My story
It started out as a disappointment, a yearning for something better. This disappointment turned into a hope. This hope became a reality – a dream come to life.
In my line of work, I attend a lot of high-profile formal functions. Formal functions often mean sparkling wines. I like my sparkling wine, be it a prestige cuvée Champagne or a humble but hearty bottle of Italian Prosecco.
In these functions, I would always notice how Champagne flutes were always uninspiring, even on occasions celebrating the most important life events. Everywhere I looked, I saw the same story. Clunky flutes. Oddly-shaped flutes. Tiny flutes. Overly fancy flutes.
One evening I was walking home after a long day at work. My head hung low. It was a busy street. I had that feeling of being lost, even though I had passed that street many times before. By chance, I looked up and saw a storefront window.
Behind the store window was a wall of Champagne flutes stacked from from floor to the ceiling. I looked closely. There were thousands and thousands of Champagne flutes, a myriad of different sizes, shapes, styles and colours. But none of them inspired me. None of them were for me.
At that moment, an idea struck me like an arrow shot from above. “I’ve had enough.” I said shaking my head “Why don’t I just create my own flutes?”
Thus was born my mission – to create a Champagne flute I would be proud to present to the world.
The flute of choice for serving sparkling wines
What exactly is The Excelsior by Dux?
The Excelsior by Dux is a handmade lead-free crystal flute. It is perfect for serving Champagne, Prosecco, Cava and other sparkling wines. In each exquisite gift box is a pair of beautiful crystal flutes.
The Excelsior is Handmade
Each piece is individually handmade and mouth-blown by a master craftsman, from a glassmaking workshop that has over 30 years experience in fine glassmaking.
There is a world of difference between traditional handmade flutes and machine-made flutes.
Machine-made flutes – My flutes are NOT machine-made. Machine made flutes are the kinds of flutes normally for sale in department stores and online. To make machine-made flutes, raw materials is are shoved into one end of a machine. Then, in minutes, out the other end pops out the still-smouldering finished product. Hundreds if not thousands of flutes are made at the time. This cost-effective process is what most glass manufacturers use.
Handmade flutes – Meanwhile, a real quality handmade flute like The Excelsior is a labor of love. A craftsman can only learn this art after years of apprenticeship. Each piece of crystal is born as a glob of white hot molten, around the same viscosity as honey, pulled out from a furnace that burns at over 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Then the glassmaker meticulously shapes and cuts the still glowing piece of semi-molten crystal. The glassmaker use specialised tools to masterfully create handmade flutes. Large arm-length tweezers are used to pull out and hold the precisely measured molten gobs of glass. Large scissor-like implements shears to cut of excess materials. A spinning wheel is used to polish and shape the crystal into perfection. The bowl of the flute, or the top part that you pour your drink into, is formed by the glassmaker delicately blowing air with his mouth though a long thin pipe. The glassmaker use just the right amount of air with just the right amount of pressure throughout the entire process.
As a result of this laborious process, The Excelsior has remarkably thin rims and long slender stems for superlative elegance. The delicate thinness of the crystal glass cannot be matched by any machine-made flute. The discerning buyer should watch out for machine-made flutes of other brands, with their thick rims and clunky stems.
Even in this modern age, there are some things man can make better than any machine, like The Excelsior.
Classic, Timeless Design
The sparkling wine can be best appreciated if the flute design is just right. Designed by connoisseurs, the Excelsior flutes’ large bowls create ample space for aromas to develop, perfect for fully appreciating the finest of wines. The design is also timeless – the classic lines that will never lose their lustre or appeal.
The wise ones will always choose a classic design, designs you can you use for years, no matter what season or occasion. Champagne flutes that are fancy, coloured or with extra sparkling trimmings will lead to regret, as they may not fit the tastes and moods of every occasion.
The Excelsior by DUX is classic and timeless.
The Right Size to Impress
This Excelsior by DUX will stand tall and proud on your table and impress your guests. It is 10.7 inches in height, and has a generous 10 ounce capacity. When choosing stemware, size matters. Its generous 10 ounce capacity will encourage them to drink without timidity.
Creating a tall champagne flute, especially a handmade ones, takes a lot more resources and skill than the smallish ones that are typically sold. Most champagne flutes are typically 6-8 inches tall, that in person look small.
You may know that feeling inside when you want to fully enjoy a fine sparkling wine, but it is served in unimpressive portions in tiny glasses. Don’t let your generosity be questioned. Free flowing sparkling helps any event flow.
The stem of the flute is especially long and slender. I want it to look impressive in your hand. The Excelsior is a flute you can hold with dignity. I designed it this way so you can hold it proudly in your hand while giving a speech or proposing a toast onstage.
Better for your Health – 100% Lead-Free
What is Lead-Free Crystal? Crystal used in glassware is by definition 10-33% lead. DUX only crafts its flutes from truly lead-free crystal. Lead-free crystal is better for your health and our glassmakers’ health. When you leave alcohol in a leaded glass, small quantities of lead leach into your drink. Lead accumulates in your body and causes damage to your brain, nervous system and other organs. I value your health as much as I do my own. Children in particular are advised never to drink from lead crystal.
Few glassmakers today work with lead-free crystal, as lead makes glass pliant and easy to work with. But we do. The costs of minerals which are used to replace lead (zinc, barium and potassium) can also be more expensive.
There is no safe threshold for lead exposure, this means lead harms the body in no matter how small the amount. My flutes are 100% lead-free. Drink from them with confidence and peace of mind.
Better for the Environment – 100% Lead Free
Not only is lead-free crystal better for your health, it is better for the environment as well. Regular crystal stemware is made of 10-33% lead oxide. But my flutes are 100% lead free. I can about future generations, and the contamination of lead into the soil and atmosphere either directly or indirectly from its production or waste by products is inevitable. Lead is highly toxic and an increase of lead concentrations in the environment disturb the ecosystem.
Exquisite Gift Packaging
The Packaging – Each pair comes lovingly packed in an exquisite unmarked black box with a protective sleeve, designed both for the optimum protection and to express a timeless, classic elegance.
The protective outer sleeve has a gold-coloured foil inlay of the DUX logo to protect the unmarked inner black box.
If you wish to, you are free to discard the protective outer sleeve so that only the unmarked inner black box will remain as its packaging.
I believe once you purchase a pair of these flutes, they are no longer mine, but yours both materially and in soul. That is why the inner black box was intentionally left without any marking or text whatsoever.
This unmarked inner black box is the ultimate form of a gift. Unadorned, without any manufacturer’s names or logos or marking. It becomes a gift that comes purely from you alone. Should you wish to, you are free to personalise this black box in an infinite number of ways. You will be unconstrained by marketing messages, images, or text to constrain your creativity.
This makes it is appropriate to give such a beautiful gift during the most meaningful of triumphs and life changing occasions.
The packaging saves you from disappointment and frustration. It minimises incidents of breakage. The box contains two flutes which are nested in soft foam cutouts. I designed it this way so that the flutes will be free of worry best protection during transport.
Purchase with Confidence
I have full confidence in the quality of the Excelsior Champagne Flutes, so you can confidence in purchasing them to. As long as you register your purchase with us, I’ll cover you with 60-Day Money Back Guarantee, and I’ll give a full refund if you are not satisfied with the quality of these glasses in any way.
Exclusively distributed on Amazon
I want you to buy this product from the comfort of your home. You should choose to buy this product without the bright promotional displays of a shop, the salesman or the eye-catching price signs. It should be a thoughtful decision solely your own.
My choice to sell only on Amazon serves a secondary purpose. All brand new Excelsior are stocked in the Amazon’s warehouse and sent straight to you without passing any intermediary. The Excelsior would unnecessarily cost more if I had them displayed on shop shelves. Having a product on shop shelves means high overhead costs and salesmen pushily selling our products. You can the purchase to buy, undistracted by these peripheral factors. This make your purchase between only you and me.
Purchase The Excelsior on Amazon, our exclusive distribution channel