I bought two sets in blue.  I knew the bowls were going to be white on the outside, but it’s much more plain and boring in person. Would have looked so much better if the blue was on the outside as well, even just a solid blue to match the swirl.  The blue is very pretty though. They look hand painted in the fact that some of the bowls are different shades of blue, some darker than others. I’ve noticed in a lot of reviews, that many people have had issues with plates being cracked or broken. All of my dishes are in tack other than two of the plates have a tiny spot from a bubble in the paint, causing chips on the plates. Overall, nice plates for the price.