The Rare '50s Pyrex Bowl With A Dainty Pattern You'd Love To Find At A Thrift Store

In the land of Pyrex collectors, there is Team Pink, who go wild for all things pink Pyrex, from the Pyrex mixing bowls with the rare pink Butterprint pattern to Gooseberry to solid flamingo pink. And then there's Team Turquoise, who are all about the brand's blue-green patterns, from classic Butterprint to Snowflake to solid turquoise. And here's another one to add to Team Turquoise's must-have list: the somewhat mysterious Turquoise Diamonds bowl, released sometime in the 1950s.

What makes Turquoise Diamonds somewhat mysterious? Like the rare, vintage New Mexico patterned Pyrex dish, it's also unmarked, meaning it has no backstamp on its base. Some dedicated Pyrex collectors did some sleuthing, though, and discovered that, although the bowl is made from the same distinct glass as those marked "Pyrex," Turquoise Diamonds was actually sold under the brand name Dainty Maid.

While you're most likely going to find the Turquoise Diamonds bowl — which is similar in size and shape to Pyrex's model number 403, a 2.5-quart round bowl — on its own, it was originally sold with a lid and a support stand. Advertisements for the bowl, dating from 1959 and 1960, note that the stand has heat-proof plastic handles. They also advertise a special price of just $2.49. In 1960, the bowl was available for 50% off, just $1.98, marked down from $3.99. Today, though, they sell on eBay in the neighborhood of $300, fetching a much higher price if the listing includes the lid and support stand.

Since you can't rely on the backstamp to confirm you're holding a Pyrex Turquoise Diamonds bowl in your hands, how can you know you've found valuable Pyrex at the thrift store? First, examine the material carefully. The Turquoise Diamonds pattern appeared on a bowl made from Pyrex's signature opal glass. It will be smooth and milky white, with small, turquoise diamonds screenprinted across it.

It appears that, for the most part, the bowls have been long separated from their lids and matching stands. However, occasionally, a bowl with a lid pops up. The lid has a round knob handle, rather than the typical flat design. The original stand was gold-tone with rounded feet and white plastic handles. It's not unheard of for the Turquoise Diamonds bowl to crop up in its original box, which is how Pyrex detectives determined that it was marketed under the brand name Dainty Maid. The more components that are included with the bowl, from lid to stand to original packaging, the higher its value.

While buying Turquoise Diamonds on eBay or a similar website will likely set you back a few hundred, it is possible to find on thrift store shelves for much less. One person on Reddit was thrilled to have brought home Turquoise Diamonds for just $5. So, you never know — buried beneath the cast-off teacups and chipped dinner plates may just be an underpriced diamond in the rough.