The businesses currently operating in Colle Val d'Elsa were established at that time: Cristallerie Arnolfo di Cambio and Vilca in 1963, Calp in 1967, from the merger of two existing businesses (CALB and Cristalleria LA PIANA), and Kristal Krisla (later to become Colle Cristallerie) in 1968.
Of course the creation of lead crystal alone could not possibly explain the importance of products produced in Colle Val d'Elsa on the Italian and international markets.

Some businesses made the vitally important decision to concentrate on automation and research into new technologies, while others preferred to concentrate on other development factors, such as co-operation with famous international designers.
In 1963, after extensive investment and much experimentation, the La Piana Glassworks in Colle Val d'Elsa, succeeded in producing glass containing lead crystal in percentages higher than 24%: in terms of clarity, the product was able to compete with that from England, France and Belgium, where the traditional production of lead crystal dated back centuries.

With the production of lead crystal, the crystal trade in Colle Val d'Elsa took an immediate leap forwards: only those firms that converted to the production of lead crystal or opened to produce it were guaranteed a successful future; the others were destined to close.
Six years later - in 1969 - the whole European Community dictated Community regulations for the classification of glass
These regulations forbade the use of the name crystal for any glass containing less than 24% lead oxide and failing to guarantee light refraction of 1.545.