The GRAV Empress Water Pipe is the brand's most recognizable flagship piece — a tall, clear borosilicate water pipe for flower consumers who want a statement piece with Helix cooling. It's built around the patented Helix perc, which sends smoke into a spiral before it hits the water. The result is noticeably cooler, smoother hits than a standard tube, and a visual effect that makes the function part of the aesthetic. It sells for $199.99 and is in stock at grav.com.
The Empress is designed and manufactured to GRAV's quality standards — 100% American-designed borosilicate glass with tight tolerances and equal attention to form and function. The signature Helix bowl creates a gyroscopic airflow effect through three angled air inlets, turning the smoke path into a visible spiral and cooling it before it reaches the water. The flared mouthpiece keeps your lips off the glass tube while giving you a comfortable draw angle. The downstem is included, so it's setup-ready out of the box, and the whole piece is covered by GRAV's warranty.
Visually it's clean, tall, and confident: clear borosilicate from base to flare with the Helix bowl as the only functional decoration. It's the kind of piece that doesn't demand attention on a shelf but earns it in use, since the spiral vapor path is visible through the clear tube — a functional-art quality most bongs at this price miss. The base is stable and appropriately weighted.
The Helix technology is GRAV's proprietary feature and the Empress shows it at its fullest. The spiral airflow isn't only visual; it genuinely slows the smoke and creates more contact surface with the water before you inhale. GRAV has been building that reputation since 2004, and the Empress is the piece they use to demonstrate what the brand can do.
At $199.99, the Empress earns its premium through quality glass and real engineering, and the Helix perc is useful rather than decorative. GRAV's quality control is tight — this isn't Austin-designed in name only. The one consideration: it's a dedicated flower piece, since the Helix bowl doesn't support concentrate attachments. If you want dual-use, look at the GRAV Gravitron or a different base piece.
GRAV was founded in Austin, Texas in 2004 by Dave Daily, and has always designed and sold borosilicate glass with a focus on function and approachability. It's one of the few glass brands that has held strong quality standards at a mid-premium price for two decades, and the Helix patent is its most recognizable proprietary technology. At this tier, the combination of Helix technology, borosilicate quality, and the warranty makes it strong value — it sits at the entry point for premium American-designed glass.
It's for flower smokers who want a quality statement piece at a reasonable price, and for anyone who's used a basic bong and wants a noticeable functional upgrade without spending $400 or more. Before you buy: the Helix bowl is flower-only with no concentrate adapter included; clear glass shows residue quickly, so plan to clean regularly to keep the visual experience; the tall profile needs shelf space; and it's quality glass, but it's still glass — handle accordingly.
For adults 21+ only. For legal use where permitted.