Non-enameled Le Creuset?

[Mike F]

Hi all -- i recently picked up a le creuset piece that I think might be non-enameled, but I didn't know that they made non-enameled cookware. Is anyone able to shed further light on this for me? Pics are below. The base is clearly enameled but i'm not sure about the rest of it.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/139658.../shares/Z984W5

[W. Hilditch]

Le Creuset uses a base coating to prevent rust and it also acts as a primer for the enamel. Upon baking it becomes as hard or harder than the enamel and may have a clear coat. This coating on the iron can be seen on the upper edges of many Le Creuset pans, and the bottoms of some.

This might have been a QC rejection before it got to the color stage, but went on down the line?

Hilditch

[Mike F]

Yes I do see that coating on the edges of my other LC pieces. What seems strange to me is that they would enamel the base (glossy black) but nothing else. I would think that a QC issue would be identified before the final coat was applied to the base.

[Mike F]

Ok, just got off the phone wit Le Creuset customer service. Very nice and professional. Was able to e-mail pics of the piece for them to look at and was told that I have what is known as "matte black" (different than "satin black"), and that it has not been made for quite some time.

I was also told that this type of finish can be seasoned and will develop a patina over time.

[Doug D.]

I saw the matte finish products, and they didn't look like that. Of course, the bottoms weren't shown. On the ones I saw, it was apparent there was a colored coating on them, one that did not let the grind marks on the handles show like they do on yours. I also saw no black offered. The matte products were also supposed to have the light sand colored normal interiors. I think what you have there is the satin black. Your small handles and phenolic knob make it a "classic" vs. a "signature" model.

http://www.lecreuset.com/matte-collection

https://www.lecreuset.co.uk/signatur...-satin-black-1