Not real pewter but I have a set of Wilton Armetale pewter/metal dishes. Used them for years UNTIL I got a DW. They immediately started to turn dark. I cleaned them up and use them for display now.

Thanks, but I am wondering about the flatware specifically. Armetale is an aluminum alloy, IIRC. I know several posters here put silver in the dishwasher, although I do not. The pewter ad says to hand wash, but I am wondering about actual experience. Anyone?

Bump -- I'm interested in the answer to this question as well. I've long lusted after a set of similar sounding flatware.

I think you got your answer--if your flaware is an aluminum product, aluminum is not really good with dishwasher soap. Hand wash it.

I use dishwasher with silver and silverplate flatware but try to stop the machine before it runs the heat cycle for drying. Handles of knives are the issue, since there is a glue spot connecting stainless steel blades to handles. Don't let food sit on silver very long--better to hand-wash right away than wait two days for a full load.

Whether using dishwasher or handwashing, It's important to look over the pieces with each use, though, because you don't want residual soap to remain on them--it pits. I suspect same with "pewter."

Glad to find other posters who appreciate the classics! Do you use silver and/or pewter daily?

" The tines are stainless, but the handles pewter. "

Composite flatware rarely does well in the high heat of a dishwasher.

Over the lone term the repeated differential expansion and contraction tends to open joints between the different materials.
The DW detergent then can penetrate and weaken any materiel used to joint the pieces, and also simply cause corrosion.

I use sterling most of the time and never use it in the dishwasher. However, a number of posters here have discussed this in the past and they do use their DWs for sterling, some even place their knives in their DWs, tempting the fates with that issue of composite flatware. That's why I asked the question about pewter. I'm feeling like going a bit less formal for a change, but I'm not a big fan of any of the stainless steel flatware that I've seen. Actually, I don't care for the feel of it in my hand. I have had a set of stainless since we married that felt heavy; however, it is now missing some pieces, and the company has been bought by another, offshore, and, though the same name is used for the pattern, the pattern is now very chintzy and rough; and the replacement pieces do not match the originals. So, I've given up on the stainless idea. Still, I need a set of something informal.

Not sure if you'll even see this as it's been so long BUT I found this thread while googling your exact question! I too am debating buying pewter flatware but keep hesitating because I don't want to hand wash everyday flatware. Did you ever buy it? If so would you mind sharing what you did or what the result was? Thanks!