A gold-rim cup and saucer set is the most common gift in this catalogue and the easiest to spoil in the first month.

Never in the microwave

Metallic trim is real metal. In a microwave it sparks, damages the trim and can damage the appliance. This applies to every cup on this site described as having a gold or metallic rim.

Dishwashers wear the trim

Hot cycles and alkaline detergent dull metallic trim over time — usually visible after a few dozen washes as a patchy, matte edge. Hand washing in warm water with a mild detergent keeps the finish.

Stacking

Stack saucers, not cups. Cup rims resting inside another cup are what chip a set, and a chipped rim on porcelain cannot be repaired invisibly.

Tea and coffee staining

Fine porcelain stains a little with regular use. A paste of bicarbonate of soda and water, left for ten minutes and rinsed, lifts most of it without abrasive scrubbing.

Buying to replace

Production batches vary slightly in glaze and gold tone. If a matched set matters, buy the whole set in one order rather than adding a cup later.