The rarest vintage Pyrex pieces, often selling for thousands of dollars, include the 1959 "Lucky in Love" casserole, the yellow and black "Gooseberry" pattern, the "Bluebelle Delphite 404 bowl" and "Golden Sunflower" promotional dishes. Other highly coveted, rare, or hard-to-find items include "Dianthus" casseroles, "Pink Paisley," "Pre-shipment" prototypes, and specific international releases like "Colditz".
Patterned Pyrex, like the 1956 Pink Daisy or 1957 Butterprint, is highly collectible and can be worth hundreds of dollars depending on condition. Authentic Pyrex pieces can often be identified by their back stamps, which were used between 1915 and 1965, or by unique characteristics like yellowish or blue-tinted glass.
If it's all caps “PYREX,” it's vintage, made of borosilicate. If it's lower case “pyrex,” it's new, and it's soda lime. (In Europe, Pyrex is still made of borosilicate. So these recommendations only apply to Pyrex in the United States.)
The current most expensive piece on offer is a "Vintage Corning Ware Pyrex 1970's 2 QT La Marjolaine Casserole" (with a "rare stamp") listed for $99,999.99.
Rare Pyrex Set! Shop the Colors, Different Patterns, Marks & Values of Pyrex - Thrift with Dr. Lori
What is the oldest piece of Pyrex?
Corning Glass originally developed temperature proof glass for the railroad industry, and then pivot into other uses, creating its first Pyrex pie dish in 1915 - yes it was named after pie!
Borosilicate PYREX offers superior thermal and chemical resistance, making it ideal for laboratory settings and extreme cooking conditions. Tempered soda-lime pyrex has better impact resistance and is more cost-effective for everyday kitchen use.
The Dot Bowls is one of the most popular Pyrex patterns. Released in 1968, the first three Dot Bowls came in orange, yellow, and blue, with green added a year later due to the popularity of the pattern. Each bowl was sold separately rather than in a set.
The name Cinderella was applied to quite a few different Pyrex products from carafes to butter dishes but the spout and handle nesting bowls marked the first use of this name.
How do you know if your Pyrex is worth money? Look for especially old pieces in great condition (basically, no chips or cracks and minimal scratches). Check for rare Pyrex patterns or pieces that were made for special situations like promotions.
What is the most rare Pyrex pattern Lucky in Love?
The Lucky In Love design is printed on the one-quart Round Casserole (473) and remains one of the most elusive Pyrex designs ever created by Corning Glass Works. Released in 1959, Lucky In Love is most likely a limited release product or even a test piece.
Decorative patterns are also key to determining the glassware's value. Lucky in Love, a sweet pink and green design, is prized for its rarity and promotional production. Wright notes that Amish Butterprint, Pink Gooseberry, Snowflake Blue, Crazy Daisy and Friendship are also considered valuable in the Pyrex community.
NO - Do not use Pyrex® glassware to microwave popcorn or heat foods in browning wrappers. Microwavable popcorn bags and browning wrappers are specially designed to concentrate heat in targeted areas and may damage the glass.
Pyrex has faced lawsuits for two main issues: a 2023-2024 FTC action against maker Instant Brands for falsely advertising Chinese-made measuring cups as "Made in USA," resulting in consumer refunds, and older class-action suits (around 2018) alleging newer Pyrex (made with soda lime glass, not older borosilicate) is prone to shattering and exploding, a claim the company disputes. While the FTC case led to financial penalties and refunds for deceptive labeling, the shattering lawsuits were filed by consumers who experienced injuries from glassware breaking unexpectedly, leading to class action suits against Corelle Brands (the maker).
Sudden temperature changes can warp the cookware, damage the coating, and crack the glass in the lid. Pans and lids are dishwasher safe, but hand washing can help extend the life of the non-stick coating.
A highly-coveted pattern, the Atomic Eyes Chip and Dip is the holy grail for some Pyrex collectors. Released in the 1950s, some of the bowls feature a Pyrex stamp while others don't.
Which has better quality and is more durable? Both have excellent quality, but CorningWare is generally more durable. Its Pyroceram ceramic-glass material is less prone to chipping, cracking, and shattering from thermal shock compared to Pyrex's glass.
PYREX (all capital letters) is the older version and is much safer than the newer ones that include lower case letters… Pyrex. So PYREX (all caps) is the best. However Pyrex (which includes lower case letters), try to avoid as they are more likely to shatter.
