The 24k Gold Rim on Herend Dinnerware

Look closely at almost any Herend dinner plate and you will see it: a fine line of gold tracing the scalloped edge. That gold rim is not a decal or a metallic paint. On Herend dinnerware it is 24k gold, applied by hand in the Herend manufactory in Hungary, where porcelain has been made since 1826. Here is how the gold edge is made, which patterns wear it best, and how to care for gold-trimmed porcelain so it stays bright for generations.

How Herend's 24k Gold Edge Is Made

Every Herend piece is shaped, glazed and painted by hand in the Herend atelier. Once the white porcelain has been fired and glazed, a painter follows the pattern's historic design with a brush – the flowers, birds, fishnet borders and, finally, the gold. The 24k gold is brushed on by hand along the rim and the accents, and the piece goes back into the kiln one last time. That final firing sets the painted colors and fixes the gold to the glaze, which is why the rim keeps its warm shine with gentle care.

Because each line is painted by hand, no two plates are exactly alike – the width of the gold edge and the placement of each motif vary slightly from piece to piece. That small variation is the mark of handwork, and it is a big part of why Herend dinnerware is collected and passed down. For more on how Herend porcelain is made, see our Herend porcelain guide; to compare porcelain with bone china, Limoges and faience, read our dinnerware materials guide.

The Pure Gold Rim: Golden Edge and Gwendolyn

If you love the gold rim on its own, start with patterns where the gold is the whole design. They pair with any other Herend pattern, so many collectors use them as the base of a mixed table.

Herend Golden Edge Dinner Plate

White Herend porcelain framed by fine hand-painted lines of 24k gold – the simplest way to bring Herend to the table. The Golden Edge collection continues with the service plate, rim soup and serving pieces.

Herend Gwendolyn Dinner Plate

A broad band of 24k gold around a pure white center. Pair it with the Gwendolyn tea cup, or see the whole Gwendolyn collection.

Gold Edges on Herend's Painted Patterns

On Herend's painted patterns, the gold rim finishes the design – it outlines a colored fishnet border, frames a bouquet or sets off a hand-painted bird. Each of these dinner plates is hand-painted and finished with 24k gold.

Herend Chinese Bouquet Green Dinner Plate

Herend's best-known pattern: a hand-painted Asian-inspired bouquet with a gold-edged rim. See the full Chinese Bouquet dinnerware in many colors.

Herend Princess Victoria Brown Dinner Plate

Princess Victoria keeps the center white and puts the color – and the gold – on the scalloped border. It comes in many colorways; browse Princess Victoria dinnerware.

Herend Queen Victoria (Pink) Dinner Plate

Butterflies and flowers in hand-painted color, with a pink border edged in gold. See all of Queen Victoria.

Herend Rothschild Bird Brown Border Dinner Plate

A hand-painted bird on a branch inside a fishnet border trimmed with gold. Rothschild Bird plates come in several motifs, so every place setting can be a little different – see the Rothschild Bird collection.

Herend Fruits and Flowers Dinner Plate

Hand-painted fruit and flower sprays on white, finished with a gold rim; it comes in several motifs. See Fruits & Flowers.

Herend Printemps Blue Border Dinner Plate

A spring bouquet framed by a blue fishnet border and gold accents. More in the Printemps collection.

Herend Kimberley Dinner Plate

Tiny scattered flowers and a fine gold rim – a light, airy pattern that is easy to mix. See Kimberley.

Herend Waldstein Dinner Plate

Blue painted flowers around a lattice center, edged in gold. See the Waldstein collection.

Browse all Herend dinnerware collections to compare patterns side by side.

How to Care for Gold-Trimmed Herend Porcelain

Gold is the most delicate part of a decorated plate, so it deserves a little extra care. These are the care points recommended for gold-trimmed porcelain:

• Hand wash. Hand washing is the recommended way to clean Herend, especially pieces with gold. Use warm water, a mild detergent and a soft sponge or cloth.
• Skip citrus and abrasives. Avoid lemon-scented or citrus-based detergents, scouring powders and the rough side of a sponge – they can wear the gold over time.
• Never microwave gold. Gold trim is metal, so keep gold-trimmed porcelain out of the microwave.
• Dry gently. Dry with a soft cloth after washing to keep the gold bright.
• Stack with care. When you store plates with gold or painted centers, place a soft cloth between them so the foot of one plate does not rub the decoration of the next.

Cared for this way, a gold-rimmed Herend service stays as bright as the day it was unpacked – and becomes the set your family brings out for every holiday. If you are building a set, our Herend porcelain guide explains the patterns and colors, and our Thanksgiving table ideas show how to set a holiday table.

Save your favorites: open any piece and tap the ♡ to add it to your Wishlist, then share it with family so they know which Herend pattern you collect.