters and so does the French company manufacturing PYREX with Borosilicate Glass. The American company making pyrex® (lower case letters) makes their product from Soda-Lime glass.
In 1972, the Butterfly Gold pattern was released as a Pyrex compatible, matching Pyrex kitchenware to the Corelle Livingware dishes. Other compatibles patterns included Spring Blossom Green and Snowflake Blue, each marked as suitable for microwave use.
Baking glassware such as Pyrex dishes in usable condition should be donated to local thrift stores or otherwise reused. If unusable they should be thrown away in the trash. They should not be added to curbside recycling. They are made of a different material than glass bottles and jars.
A simple way is to compare any glass you think is antique with a more modern glass item. Antique glass is usually heavier. Other indicators to look out for are: The patina: older glass tends to show signs of use and passing time - so see if there are any small flakes, scratches and chips, or missing gilt.
How can you tell if a piece is real vintage Pyrex? The secret is simple—check the logo. If the brand name is in all capital letters, it's vintage Pyrex. If it's all lowercase, it's modern.
Flip over your piece and look at it carefully. It will have a stamp that can help you date it: 1940s and 1950s - The oldest Pyrex markings should be on the bottom of glass pieces and feature Pyrex in all capital letters inside a circle with CG for Corning Glassworks.
The naming of these new pieces as "Cinderella" likely had much to do with the popularity of the Cinderella story current at the time both in film and on Broadway. Corning marketers also hoped the underlying theme of a coveted glass object would have a subliminal effect on consumers.
The "23" was inspired by Michael Jordan, the greatest basketball player of all time, while "Pyrex" was meant to represent the Tupperware used to cook drugs. Playing basketball and selling drugs, he said, were often thought to be the only ways to make it out of the hood.
In 1957 Butterprint and Gooseberry were introduced for the opalware Pyrex line, preceded only by Snowflake and Pink Daisy.
We're all thinking the same thing: Is the Pyrex sitting in my basement worth any money? A few clues in the product's design key us into the possible value: the condition and colorway. You'll want to try and find vintage dishes made between 1915 and 1970, as experts tell TODAY that these are the priciest of all.
In March 2019, Corelle Brands, the makers of Pyrex in the United States, merged with Instant Brands, the makers of the Instant Pot. On June 12, 2023, Instant Brands filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after high interest rates and waning access to credit hit its cash position and made its debts unsustainable.
Pyrex eventually switched to tempered glass most likely because boron is toxic and expensive to dispose of. Although tempered glass can better withstand thermal shock than regular soda-lime glass can, it's not as resilient as borosilicate. This is what causes the shattering reaction people are talking about.
Rare patterns and colors have sold for up to $10,000! More common pieces don't come close to those numbers but are still coveted for their extreme durability. Although every dish made before 1999 is considered vintage, older pieces (from the 1970s and earlier) are the most valuable.
FYI: Don't put your vintage Pyrex in the dishwasher; its shiny finish will be destroyed. DWD is hard to rehab, although you can rub some coconut oil on a piece to simulate its former sheen. Other damage may look bad, but is actually quite reversible.