The person I dealt with was pleasant and helpful and the replacement plate arrived quickly…

The replacement plate is not absolutely identical. The pattern numbers and stamps are different, the gold lines are paler and narrower than the original and the central depression area is wider. This is no doubt due to the fact that my set is now quite elderly and even classic designs change over time. Also mine was made in the Phillipines and the replacement in Sri Lanka. However unless one looked very closely indeed they look like a match and I am quite happy. There may have been other design changes, perhaps in the style of soup plates/bowls for example, so it may be useful for Chinasearch to be aware of this.