Very time consuming indeed, this method. The glass has to be heated, pushed into shape in a mold and pierced, then the bits sticking out of the mold have to be removed. After that, they are roughly polished, then facetted against a wheel, and then polished again.

Currently, they use the same method, but the pressing itself is not done with the pliers anymore. They have machines who can do this quicker, and can be operated by one man.