The AXOR collection

AXOR Starck V glass taps

By Jonathon Barclay October 2026 5 min read

You choose AXOR Starck V because you want to see the water moving through the tap. Its clear glass body puts the flow on display, rather than hiding it inside a conventional metal spout.

Starck V with a separate basin control, shown in AXOR collection imagery. Product imagery: AXOR.

The water is part of the design

Designed by Philippe Starck, Starck V uses a specially developed jet shaper to create a visible vortex inside the transparent body. The water then leaves through an open spout. That moving water is the point of the design, not a detail you only notice when you look closely. AXOR describes how the visible vortex and open glass spout work.

Water swirling inside the transparent curved spout of AXOR Starck V — The open glass spout makes the movement of the water visible. Product imagery: AXOR.

We’d specify it where the tap can be seen properly, usually on a vanity or basin run that has enough space around it. If it’s squeezed between tall furniture, covered by toiletries or competing with several other statement pieces, much of the reason for choosing it is lost.

Starck V is also quite different from the metal taps most people associate with the wider AXOR Starck range. If you’re comparing the collections rather than looking specifically for a glass tap, our guide to AXOR Starck and AXOR One is a better place to start.

Give the glass a clear background

The transparent body works best against a quiet background. A plain tile, softly patterned stone or simple painted wall allows you to see the shape of the glass and the water inside it.

Close-up of the cut-glass base on an AXOR Starck V spout with water flowing — The diamond-cut glass variant catches light around the base of the spout. Product imagery: AXOR.

We’d normally let the tap carry most of the interest around the basin. Strongly figured surfaces, decorative mirrors and a row of bottles immediately behind it can make the whole area feel busy. The glass doesn’t need an empty bathroom, but it does need enough visual space to be noticed.

Chrome or Polished Gold Optic

The 140 basin mixer is available in Chrome as model 12112000 and Polished Gold Optic as model 12112990. The finish applies to the metal elements. It doesn’t turn the glass gold. AXOR lists the Chrome model here, with the Polished Gold Optic version listed separately.

Chrome is the easier choice in a cooler scheme or where the room already uses silvery metal. It also keeps more attention on the clear glass and the water inside it.

Swipe to compare the photographs.

AXOR Starck V 140 glass basin mixer with Chrome base — Starck V 140 in Chrome, product 12112000. Product imagery: AXOR.

AXOR Starck V 140 glass basin mixer with Polished Gold Optic base — Starck V 140 in Polished Gold Optic, product 12112990. Product imagery: AXOR.

We’d use Polished Gold Optic when the bathroom has warmer finishes and the tap needs more presence. It can work particularly well alongside warm-toned surfaces, but we wouldn’t add it to a room that already has several competing finishes. In that situation, Chrome will usually give the glass a cleaner setting.

Whichever you choose, repeat the metal finish elsewhere so the tap doesn’t feel disconnected from the room. That might be the shower controls, mirror details or another piece of brassware. It doesn’t mean every fitting has to match at the expense of choosing the right product.

Cleaning is part of the choice

A clear glass tap makes the water visible, but it also makes the glass itself more noticeable. If you don’t want another transparent surface to look after, we’d choose a plain metal tap instead. Starck V only makes sense if you’re happy for the glass to remain an important part of the basin area.

On the 140 mixer, the crystal-glass spout detaches with EasyClick. SafetyStop closes the flow when it is removed. AXOR says the spout is dishwasher-safe; that applies to the detachable glass, not the complete tap. Follow the model’s care instructions.

SafetyStop here concerns spout removal, not thermostatic temperature control.

Match the model to the basin

The single-lever Chrome 140, code 12112000 has a 141mm spout height, 125mm reach and maximum flow of 4 litres per minute at 3 bar. It uses LaminarSpray and needs at least 1.5 bar operating pressure, which your fitter should check before ordering.

The 140 has a handle positioned at the side of its base and AXOR states that it isn’t suitable for washbowls. If you’re using a vessel basin, look at the 220 variant, which is intended for washbowls, rather than trying to make the shorter model fit.

The basin still needs to be considered with the tap. Its size, tap ledge and waste position all affect whether the proportions make sense, so we’d choose the two together rather than treating the basin mixer as a separate purchase.

You can explore the wider AXOR collection at Bowmans or book an appointment to discuss a design and supply project or a supply-only order with the team in Braintree or Leigh-on-Sea.