If you are looking for high quality and good looking plumbing fixtures for your kitchen and bathroom, you have come to the right place. Some of the most popular brands that you might have your eyes on, whether for a renovation or new construction, are Vitra and Duravit.
That said, you probably want to stick with just one, so between the two, which one should you go with?
A Brief History of Vitra and Duravit
First off we have Vitra, which is actually a Turkish company. Vitra was first founded in 1942 in an old ceramics factory, right in the midst of World War II.
The main focus of Vitra, for a very long time, was the production of ceramic plumbing fixtures, which was very innovative at the time. That’s mainly because the Turkish market during those years was dominated by marble fixtures to which ceramic is the much cheaper alternative.
The company focuses mainly on bathroom sanitaryware as well as bathroom furniture. Keep in mind that Vitra is owned by the Eczacıbaşı Group, a very large multinational corporation. At this time, Vitra has an annual estimated revenue of somewhere around 167 million dollars. Vitra Products can be found in over 75 countries worldwide.
Various famous designers such as Ross Lovegrove, Matteo Thun, Ambrogio Rossari, the German Designbüro NOA, and İnci Mutlu have all had big influences on Vitra products, and yes, they are generally seen as being high in quality.
On the other hand, we have Duravit, a brand that was founded all the way back in 1817, thus making it one of the oldest, if not the very oldest and most reputable brands in the world of plumbing fixtures. The man who founded the Duravit brand is Georg Friedrich Horn, a German who started it while residing in the Black Forest.
In the beginning, Duravit manufactured various earthenware products, products made out of clay. However, the company then quickly moved toward producing bathroom fixtures, particularly as indoor plumbing became more widespread in households. For a very long time, Duravit focused on producing porcelain bathroom fixtures but also branched out from this.
The fact of the matter is that Duravit is a huge brand, one that can be found in over 130 countries worldwide. It’s one of the most widespread bathroom fixture brands in the world.
At this time, Duravit has roughly 6,500 employees with estimated annual revenues in the neighborhood of 600 million dollars.
Vitra vs. Duravit: Which Offers Better Quality?
First off, we have Vitra, a well-known brand that has been around for nearly 80 years. In terms of overall product quality, Vitra is seen as a higher-end brand.
Most people would agree that Vitra products are very durable and long-lasting, fashionable, and functional too. In other words, not only do they work really well and almost never break down, but they also look really nice, which is why they are often used in high-end commercial and residential construction projects.
What is interesting to note is that Vitra does have a standard range of products somewhat affordable products designed for everyday use and for home applications. However, Vitra also has a more exclusive line of products,
In terms of overall product quality, when it comes to Duravit, this is known for being one of the highest quality and most reputable brands in the world of bathroom fixtures. There is a good reason why the Duravit brand has survived for over 200 years, and it’s definitely not because of low-quality products.
Most would agree that the level of quality produced by Duravit is nearly unrivaled by any other brand out there. There are many reasons why Duravit products are so highly regarded.
For one, they are just of really high quality, or in other words, they are super durable, long-lasting, and highly functional too. It’s not often that you will find a Duravit product that breaks down. There is also the fact that Duravit products are also regarded as being some of the most fashionable and stylish around.
Philippe Starck is just one of the world-famous designers that Duravit has been known to employ.
In general, the reason why Duravit products are so high in quality is that they are made in German and French locations. Yes, there are some manufacturing locations in Tunisia, Egypt, India, and China, however, even these appear to be very high in quality. Besides the high prices, there aren’t many complaints about Duravit.
Which Has a Better Warranty?
Although the information is a bit difficult to find, from what we can tell, most Vitra products come with an amazing 10-year warranty (with some exceptions, such as 12-month warranties on toilet seats).
In terms of Duravit, it offers 5-year warranties for ceramic items, 2-year warranties for toilet seats, furniture, acrylics, and cisterns, and 12-month warranties for parts on seals and washers.
In the grand scheme of things, Vitra does seem to offer better warranties.
Vitra vs. Duravit: Which Has a Better Product Portfolio?
One thing worth noting here is that Vitra, besides various bathroom fixtures, also produces bathroom floor tiles. In terms of overall product selection, both brands seem to be matched somewhat evenly, although Vitra does appear to have a bit larger of a selection.
For example, when it comes to bathroom faucets, Vitra currently has well over 100 options listed on the site, and Duravit has just about half as many. However, this is not a trend across all categories.
Which Brand Offers a Better Selection of Toilets?
Although we have not counted the exact number of toilets that each brand has for sale on their main sites, we can see that Duravit does have a larger selection.
Which of the Two Brands Should You Choose?
When it comes down to it, both brands are high-end and they both offer high-quality products, great selection, and good warranties.
The only real difference is that Duravit is quite pricey across the board, whereas Vitra has a line of products that doesn’t cost too much, along with their exclusive range.
Summary
When all has been said and done, both Vitra and Duravit are very high-end toilet brands, some of the absolute best in the world.
With both, you get what you pay for, and what you get is quality.