La Opala Opalware Comparison with Bone China Crockery

The dishes we use to serve the food definitely define our presentation. It enhances the overall texture, stimulates the taste buds, may increase the desire to eat. We have moved to colorful dishes leaving behind those boring clay, stone, and steel utensils. These colorful fancy dishes are generally made up of porcelain, ceramic, glass, melamine, bone china, opal glass, plastic, etc. This article belongs to opalware and bone china. I don’t know how many people as of now aware of the material content of Opalware and Bone china crockery! Opalware is all right but what about Bone China, what is the material content, the comparison all are discussed below.

Bone china crockery sets have been having its popularity for years across the world. So in India as well. People use these crockery sets with great fondness. I and my family were not different. We were also fond of using different bone china crockery sets. These are always an ideal gifting option also for their elegant, rich, and royal appearance. I was also using Bone china crockery sets until I was not aware of its material content. Then what is wrong with Bone china being an Indian I felt and I preferred to switch to opalware and how the Indian company La Opala has brought us the finest quality opal glass tableware, let's discuss the topic in detail. I have been using the dishes from the brand La Opala for many years and I feel it can be a good alternate for Bone china crockery sets. Hence, I want to put forth a comparison before you.

What is Opalware :

Cups, plates, serving bowls, dinner sets, cup-saucer sets, tea-coffee mugs that are made up of opal glass are known as opalware or opal glass tableware. Glass is transparent. But opal glass is translucent. The fine milky white texture of opal glass is obtained by adding fluorine during glass synthesis. Opal glass is non-porous which means food particles can not be absorbed by its surface and avoid bacteria formation. Opal glass dish (opalware) is considered healthy, hygienic, food-safe, and an ideal dish to get food to be served.

La Opala Opalware :

The company details in brief - La Opala RG Limited was established on 11th June 1987 in India. A pure Indian company to rely on. As far as I know, the company was renamed after merging with Radha Glass & Industries Ltd in 1999 and got its present name ‘RG’ added to it. It is the leading tableware manufacturer and marketer in India with a market capitalization of around 2,200 crores. It exports its products to abroad as well. La Opala, Diva, and Solitaire are the different brand names that come under La Opala RG Ltd. The well-established company has had its name after the glass material it uses to make its tableware products, that is “opal glass”.

What is bone china:

In the crockery world, while talking about bone china crockery, the word “Bone” really relates to the real bone and the word “China” has nothing to deal with the country China. Because bone china is invented in England to somehow match the texture of Chinese porcelain. It also comes in different names such as china bone, bone-porcelain, wishbone, bone-in, fine bone china, fine china bone, etc. You can hold a bone china dish in front of a light to check its bone ash content. The more light passes through it relates to more bone ash content. Less translucent indicates less bone ash content.

What is bone china made up of :

Bone china crockery contains cattle bone ash. The animal bone powder content can be anywhere between 5% to 50% of the total dish content. The animal bones are heated to a very high temperature to obtain the preferred bone powder. Then it is mixed with porcelain or ceramic to make bone china. The bone ash content gives bone china crockery a fine creamy texture and makes those stronger. The more the bone ash content, the more the cups and plates look translucent. Mostly bone China cups, dinner sets, plates, etc from reputed brands contain 30% to 50 % of bone ash to give it a royal look, makes it thinner, stronger, and costlier too.

Why is not bone china acceptable for all :

As of now, we know bone china has animal bone ash in its content. Now we will know which animals' bone in real! Bone china contains mostly cow and pig bone ash due to their lower iron content. Sad to know this! But I found it true at some manufacturers' portal. That is why bone china is not acceptable by all. It is not acceptable by vegetarians, vegans, and many people who have strong faith in religion, and people who adhere to nonviolence even. Being an Indian I know it very well, most of the non-vegetarians in the Hindu religion never eat beef (cow meat) and most of the non-vegetarians from Islam never eat pork (pig meat) for sure. For such people having a cup of tea in a bone china cup would not be reasonable.

Comparing La Opala opalware and bone china crockery :

Left - Opalware & Right - Bone China

Both look Elegant.
Both are translucent.
Bone China crockery somehow looks creamy white. Whereas, opalware is milky white.
Both are chip resistant.
Both are strong enough and break-resistant.
Both are durable and last long.
Both are microwave safe.
Both are lightweight.
Opalware is thicker. Bone china dishes are thinner.
Opalware is available at a comparably cheaper price.
As discussed earlier opal glass is non-porous. So opalware is hygienic, healthy, and food safe. Bone china crockery is porous.
The most important negative point of bone china is, it is not cruelty-free. Whereas La Opala brings us elegant things with no harm to animals.
Bone china crockery may not be acceptable by vegetarians and religious people as it is made by mixing cattle bone ash such as cow and pig bone powder. Opal glass is made by adding fluorine.
Opalware is environment-friendly. Can we say the same for bone china? No!
High-quality bone china products are costlier. While La Opala provides us the top-class product at affordable prices.

A few years ago, I knew the reality of bone china when one of our prominent Indian ministers speaking up these things in a tv interview. After that, I gathered more information and discarded bone china dishes I was using at that time. One may or may not use bone china crockery as per their requirements and beliefs. But I don't believe attaining something by harming animals when we are having other beautiful options. I have been using opalware from La Opala brand for years and I really like those. You can give it a try. Other Indian companies like Borosil and Cello brings us fine opalware sets. You can try those too. If you are already using opalware, let me know your experience below in the comment section. Thank you.