Coupe, Martini & Nick & Nora Glasses

A martini glass is a stemmed cocktail glass with a sharp, V-shaped bowl. It became the iconic cocktail glass of the mid-20th century, designed to keep drinks cold (your hand never touches the bowl) and present cocktails with theatrical flair. Bartenders use martini glasses for spirit-forward drinks served "up" – meaning shaken or stirred with ice, then strained into the glass without ice. Classic martini cocktails include the Vesper, the Gibson, the Cosmopolitan, the gimlet, the dirty martini, and the espresso martini. Glassique Cadeau martini glasses are hand-blown lead-free crystal, gift-ready in our signature box.

Martini glasses are designed for cocktails served "up" – chilled, strained, and served without ice. Classic martini-glass cocktails include the dry Martini, the Vesper, the Cosmopolitan, the gimlet, the Gibson, the Aviation, the Manhattan, the Sidecar, and the espresso martini. Modern bartenders also use martini glasses for the daiquiri, the Hemingway, and stirred cocktails like the Negroni Sbagliato when served up. For drinks served on the rocks, reach for a lowball instead. For champagne cocktails, a coupe is the better choice.

A martini glass has a sharp V-shaped bowl on a long stem. A coupe has a shallow, rounded bowl. Both are designed for cocktails served "up," but most modern bartenders prefer the coupe (or its smaller cousin, the Nick & Nora) because the rounded bowl is harder to spill, the smaller volume keeps the drink colder, and aromatics stay closer to the rim. The V-shaped martini glass is still iconic for visual presentation, but for everyday use, the coupe wins on practicality. Both work for the same cocktails.

Yes – Glassique Cadeau martini glasses are dishwasher safe, with the standard caveat that we recommend the top rack and a gentle cycle to preserve the polished rim and the long stem. Hand-washing extends the life of any crystal stemware, especially with delicate-shaped glasses. After cleaning, hang stemware upside down on a stemware rack or store rim-up to avoid stress on the bowl edge. With reasonable care, a good lead-free crystal martini glass lasts decades.

The martini glass evolved from the saucer-shaped coupe in the 1920s and rose to icon status during the 1950s and 60s, when the Martini became the signature cocktail of the executive class. The angular V-shape was a deliberate Art Deco-into-Mid-Century design choice – sharper lines for a sharper era. The shape lost favour with bartenders in the 1990s and 2000s as the Nick & Nora and coupe returned, but it remains the most recognisable cocktail glass in popular culture: think of any 1960s film about Manhattan and there's a martini glass in the frame.

Glassique Cadeau hand-blown lead-free crystal glasses are dishwasher safe on a gentle, low-temperature cycle – but hand washing is the safer long-term choice for keeping rims smooth and crystal clarity intact. Use warm water and a mild detergent, avoid extreme temperature changes (never put a frozen glass into a hot wash), and air-dry on a soft cloth. For sets with gold rims, painted detail, or hand-cut crystal – the Octagonal Gold-Rim Coupes and the Art Deco Speakeasy Lowballs in particular – hand wash only to preserve the finish.

Yes – lead-free crystal is the modern standard for premium glassware and is safe for everyday use with any beverage. Traditional lead crystal contained up to 32% lead oxide, which improved clarity and weight but could leach trace lead into spirits stored long-term in decanters. Lead-free crystal (sometimes called crystalline or potassium-zinc crystal) uses barium, zinc, or potassium oxides instead, delivering the same brilliance, weight, and ring without the safety concern. Every Glassique Cadeau glass is hand-blown from lead-free crystal and tested to comply with FDA and EU food-contact standards.

Yes – every Glassique Cadeau set ships in our signature gift box, ready to wow at unboxing. The box is structured, branded, and printed with the cocktail recipe for the glass inside (an Old Fashioned recipe with our lowballs, a French 75 with our coupes, a classic Martini with our martini glasses). No additional gift wrap needed. For weddings, housewarmings, engagements, anniversaries, and birthdays, every set is already presentation-ready straight out of the shipping carton.

Yes – Glassique Cadeau offers free standard shipping on every U.S. order over $89. Most sets ship the next business day from our warehouse, with delivery in 3-6 business days. Every shipment is packed with reinforced padding and tracked end-to-end, and any breakage in transit is replaced free of charge. Expedited shipping is available at checkout for time-sensitive gifts (weddings, milestone anniversaries, holiday deadlines).

Hand wash Glassique Cadeau crystal glasses in warm water with a mild detergent, then air-dry upside down on a soft cloth or stemware rack to prevent water spots. Avoid extreme temperature changes – never pour ice into a hot-from-the-dishwasher glass or hot liquid into a refrigerated one, since thermal shock can crack crystal. Store stemware upright (not on the rim) to protect the lip. For gold-rimmed, painted, or hand-cut sets, hand wash only. Lead-free crystal is durable, but it rewards gentle handling – every glass is hand-blown, so each one is unique.