Chantal Copper Plated 1-4/5-Quart Classic Teakettle

I owned the white version of this kettle for a good 10 years when things started flaking off the inside. It was probably just build-up that I could have boiled away with water and vinegar, but I didn't investigate too closely because I'd been eying this copper beauty. After less than two years, it looks more like an old crone. You have to polish it for it to look decent, but, since it's copper plate, polishing seems to be taking off the copper. I can now see silver underneath..

As for function, it heats up quickly, the whistle works, and it's a great size. However, as several reviewers have pointed out, the handle is too hot to touch without an oven mitt after you've boiled water. And I want a bit more than function. I use a kettle several times a day, and it never leaves my stovetop except to be cleaned. So I also want something that looks nice. This ain't it.

I like these kettles, despite the too-high price, which may keep me from buying another.

This teakettle is the most "high maintenance" item I have in my kitchen. At this price, I expected a much better protective coating on the copper. I realize that copper does need to be tended to, but this kettle looks terrible all the time. I have been very careful to wipe it dry whenever I use it, but one drop that I missed left a black spot that still is noticeable, no matter how much I polish. And the first time I used the recommended polish to give it an allover clean up, the color changed dramatically -- it doesn't even look like the same kettle. And now, it needs to be completely polished EVERY DAY. Do not buy this copper kettle! Before I had to replace it, I had the black version, and it lasted me 10 years. Chantal's customers deserve better than this. This one is definitely not worth the money.

5 stars for beauty but 2 stars for functionality:

This tea kettle is expensive and totally gorgeous. I have a high-end, 48" stainless steel range and I can't imagine any kettle looking more beautiful on it. However, this kettle is severely limited in functionality.

1) The "Harmonic Whistle" sounds like a train that is nagging at you when it does work, but that is only half the time. As I write this the kettle is boiling but it isn't whistling.

2) The handle can NOT be touched after you have boiled water. Think about this for a minute - they designed a tea pot of all things with a handle that will BURN you. There are high tech metals that can be used, there is silicon that can be used, there is this super high-tech material called "wood" that can also be used to prevent the handle from burning your hand. Instead, in this case you need to remember to use a dish towel or an oven mitt or else say hello to a second degree burned.