Handling & Care

When you choose Bernardaud, you choose superior quality. Our porcelain is practical and ideal for everyday use, because it is dishwasher-safe, oven-safe and microwave-safe - unless it is decorated with a precious metal.

All Bernardaud porcelain pieces – dinnerware sets, jewelry, candleholders, lamps, vases and other decorative objects – are very easy to clean using the soft side of a scrub sponge, warm water and regular dishwashing liquids. However, make sure never to use the abrasive side of the sponge.

Porcelain: Hand-wash or dishwasher?

You may hand-wash your dinnerware using the soft side of a scrub sponge and regular dishwashing liquid. However, never use the abrasive side of the sponge, which might scratch or damage the surface of the decoration, especially gold or platinum.

Our dinnerware is also dishwasher-safe. Make sure to select a low-temperature program and do not exceed the recommended amount of detergent. If you are not going to wash your dishes right away (either by hand or in the dishwasher), we advise you to rinse them off with hot water. Load all of the pieces securely in the dishwasher so they can't be dislodged by water action, touch other items and get chipped.

Porcelain and the microwave

All of our dinnerware patterns are microwave-safe except those decorated with precious metals (gold, silver or platinum). When Bernardaud uses a precious metal for decoration, the percentage of metal is high, so these dinnerware sets should never be put in a microwave.

Porcelain and the conventional oven

Our porcelain pieces (fired at 1400°C) can easily withstand the maximum temperature of a conventional oven (300°C). You can warm your dinner plates in the oven and use Bernardaud serveware for all cooking and baking purposes. However, our products should not be subjected to pronounced temperature differences. For instance, never take a serving dish out of the refrigerator and put it directly into a hot even (or vice-versa). This will make your porcelain dish – or any dish made of a ceramic material – crack.

Special care for gold or platinum decorated dinnerware

If you choose to hand-wash your porcelain service, make sure to use a soft sponge and regular dishwashing liquid. Be careful not to use the abrasive side of the sponge, which can scratch or damage the surface of the decorations, especially gold and platinum. However, we recommend that you use a dishwasher, taking care to choose a low-temperature program and not to exceed the recommended amount of detergent. Whichever washing method you choose, we recommend that you wipe off your porcelain service afterwards with a soft cloth to preserve the shine of your decoration.

If your gold or platinum decorated service is not used regularly or if it is stored in a damp room, the gold or platinum may tarnish. The metal may also develop a patina from being rubbed by cutlery. In this case, simply polish it with a soft cloth and a few drops of a solution used for silverware maintenance. Afterwards, there is nothing better than frequent use to keep it looking its best!

Finally, if your service is decorated in the center, we recommend that you place a piece of soft cloth between each plate when you store them in order to protect the decoration.

An ultra-tough ceramic material

Porcelain owes its hardness to its ingredients (kaolin, feldspar and quartz) and to its firing temperature, higher than that of other ceramics (earthenware, glass ceramics, stoneware and bone china). Porcelain fuses at extremely high temperatures, which leaves it hard and impermeable. Appreciated for its fineness, whiteness and delicacy, porcelain is often thought to be fragile, but is actually one of the toughest ceramic materials available.

Even so, you should handle your porcelain with care, avoiding impacts and temperature variations. If an accident occurs, don't worry! Most Bernardaud dinnerware patterns are continued for years. If need be, you can purchase an individual piece to complete your set.