WECK Gläser

Johann Carl Weck and the Birth of the Preserving Jar

The founding story of Weck begins with a social observation. At the end of the 19th century, preserving food is widespread in German households – but the methods are unreliable, labour-intensive and often result in losses. Spoiled stores, leaking seals, insufficient hygiene: preserving is a necessity, but not a reliable technique. Johann Carl Weck identifies the problem and sees the solution in a standardised, safe preserving system that can be used in any household.

In 1895, Weck develops a concept together with the merchant Georg van Eyck for a preserving jar with a rubber seal and metal clamps – a system that reliably ensures an airtight seal and can be used without specialist knowledge. In 1900, the two found «J. Weck & Co.» in Öflingen in the Wiesental valley – with the stated aim of democratising food preservation: accessible, safe and affordable for every household. The success proves them right. Within just a few years, the verb «einwecken» – to Weck – becomes the German synonym for preserving food, a linguistic testament to the product's impact that remains valid to this day.

Production and Company Character

Weck has produced its jars in Germany since the company's founding. The current headquarters is located in Bonn-Holzlar, where the company maintains its administrative and distribution base. Glass production takes place in German glassworks to precise quality specifications. Weck jars are made from high-quality clear glass – food-safe, flavour-neutral and dishwasher-suitable. These production standards have not fundamentally changed over more than a century, because they serve the purpose: preserving food reliably and safely.

The company remains in family ownership to this day and has retained the character of a medium-sized quality supplier. Weck is not an international corporation with global marketing budgets – it is a company whose reputation rests on the product itself. This understated quality is part of the brand identity: Weck needs no staging, because the jar speaks for itself.

The Weck System – Function and Design Classic

What sets Weck jars apart from other storage containers is the consistently well-conceived system behind the product. Every Weck jar consists of three components: the jar itself, the matching glass lid and the orange rubber ring. The seal is achieved using spring steel clamps, which hold the lid in place during the preserving process and are kept secure after cooling by the vacuum that forms. The system requires no tools, is fully disassembled with ease and every component can be purchased separately – a quality feature that is particularly valued today.

The characteristic design of Weck jars – the curved form, the transparent lid, the orange ring – has remained essentially unchanged since their introduction and has become a design classic. Weck jars are used today not only for preserving, but also for storing dry goods, as drinking glasses, as serving vessels and as packaging for homemade gifts from the kitchen.

The Product Range – Jars, Lids, Rubber Rings

The Weck range is clear and consistently focused on the core product. At its heart are the jars themselves – in a broad spectrum of sizes and shapes, ranging from small tulip jars for jams and spreads through cylindrical jars to large preserving jars for vegetables, fruit and juices. Each jar shape is optimised for specific applications: the wide opening of tulip jars suits spreadable contents, narrower cylindrical forms suit liquid preserves, and deep shapes suit whole fruits and vegetable pieces.

Glass lids and rubber rings are available separately as accessories – an important feature of the system, since rubber rings should be replaced after repeated use and lids can be replaced independently of the jar. This replacement system considerably extends the lifespan of the jars and makes Weck one of the most sustainable storage systems on the market.

Product Range at a Glance

Preserving jars (various shapes and sizes) · Glass lids · Rubber rings · Accessories

Weck at miniSchoggi

miniSchoggi carries Weck jars, glass lids and rubber rings because preserving and making things yourself are two sides of the same approach. Those who bake, cook and create want to store, share and give away the results – and for that, the right vessel is needed. Weck provides that vessel: reliable, proven and of a quality that does justice to its contents.

Homemade jam, pickled vegetables, homemade sauces, dry stores or a jar full of biscuits as a gift: Weck jars are versatile and make homemade produce visible. The transparency of the glass is more than an aesthetic feature – it is a quality statement. You can see what's inside. You can see how it looks. And you can see how much care went into making it.

miniSchoggi offers the core Weck range: jars in common sizes, the matching glass lids and the distinctive rubber rings as replacement parts and accessories. Together they form a system that has worked for over 120 years – and that should be found in every kitchen where homemade produce has a place.

Preserved. Stored. Passed on. Weck.