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Customer Service > Product Use & Care

Product Use & Care

Learn more about using and caring for your products. Use the links below to review the categories that you require.

Tableware

Prior to First Use: Remove all labels and soak in hot soapy water. Rinse well and dry thoroughly with a soft cloth.

Tableware Durability: Our bone and fine china products are very durable and when properly cared for, will last for many years. It is safe to warm your fine bone china and fine china plates and serving dishes in the warming compartment of your oven up to 65°C (150°F). Never place china in contact with a direct flame or subject it to extreme temperature change. Pieces with a gold or platinum band or detail are not microwave safe. Fine bone china should not be used for cooking purposes. Fine china is suitable for use in the freezer.

Washing by Hand: When washing by hand, avoid using scouring pads and/or abrasive detergents. Most stains can be removed by soaking the item in warm water before washing. Teapot and coffee pot stains can be removed witha well branded cleaning solution such as Barkeepers Friend, and toothpaste will remove "pencil marks" caused by minute mineral deposits from cutlery.

Washing Your Tableware in a Dishwasher: It is perfectly safe to wash your tableware in an automatic dishwasher – as long as you adhere to the following guidelines. Load the washer so that pieces do not touch each other, to avoid the risk of scratching. Do not overload. Wash at 65°C (150°F) maximum - the "short wash" or "china and crystal" cycle is sufficient for normal cleaning. As soon as the wash water has drained away, there should be an immediate rinse cycle to flush away deposits of detergent, which will form a film if allowed to dry on the ware.

View our list of approved dishwasher detergents in various countries.

Hard Water: In hard water areas, deposits may form on your tableware over a period if the water is allowed to dry on the ware. These soluble deposits can easily be removed with a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water.

Storing Tableware: Avoid storing plates directly on top of each other, as this may scratch the surface. Store with plate dividers or napkins separating each plate. A china storage protector would be the optimum choice. Do not slide plates out from the bottom of the stack; always lift them from the top.

Enjoy Every Day: Our tableware is made for everyday use. All new patterns are put through an exhaustive series of tests to ensure that colours are as hard wearing as possible. Quality checks are constantly carried out to monitor the ability of the ware to resist the rigors of day-to-day use.

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Bakeware

Prior to First Use: Remove all labels and soak in hot soapy water. Rinse well and dry thoroughly with a soft cloth.

Use & Durability: Ovenproof up to 250°C (482°F), microwave, refrigerator, freezer and dishwasher safe. When browning under a grill, allow for at least a 5cm (2 inch) gap from the dish to the heat source. Do not heat an empty vessel in a microwave oven, it may become too hot to handle, crack or break. Never place ware in contact with a naked flame or direct heat. Do not place directly on a hot plate. Do not subject ware to extreme temperature change. Always use oven gloves when handling hot pans... do not handle hot items with a wet or cold cloth.

Washing in the Dishwasher: All bakeware is dishwasher safe. Use caution when loading and allow space between items to ensure pieces do not chip or crack.

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Crystal

Prior to First Use: Remove all labels and soak in hot soapy water. Rinse well and dry thoroughly with a soft cloth.

Fine crystal and glassware require the gentlest of care to maintain their brilliance and integrity for years to come.

Washing by Hand: When washing by hand, avoid using scouring pads and/or abrasive detergents. To prevent spotting, combine quarter cup ammonia with a mild lemon detergent. Rinse in clean water and air dry on a rack. Clean vases and decanters by filling them half-full with moderately hot water, a small amount of mild detergent, two tablespoons of white vinegar or ammonia and 1/2 cup uncooked rice. Swirl the rice around for a few minutes to remove residue. Rinse well with moderately hot water and air dry, upside down, on a rack. *Always hand-wash painted glassware.

Residue & Stain Removal: Clean vases and decanters by filling them half-full with moderately hot water, a small amount of mild detergent, two tablespoons of white vinegar or ammonia and 1/2 cup uncooked rice. Swirl the rice around for a few minutes to remove residue. Rinse well with moderately hot water and air dry, upside down, on a rack. Remove more stubborn stains by filling the container with warm water and dropping in a denture-cleaning tablet; let it sit until the stain disappears.

Washing Crystal in the Dishwasher: We do not recommend washing fine crystal or glassware in an automatic dishwasher as overtime crystal may lose brilliance. However, if crystal and glassware must be machine washed, please exercise these precautions.

  • Do not machine wash metal-accented crystal.
  • Use your dishwasher's "fine crystal and china" setting. For dishwashers without this setting, use the "air-dry only" cycle. After the cycle is complete, open the door to air dry.
  • Use only half the recommended amount of cleanser, as even the mildest brands of automatic dishwashing detergent are abrasive.
  • Ideally, lower the top dishwasher rack to accommodate the height of your crystal.
  • Space your crystal stemware on the rack so the pieces do not touch one another, since vibration during the washing and rinsing cycles can chip or crack the crystal.

Use & Durability: Remember that fine crystal and glassware can crack or break when subjected to extremes of hot and cold. Before putting very warm food or liquid into a crystal container, we recommend you preheat the crystal with moderately hot tap water. Do not pour cold beverages into a pitcher or bowl that's just been washed with hot water. Likewise, do not wash a crystal piece that's just come out of the refrigerator; allow it to warm to room temperature first.

Storage: Always store your stemware upright to help prevent chipping.

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Figurines & Sculptures

Use & Durability: As a general rule, confident handling of figurines and sculptural items, combined with a reasonable amount of care in cleaning should be all that is necessary to safeguard your collection. Generally, do not expose figurines and sculptural items to extreme temperatures, high levels of moisture or rapid temperature changes.

Washing by Hand: Great care needs to be taken when cleaning figurines and sculptural items as these products often contain intricate and delicate details. Figurines and sculptural items may be washed by hand, using warm water and a mild liquid detergent applied with a soft, damp cloth. On items with intricate details and small-sculpted parts such as hand-sculpted flowers, it is best to use a small, soft make-up brush instead of a cloth. Do not use abrasive materials or powders for cleaning. Do not submerge the product or get water inside the hole(s) in the base. Dry the larger, open areas with a soft cloth. Allow intricate or delicate details to air dry. Be sure the item is completely dry before returning to display area.

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Cutlery

Washing in the Dishwasher: Our Fine Stainless and Sterling Silver Cutlery is dishwasher safe, though we recommend hand washing for sterling. We recommend using a gentle dishwasher detergent (avoid using lemon-scented products). If possible, set your dishwasher on the fine china setting to insure gentle cleansing. Wash stainless separately from sterling, aluminum or silver-plate items, as pitting can occur. Place spoons and forks into baskets with handle facing downward. Knives should be inserted with the blade facing down. Remove cutlery prior to the drying cycles. This decreases the amount of time the cutlery spends in a hot, moist atmosphere, and permits the cutlery to dry in cool, drier air.

Removing Stains or Spots: Water shedding or drying additives can be used to minimize water spots. If water spots or stains occur, we recommend using a well branded stainless steel polish. Rubbing alcohol or salad oil can be used to remove stubborn water spots. Shine cutlery using a sponge doused in white vinegar. While stainless steel is designed to resist most common stains, corrosion and/or discolouration may be caused due to prolonged contact with chloride rich foods, such as salt, mayonnaise, mustard and eggs.

Washing by Hand: We recommend hand washing gold-accented stainless steel cutlery. Do not use abrasive cleaners that can scratch and dull metal surface. Hand drying is also advised. Rinse and dry thoroughly with a soft towel while cutlery is still warm. The hand-buffing action helps maintain a lustrous finish and discourages film buildup. Do not rinse and stack.

Storage: To store sterling silver cutlery, keep in a container that is lined with an anti-tarnish material.

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Giftware - Metals

Washing in the Dishwasher: We do not recommend washing any metal giftware in the dishwasher.

Washing by Hand: For all metals giftware, including sterling silver, silver-plated, nickel-plated and alternative metals, we recommend hand washing. Giftware should be hand washed with a mild detergent. Do not use lemon-scented detergents. Do not use abrasive cleaners that can scratch and dull metal surface. Be diligent in rinsing items as soon as possible that may have come in contact with some foods such as eggs, mayonnaise, vinegar, lemon juice, etc. Do not let it soak for long periods of time in water. After using sterling giftware, rinse as soon as possible. Use a soft cloth to dry each piece thoroughly. Make sure each piece is completely dry before storing.

Storage: To store silver-plated giftware, keep in a container that is lined with an anti-tarnish material. Do not wrap in rubber bands, plastic, newspaper, or any high sulfur material.

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Cookware Pans

Prior to First Use: Remove all labels and soak in hot soapy water. Rinse well and dry thoroughly with a soft cloth.

Use & Durability: Match the size of the pan base to the size of the heating area. Low to medium heat setting is recommended for optimal cooking performance. Try to avoid excessive heat, as it can cause discolouration. Do not allow your cookware to boil dry. Cookware is oven safe up to 260°C (500°F). Always use caution when handling hot cookware... oven gloves are recommended. Stainless steel or copper cookware is not suited for use in a microwave or induction stoves.

Washing in the Dishwasher: Only the stainless steel range is dishwasher safe.

Washing by Hand: Hand-washing is recommended with all fine cookware. Always allow your cookware to cool before placing it in water. Pouring cold water into a hot pan can cause it to warp. Use only plastic coated or wooden utensils with non-stick interior frying pans. Clean and dry your cookware thoroughly, paying special attention to the rims and handle rivets. Avoid chlorine cleansers and bleach. Avoid steel wool or sharp objects that can scratch surfaces.

Storage: Storing cookware in the individual polishing bags provided will help protect your cookware's appearance.

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Wooden Accessories

Use & Durability: Wooden products are not suitable for microwave or oven use. Periodically apply a light coat of vegetable oil.

Washing by Hand: Hand wash in warm soapy water, rinse and dry immediately with a soft clean cloth. Do not soak. Not suitable for use in the dishwasher.

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Lighting

Chandeliers: Make sure the chandelier power is off. Cover any upward-pointing bulbs with sandwich bags and secure the bags with rubber bands. Place a drop cloth below the chandelier. Mix a solution of one part isopropyl alcohol or ammonia in three parts distilled water. Or, if you don't want to mix your own cleaner, buy a special chandelier cleaner from a lighting retailer. Put some solution in a spray bottle. Spray every part of the fixture with the cleanser, avoiding wires and other electrical components. Allow the crystals to drip-dry. If your chandelier is too dirty for this drip-cleaning method, you'll have to hand-wash each individual crystal with the cleaning solution. Remove the plastic bags from the lights once the crystals have dried, and wipe down light wells and other non-crystal parts with a soft cloth dipped in the cleanser. Allow the entire fixture to dry overnight before turning its power back on.

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