Have also had my set for less than a year yet they look as if I have owned them for several? Within the first few months of OCCASIONAL use the handles were extremely faded so have stopped putting them in the dishwasher and now only wash by hand. Why state that they are 'dishwasher safe' if they fade so quickly? I am extremely disappointed as like many others have said, they are not cheap but look awful against my provence tea cups and bowls. Very disappointed and only wish this would be something the manufacturors improve upon as I would definitely consider a new set in the future if I knew they would last.