History

Baccarat was founded in 1764 when the Bishop of Metz petitioned King Louis XV of France to establish a glassworks in the small town of Baccarat, in the heavily forested Lorraine region — timber being essential fuel for the furnaces. The company began modestly, producing window panes and simple glassware. In 1816, under new ownership, it transitioned to crystal production. Seven years later, King Louis XVIII awarded Baccarat its first royal commission for tableware — the beginning of a relationship with the French state that continues to this day: the Élysée Palace still uses Baccarat crystal for official state dinners.

The Crystal

Baccarat's lead crystal formula — developed and refined through the 19th century — is distinguished by its extraordinary clarity, brilliance and weight. The lead content enhances light refraction, creating an unparalleled sparkle that is Baccarat's signature. Every piece is mouth-blown or hand-cut by craftsmen in the company's atelier in Baccarat, Lorraine, where the same workshops have operated for over 200 years. The clarity of a Baccarat glass, the ring of a tapped Baccarat flute, and the weight in the hand are immediately recognisable to anyone who has handled the real thing.

Royal Commissions

Through the 19th century, Baccarat supplied crystal to the courts of Europe and beyond — to the Russian Tsars (at one point, an estimated one-third of Baccarat's workforce was dedicated to Russian imperial commissions), to Napoleon III, to the courts of India and Persia. The company won gold medals at the Paris Expositions Universelles of 1823, 1855 and 1878. The Harcourt glass — introduced in 1841 during the reign of King Louis-Philippe — became the definitive symbol of French crystal and remains in production today, appearing at official functions from the Élysée to the Vatican.

Collections & Design

Baccarat's product range spans stemware, decanters, chandeliers, vases, objets d'art, jewellery and home accessories. The iconic Harcourt collection is the house's most enduring; the Véga, Mille Nuits and Eye collections represent more contemporary design languages. In recent decades, Baccarat has collaborated with designers including Philippe Starck and Marcel Wanders. The brand also produces crystal jewellery — earrings, necklaces, rings — in its distinctive clear and coloured crystal.

Prices

Entry Baccarat pieces — small objets, simple tumblers — begin around $100–200. A pair of Harcourt wine glasses is approximately $450. The Harcourt champagne flute is around $200 each. Decanters range from $500 to $5,000. Crystal chandeliers and major sculptural pieces reach $50,000–100,000 and beyond. Limited edition collaborations and antique pieces command significant premiums at auction.