FAQ

Sterling silver and silver-plated metal should be washed by hand with a soft sponge and soapy water. After washing, they must be carefully dried with a clean, dry cloth.

To maintain components made of precious wood – handles, etc. – simply wipe the surface with a damp cloth. Nonetheless, you should periodically apply a suitable wax to preserve the beauty of the various types of wood.

Decorative items should be dusted with a soft rag.

Finally, for daily upkeep of your silver items, Puiforcat offers easy-to-use products that guarantee a perfect shine, including some silver dusters. 

All Puiforcat cutlery may be machine washed.

However, we recommend taking certain precautions and choosing the right cleaning products:

• Powder detergent is preferable to chlorinated liquids, which should be used sparingly.
• Prior to each washing, be sure to separate sterling silver or silver-plated cutlery from steel items.
• For an optimal flow of water, knives should be placed in the silverware basket with the blades facing downward.
• Remove the cutlery at the end of the cycle, or at the very least leave the dishwasher door cracked to avoid condensation spots on the blades.
• To prevent scratches on the knives, ensure that they do not knock together. Nevertheless, it is natural for the finish to evolve with continued use and washing. 

The Couteaux d'Orfèvre collection requires particular techniques for upkeep. Hand washing is recommended to preserve the beauty of the exotic wood on the handle.
 Once rinsed, dry the knives with a soft cloth. The steel blades feature Evercut© technology, and thus never require sharpening.

The Cercle d'Orfèvre service, features decors embellished with exceptional materials. As such they require particularly care. They must be washed exclusively by hand, using warm water and a soft sponge. No strong detergent should be used.

The black and red decor of the Initiales service is made to withstand machine washing. Nonetheless, we recommend using non-chlorinated detergents.

Finally, to ensure a long life for your tableware, we recommend placing soft paper dividers between your plates during storage. These dividers, provided upon purchase, ensure that plates do not knock together.

Puiforcat proposes two easy-to-use solutions for regular upkeep:

• A new renovating lotion, formulated for silver but also for vermeil and gold. In a single application, Puiforcat lotion eliminates the layer of oxidation that appears on the surface and provides long-lasting protection thanks to the antioxidants it contains. The decorations and chiseling are preserved thanks to the extreme finesse of its polishing agents.

• A pack of two brown lotion-doused cotton dusters to eliminate oxidation on the surface of sterling silver or silver-plated pieces. This is the perfect product for regular care. To restore tarnished pieces to their original shine, simply buff them with a white chamois cloth.

As well, in some drugstore you can find some long-lasting lotion to clean, polish and lastingly protect your items. The formula is perfectly suited to regular cleaning of cutlery

Silver is a precious and malleable metal. With time, the mirror finish on your silver pieces will become faded or potentially tarnished due to prolonged contact with the air. Even so, regular upkeep helps maintain the original shine. Fore a more long-lasting cure, craftsmen in the Puiforcat workshop will buff sterling silver pieces.
A quote will be issued upon request.

Likewise, should one of your Puiforcat pieces sustain damage, our repair department will examine the feasibility of restoring the item and issue a quote.

The quality of Puiforcat pieces is guaranteed by the various hallmarks each creation bears. Each and every object exhibits the hallmark of the House of Puiforcat, a pocket knife flanked with the initials E and P - for Émile Puiforcat, the master silversmith who founded the Puiforcat cutlery shop - within a diamond or oval shape. Sterling silver pieces feature a second and legally mandatory hallmark representing the head of goddess Minerva, certified by government decree, which attests to the purity of the metal.

Finally, the blades of the Couteaux d'Orfèvre collection, developed using Evercut© technology, are guaranteed for life. A unique reference number is etched into each blade.

The House of Puiforcat offers prestige pieces that fall under a specific regime. Reproductions of classical masterpieces from Louis-Victor Puiforcat's collection of antique silverwork, the original creations of Jean Puiforcat and contemporary pieces produced in collaboration with modern designers come with a certificate of origin to guarantee their authenticity. Moreover, each piece features a unique reference number that lets our workshop identify the date of production and the names of the craftsmen who manufactured it.

Our Customer Service Department is at your disposal to answer all your questions concerning your Puiforcat pieces. Simply contact us by email or by phone at +33 (0)1 45 63 10 10)

The House of Puiforcat sells only new products manufactured by hand in our workshop and by our partners. As such, we are not in a position to appraise antique pieces. To obtain the information you require, or request an appraisal, we recommend contacting an auction house or an expert in antique silverwork.

Puiforcat collections are available in our Paris store and from our various partners throughout the world.
To find the store closest to you, please visit the “Locations” page of our website, puiforcat.com.
For additional information or other assistance, our Customer Service Department is at your disposal at +33 1 45 63 10 10.
Some Puiforcat pieces are also offered for sale online on our partner sites store.wallpaper.com and artedona.com

The prices of our various collections are available on simple request via the “contact” page of our website. You can also contact our Customer Service Department: our customer service representatives would be pleased to advise you by email or by phone at +33 (0)1 45 63 10 10.

For returns or exchanges, please contact the store where the piece was purchased. Be sure to have the bill of sale or gift receipt. Policies for returns or exchanges may vary according to the place of purchase.

Most Puiforcat collections are available for customization upon request: the craftsmen in our workshop will be pleased to satisfy your quest for the exceptional.

Engrave the name of a loved one--or your own--on a napkin ring, etch a date into an eggcup or beaker, or even embellish the handle of flatware with initials or a coat of arms: engravers in our workshop use a burin to create these and other finishings, incising the metal as delicately as possible. To stylize the message down to the smallest details, the Maison offers three typographies: English letters, block letters or, for even greater sophistication, the Art Deco-inspired font designed by Jean Puiforcat in the 1930s. The final creation is unique and fully expresses the affection you feel for the recipient.

All requests for engraving are subject to a price quote. Please allow two to three weeks for the creation of your customized piece.

Some of our creations can be dipped in 24-carat gold, taking on an unparalleled glow reminiscent of traditional vermeil gilding for artistic silverwork. These exceptional customization services are offered on the basis of a price quote. Please contact our Customer Service Department for more information.

Thanks to its exceptional savoir-faire, the House of Puiforcat offers bespoke creations. True to our stylistic identity and to the traditions of artistic silversmithing, our designers and craftsmen apply their skill and passion to meet our clients' most singular and personal requests, from designing to fashioning and finishing each unique object. Offered based on a pre-established quote, this service testifies to the unparalleled mastery that distinguishes the Puiforcat workshop. For more information, please contact our Paris store or our Customer Service Department.