A glass precursor gel and a method of making a glass product from the glass precursor gel are disclosed. The glass precursor gel includes a bulk amorphous oxide-based matrix that is homogeneously chemically mixed and includes 30 mol % to 90 wt. % silica and at least one of the following: (A) 0.1 mol % to 25 mol % of one or more alkali oxides in sum total, (B) 0.1 mol % to 25 mol % of one or more alkaline earth oxides in sum total, (C) 1 mol % to 20 mol % boric oxide, (D) 5 mol % to 80 mol % lead oxide, or (E) 0.1 mol % to 10 mol % aluminum oxide. A method of making a glass product from the glass precursor gel involves obtaining the glass precursor gel, melting the glass precursor gel into molten glass, and forming the molten glass into a glass product.