Nouvel Studio’s Apollo Small Tumbler

Some drinking glasses are basically “hydration containers.” Others are tiny design objects that just happen to hold water,
cocktails, cold brew, or a handful of blueberries you swear is “dessert.” Nouvel Studio’s Apollo Small Tumbler
falls into the second categoryminimal, richly colored, and so versatile it can bounce from breakfast juice to an after-dinner
nightcap without looking confused.

If you’ve ever wanted glassware that quietly upgrades your whole table (without screaming “I saw this on the internet!”),
the Apollo Small Tumbler is worth knowing. Let’s break down what it is, why the size is secretly genius, how to style it,
and how to keep it looking crisp instead of cloudy-and-sad.

Quick Snapshot: What the Apollo Small Tumbler Is

• Type: Small tumbler / lowball-style drinking glass
• Designer: Alonso González (Apollo line designed in 2004)
• Material: Handmade blown glass
• Size vibe: “Just right” for water, juice, and short cocktails
• Color story: Offered in multiple tinted hues (think smoky blues, soft grays, and other jewel tones)
• Care: Often recommended as hand-wash (details below)

The Appeal: Why This Glass Feels So “Designed”

The Apollo Small Tumbler is a masterclass in restraint. No etching. No heavy pattern. No “theme.” Just a clean silhouette
and a color that looks like it was mixed to flatter sunlight. That simplicity is exactly why it works in real homes:
it doesn’t fight your dishes, your napkins, your countertop, or your personality.

There’s also the handmade factor. Blown glass tends to have tiny, charming variationssubtle differences that make each piece
feel less like factory output and more like a finished object. In practical terms, that can mean slight shifts in tone, thickness,
or shape that you notice only when you stack them side-by-side and think, “Huh… these are like siblings, not clones.”

Color That Works Like Tabletop Lighting

Colored glassware has a sneaky superpower: it makes even plain water look intentional. A tinted tumbler catches light, deepens shadows,
and adds contrast to neutral tables. That’s why these pieces show up in the orbit of design-forward retailers and editorial roundups
they’re an easy way to add personality without committing to a neon couch.

The Apollo line’s shades tend to read “grown-up” rather than candy-bright. Think smoky, mineral, and atmospheric. The effect is more
gallery gift shop than kids’ birthday party. (No offense to birthday cake. It has its place.)

Size Matters: The “Small” Tumbler Advantage

The Apollo Small Tumbler lands in that sweet spot where it can behave like a water glass, a juice glass, and a cocktail glass
without being awkward at any of those jobs. In cocktail terms, smaller tumblers are traditionally right at home with short pours
the kind of drinks you sip slowly because you’re classy, not because you’re doing math on tomorrow morning.

Why a Smaller Capacity Can Be More Useful

• Better for short cocktails: Old Fashioned–style drinks and spirit-forward builds don’t need a giant vessel.
• Great for everyday portions: Juice, iced tea, water at dinnersmall tumblers look neat and feel balanced in hand.
• Less “half-empty” sadness: Drinks look appropriately filled instead of like you’re rationing hydration.
• More stable styling: A shorter glass reads intentional on a tray, bedside table, or bar cart.

Bonus: small tumblers tend to be easier to store and easier to rinse quickly. They’re the jeans-and-sneakers of drinkware
always appropriate, never fussy.

What You’ll Actually Use It For (A.K.A. The “Not Just for Whiskey” Section)

1) Water and Sparkling Water

The Apollo Small Tumbler makes everyday hydration feel like a choice you made on purpose. Sparkling water especially benefits:
the color gives bubbles more visual “pop,” like the glass is framing the drink instead of merely containing it.

2) Juice, Cold Brew, and Iced Drinks

Morning OJ looks fancier in tinted glass. Cold brew looks moodier (in the best way). And because the glass is short,
it’s easy to hold while you’re doing that morning multitask shuffle: phone in one hand, keys in the other, and somehow
also trying to be a functional human.

3) Cocktails: The Low-Key Home Bar Upgrade

A small tumbler is a natural fit for short cocktailsespecially when you’re serving something spirit-forward or built
directly in the glass. Try it with:

• Old Fashioned-style builds: Whiskey (or rum), bitters, sugar, orange peel.
• Negroni family drinks: Equal parts builds look sharp in a compact tumbler.
• Simple high-impact pours: A good tequila with a big cube, or a tiny amaro “dessert.”

4) Desserts, Snacks, and “Small Vase” Moments

The best glassware is the kind that doesn’t panic when you use it for something else. The Apollo Small Tumbler can double as:
a quick berry bowl, an ice-cream-and-espresso situation, a yogurt parfait cup, or a micro vase for a single stem from your garden
(or, let’s be honest, from the grocery store bouquet you bought because adulthood is hard).

Design Notes: What to Look For When Buying

Depending on where you shop, you’ll see Apollo pieces sold individually or as sets (often sets of four), with different colors
and sometimes more than one size. If you’re hunting specifically for the Apollo Small Tumbler, here’s what to check:

Authentic “Handmade” Signs That Are Actually Normal

• Slight variation: Tiny differences in tone or thickness are common in blown glass.
• Small bubbles or flow lines: Often part of the handmade character (not a defect unless it’s structurally risky).
• Color depth shifts: Tinted glass can look lighter at the rim and deeper at the baseespecially in sunlight.

Things That Should Make You Pause

• Chips on the rim: Even small chips can turn “sip” into “ouch.”
• Cloudy etching: Often caused by harsh detergents or hard water over time.
• Wobble: A slight handmade variance is one thing; a visibly uneven base is another.

Care and Cleaning: Keeping That Color Gorgeous

Care guidance can vary depending on the seller, the production batch, and the finish, but the safest approach for colored,
handmade glass is: gentle washing and avoiding harsh heat swings. If you want these tumblers to stay clear and vibrant,
treat them like you’d treat a good sweater: clean it properly, don’t roast it, and don’t act surprised when it lasts longer.

Best Practice: Hand-Wash (Especially for Colored, Handmade Glass)

• Use warm (not scorching) water and a mild dish soap.
• Avoid abrasive scrubbers that can haze the surface.
• Dry with a soft, lint-free cloth to prevent water spots.

If You Use the Dishwasher Anyway (Life Happens)

If your reality is “dishwasher or chaos,” use your best protective habits:

• Top rack only and space glasses so they don’t clink together.
• Skip high-heat drying when possible.
• Go easy on detergent and keep rinse aid in mind if your water is hard.

How to Prevent Cloudiness and Water Spots

Cloudiness often comes down to minerals (hard water) and detergent buildup. Practical tips:
run your dishwasher cleaner routine regularly, avoid overdosing detergent, and consider an occasional vinegar rinse cycle
(without mixing vinegar with bleach-based productsever).

Avoid Thermal Shock (Yes, Glass Has Drama Too)

Glass doesn’t love sudden temperature changes. Don’t go from freezer-cold to hot water instantly. Let the tumbler warm up a bit,
then wash. The goal is “gentle transitions,” not “extreme sports for drinkware.”

Styling Tips: Making the Apollo Small Tumbler Look Expensive (It Already Does)

Pair It With Neutrals

The easiest win: let the glass be the color moment. White plates, natural linen, light wood, matte silverthen the tumbler reads
like jewelry for your table.

Mix Colors Like You Mean It

If you have multiple Apollo hues, try mixing them on the table. The trick is to keep everything else calm so the colors feel curated,
not chaotic. Think: one “family” of tones (smoky blues + neutral gray) rather than every color that has ever existed.

Use It Beyond the Table

Bedside water glass? Elevated. Bathroom “cotton pad” holder? Surprisingly chic. Pencil cup on a desk? Suddenly you’re a person
with a creative practice, even if your main art form is answering emails.

FAQs

Is the Apollo Small Tumbler dishwasher-safe?

You may see different guidance depending on where it’s listed. For handmade colored glass, hand-washing is the safest route to protect
clarity and color over time. If you do use a dishwasher, use the top rack, avoid high heat, and prevent glass-to-glass contact.

Is it crystal?

The Apollo Small Tumbler is typically described as glass (not lead crystal). If you’re shopping secondhand and a listing is vague,
look for maker details and care notes rather than assuming “crystal.” When in doubt, treat it gently.

What’s the difference between the small and big Apollo tumblers?

In general, the small size is better for short drinks and everyday pours, while the big size is roomier for ice-heavy cocktails,
tall splashes, or “I’m very thirsty” water moments.

Experience Notes: 7 Everyday Moments With the Apollo Small Tumbler (About )

Picture a normal weeknothing dramatic, just the usual mix of coffee, errands, and trying to remember why you walked into the kitchen.
The Apollo Small Tumbler quietly earns its keep in exactly these not-a-photoshoot moments.

Monday morning, you pour orange juice and suddenly it looks like a boutique hotel breakfast. Not because you changed your life,
but because tinted glass has a way of making simple things feel designed. The glass feels balancedsubstantial enough to feel “nice,”
not so heavy that you regret your choices before caffeine. If you do iced coffee, the color adds contrast against the dark drink, and the
short profile keeps it stable when you inevitably bump it while reaching for your phone.

Midweek, the tumbler becomes your default water glass. This is where the “small” part shines: water looks full and appealing,
not like it’s sulking at the bottom of a giant cylinder. At dinner, it sits comfortably near plates and serving bowls without hogging space.
When you’re setting the table fast, the glasses don’t shout for attention, but they quietly pull the look togetherespecially if you’ve got
plain white dishes or neutral linens.

Thursday night, you make a quick cocktailmaybe a Negroni riff or a simple spirit-and-soda. The Apollo Small Tumbler is ideal for
short cocktails because it makes the drink feel intentional. A big cube fits without the glass looking oversized, and the color of the tumbler
acts like a frame for the garnish. It’s the difference between “I made a drink” and “I made a drink and also have my life together,” even if
the rest of the room says otherwise.

Saturday afternoon, it gets repurposedbecause good glassware always does. A few stems from the grocery store bouquet? Mini vase.
A handful of berries for snacking? Suddenly a parfait cup. A small scoop of ice cream with espresso poured over it? Dessert that looks like you
planned it, not like you stared into the freezer and made a decision at the speed of panic.

And then there’s cleanup. If you hand-wash, it’s quick: warm water, mild soap, gentle dry, done. If you’re a dishwasher household, you’ll treat it
like a delicate friendtop rack, spaced out, no aggressive heat cyclebecause the whole point of owning a beautiful little tumbler is keeping it
beautiful. Over time, you start to notice what design people always talk about: the best objects don’t just sit there looking good. They make
everyday routines feel smoother, calmer, and slightly more put-togetherlike your kitchen got a tiny upgrade without asking you to remodel anything.

Conclusion

Nouvel Studio’s Apollo Small Tumbler is proof that “simple” can still be special. It’s a compact, color-rich piece of handmade glassware that works
across daily lifewater, juice, cold brew, cocktails, and even the occasional “this is now a vase” moment. If you want drinkware that feels
quietly luxurious, photographs beautifully in natural light, and still earns its space in a real cabinet, the Apollo Small Tumbler checks the box
(without making a big deal about it).