First introduced during the 18th century by Admiral Robert FitzRoy, a storm glass is designed to predict the weather while also serving as a decorative piece. It consists of a sealed glass vessel that contains a chemical mixture. As weather conditions change, the mixture within crystallizes and takes new form. This process is interesting to watch and the glass vessel is often elegantly crafted, making the storm glass a beautiful gift for almost any occasion.
Check out this time-lapse of a weather predicting storm glass changing with the temperature:
Historical Significance of the Weather Predicting Storm Glass
It is said that Captain Robert FitzRoy, as mentioned above, developed the storm glass while navigating the world with Charles Darwin in the 1850’s. After a raging storm hit their ship, FitzRoy’s barometer was disrupted, which then inspired FitzRoy to create the weather predicting storm glass. Thus, the first weather predicting device to incorporate the concepts of temperature, pressure, and humidity was born.
How do Weather Predicting Storm Glasses Work?
The storm glass works by predicting the weather 1 to 3 days in advance. The special mixture within will create different formations depending on a number of environmental factors. These varying formations are then interpreted in order to predict the upcoming weather conditions. The mixture is usually made of ethanol, distilled water, ammonium chloride, potassium nitrate, and camphor.
Different weather conditions, such as snow, increasing temperatures, rain, wind and sunshine, will each look different inside the storm glass. Below is an example. Can you predict what the weather based on this picture?
ANSWER: Stock up on food and close all the windows. This storm glass is predicting a storm!
Why Get a Weather Predicting Storm Glass?
Simply put, weather predicting storm glasses are a perfect combination of functionality and elegance. Whether it’s a housewarming gift, holiday gift, birthday gift or a gift for yourself, it’s hard to go wrong with a weather predicting storm glass. Their beauty and function are both timeless and universal. Some may even say that weather predicting storm glasses the new snow globes!
Choosing the Best Weather Predicting Storm Glass
There are a myriad of weather predicting storm glasses on the market today. So, finding the right one can be a bit overwhelming. In terms of quality, the main factor to consider is the chemical mixture inside. The higher the quality, the clearer the crystal formations will be. Most manufacturers, however, do not list their ingredients, so determining quality, in this regard, is not easy.
First and foremost, the background of the brand must be checked to avoid online scams. Visit the website to see detailed information about the product, such as the design, features, materials, and prices. Customers can compare the estimates to get the best deal that meets their budget.
To help customers find the best weather predicting storm glass, I’ve made a review of the top five products I have tried myself. The following studies include extensive research of why I am recommending these storm glasses and what was my ultimate choice among the list.
Top 5 Best Weather Predicting Storm Glasses
Eon Concepts Storm Glass Weather Predictor
The Eon Storm Glass is handcrafted and comes with a brilliant LED wooden base, making it a decorative centerpiece for homes and offices.
Furthermore, this storm glass contains a high concentration of chemical mixture and forms gorgeous crystals as a result. It’s hard to contend with the value you get with this storm glass, considering its modest price. Its classic look makes it suitable to be displayed practically anywhere, from bars to libraries, bedrooms and beyond.
Specifications:
- Base – 6.5cm x 6.5cm/9.5cm x 9.5cm/11.5cm x 11.5cm
- Total height – 14cm/19cm/22cm
- Weight – 10.2 ounces
- Dimensions – 6x3x3 inches
This product is available in different sizes and colors. It comes in small, medium, and large, each with a brilliant LED wooden platform that changes in colors when the white button is pressed. With a wide array of options, it’s more enjoying to shop for weather predicting storm glasses online.
Inspired by the word eon, Eon Concepts refers to timelessness. The brand strives to provide new, innovative products for budget-friendly prices.
Storm Glass Weatherman
This classic weather predicting storm glass is available in a variety of sizes. It comes in a beautiful gift box, making it the perfect for the holidays or any occasion.
The main difference between this weather predicting storm glass and the Eon Concepts version is that it does not have colored lights. Therefore, you never need to worry about plugging it in. It’s a simple, classy and practical gift.
Both, the Eon Concepts model and this model, come in various sizes. See Amazon listing for more details.
Package Contents
- 1 teardrop shaped storm glass
- 1 carefully crafted wooden base
- Instruction manual
- Black gift box
AcuRite 00795A2 Galileo Thermometer with Glass Globe Barometer
Acurite is well-known for manufacturing high quality thermometers and weather devices. This glass thermometer and barometer combination was designed with Galileo’s instruments in mind. It interprets the weather and temperature based on air pressure and buoyancy.
The globe is the barometer. When the atmospheric pressure changes, the blue liquid inside the globe will change density. This will cause the blue liquid to rise and fall inside the globe’s tube. The tall glass tube adjacent to the globe is the thermometer. It contains glass bulbs that have colorful liquids and metal tags hanging from them. The metal tags are not the same size. Bulkier tags weigh more while the slimmer ones weight less. This determines which bulbs are able to rise and fall when the ambient temperature changes the density of the water. To read the temperature, simply look at the lowest floating bulb while ignoring the bulbs that are above and the bulbs that have sunk to the bottom.
Specifications
- Product Dimensions – 13.1 x 9.5 x 5.6 inches
- Total Weight – 1.75 pounds
- Galileo thermometer – 64-80 degrees Fahrenheit
- Glass globe barometer with opaque world map design
Although the AcuRite 00795A2 isn’t the most precise tool for measuring temperature and pressure, it does provide a close approximation. It’s a simple and classy way of gauging weather conditions without prompting the user to overanalyze. In fact, the users may eventually develop a “feel” for the AcuRite 00795A2.
Moreover, since this device was invented by Galileo, it would make a perfect gift for a historian or anyone interested in mathematics, science or philosophy.
FlyWallD Diamond Storm Glass (New Item!)
Now here is a truly unique storm glass! With so many other storm glasses shaped as tear drops, this model has a fresh new look. Not only is its diamond shape appealing in its own right, but it also reflects light differently than standard tear drop storm glasses do. This clever design will create all sort of shapes when light is shining on it, a sure way to add ambience to a room. It can also be placed resting on its side for more variation. What better way to predict the weather and add some glimmer to your home than with this elegant piece, which also comes with a gift bag.
Specifications
- Diamond Dimensions – 4 x 4 x 4.5 inches
- Wooden Base – 4.5 x 4.5 x 0.8 inches
- Total Weight – 15.7 ounces
Lily’s Home Analog Weather Station
The Lily’s Home Analog Weather Station is a 3 in 1 weather station that includes a Galileo thermometer, Galileo glass barometer, and analog hydrometer. It also comes with five colored spheres with a measurement of 10.5 inches by 12 inches. The main difference between this model and the AcuRite 00795A2 (above) is the addition of the analog hydrometer and a slightly smaller thermometer and barometer. In total, both devices are relatively equal in size. Another subtle difference is that this model has gold-plated tags on the spheres where as the AcuRite 00795A2 does not.
Specifications
- Dimensions – 14.9 x 9.3 x 7.3 inches
- Total Weight – 1.85 pounds
- Hygrometer – humidity percentage reading: 0 to 100 percent
- Thermometer – 64 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit
- Glass barometer – measures air pressure changes
The analog hydrometer has a classic, simple-to-read design; consistent with the simplicity of the other 2 components. The addition of the hydrometer makes this device a complete weather station. However, since the hydrometer is an analog device, it does not fall into the same category as the Galileo thermometer and barometer, which are buoyancy devices. Hence, one must sacrifice historical and technical congruity for the additional functionality that Lily’s Home Analog Weather Station has to offer.
Lily’s Home Desktop Weather Station
Here’s the black sheep of weather predicting storm glasses. With its unique design, Lily’s Home Desktop Weather Station can be placed where other storm glasses might be ill-suited. As the name describes, this piece makes a wonderful addition to an office desk. It would also be perfect on a corner table or bookshelf. Furthermore, the vertical design of the storm glass alongside the Galileo thermometer gives this beautifully crafted piece the element of symmetry.
Specifications
- Weight: 14.4 ounces
- 4.9 inches x 7.9 inches by 2.75 inches
Perhaps the most notable aspect of this model, however, is that it combines 2 different technologies from antiquity: the storm glass of Admiral Fitzroy the buoyancy thermometer of Galileo. This is probably the only device you can get that joins these two historical figures that lived during different times, yet both contributed immensely to the body of knowledge that we now rely on today. If you’re looking for that extra historical flare, then this piece is the best. Here is yet another version of this model that also includes a quartz clock and an analog hydrometer, the former of which was invented by Warren Marrison and J. W. Horton and the latter by William Nicholson.
Conclusion
With all the storm glasses available on the market right now, it can be a task finding the right one. If you’re gifting a weather predicting storm glass to somebody, then it’s not necessarily the price tag that should determine which one to choose. Rather, ask yourself: “What meaning do I want to express to the receiver?” If you’re buying it for yourself, then you should ask what meaning do you want to express to those who view your weather predicting storm glass and which design is the most aesthetically pleasing to you, personally?
I wish you the best of luck with making your selection and predicting the weather!
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