Doulton Fair

Doulton Fair

Cutlery Buying Guide

We possibly don’t pay enough attention when buying cutlery, simply because it is such an everyday item of use. But we expect them to last forever, mostly getting disappointed when they neither do nor suit our lifestyles or the rest of the tableware. It is a good idea to invest not just money but enough time while choosing cutlery; focus on the designs, material and prices.

Take a look at this cutlery buying guide, which lists tips that will be of great help when you buy cutlery.

The Designs

The design of the cutlery you wish to purchase would depend a great deal on your lifestyle. Primarily, the cutlery should complement rest of your dinning ware as well as suit your way of life. Contemporary designs are particularly popular these days, where the cuts are sleek and functional, and the look is not likely to go out of vogue. Oneida, Viners and Wedgwood have an impressive collection of modern flatware that is designed for every eating occasion and also traditional designs which have been passed down, such as Parish, Bead and Rattail.

For people who appreciate the regal dining experience, there is antique cutlery. Though most people believe that antique does not exactly belong to the routine use category, there is no harm in indulgence if you can afford to spend quality time looking after them. Most people prefer keeping the antique aside for special occasions, bringing them out every time there is a social gathering.

Rummage through Judge Cutlery’s traditional parish designs and Stellar have an array of products, including those with replica bone handles, or checkout antique fairs for old canteen, if you desire to own antique pieces.

If you wish to mix & match antique with contemporary, it is all right, as long as you can carry off the eclectic fusion without appearing tasteless.

The Materials

Cutlery is available in three main options: Stainless steel, Sterling silver and Silver plate.

Stainless steel is the most affordable of the lot and is considerably easy to maintain. It does not rust or tarnish, and will last you for years. Stainless steel is available in three varieties- 18/10, 18/8 and 18/0, which signifies the ratio of chromium to nickel, and the first two are more durable and attractive flatware, while the third is cheaper. Stainless steel cutlery is dishwasher-friendly and a much more economical option compared to other materials. No wonder it is so popular!

Stellar has a wonderful range of stainless steel cutlery gift boxes that are wonderfully chiselled and polished, and made of the finest 18/10 stainless steel. Also look into BSF, Sant’ Andrea, and Royal Doulton Cutlery.

Authentic sterling silver cutlery consists of at least 92.5% pure silver. The rest is made up with copper, which is added for extra strength. Astonishingly good looking, durable and heavy, sterling silver cutlery comes with an identification stamp and is usually handed down from one generation to the next. While it doesn’t stain or corrode, it is prone to tarnishing and requires regular polishing, which should be dealt with using silver polish and soft cloth. Sterling silver cannot be cleaned in a dishwasher and needs to be hand washed and dried immediately. Finally, each piece should be stored in separate compartments.

If it is sterling silver cutlery you are looking for, have a look at the Arthur Price classic collection. They have understated, elegant, time honoured styles.

Silver-plated cutlery is nickel silver that is electroplated with silver. The thicker the silver coating, the better will be the quality of the cutlery. The ideal thickness is 10 - 40 microns. They will last you a lifetime, provided you polish them just like sterling silver. The silver-plating will, however, wear off with time, and the sheen will fade away. Although, silver-plated cutlery looks as grand as sterling silver, it costs much lesser and is a lovely substitute to the latter.

The Prices

The stainless steel price range starts at around £25 for a 24 piece canteen and can go up to £165 or more for a for a 44-piece set and greater still for the larger canteens. The same will normally cost over £220 in silver plated, and at least £2200 in sterling silver, depending on the price of silver in international markets.

The Quantity

So, how do you decide how much to buy? Usually twelve settings is the perfect choice, but it is advisable to go for numbers matching your dining ware sets. Generally, flatware sets include place knife, place fork, place spoon (tablespoon,) salad fork, and soup spoon (teaspoon). Sometimes, a second fork or a second spoon is also included. Get yourself at least one hostess set that comprises of a large serving spoon and fork. You can eventually add other pieces like butter spreaders, salad serving sets (spoon and fork), cake servers, sugar spoons, meat forks and gravy ladles.

As a guide the following may come in useful 24 piece sets tend to come with 6 Table Knives, 6 Table Forks, 6 Dessert Spoons and 6 Teaspoons

44 piece sets tend to come with 6 Table Knives, 6 Table Forks, 6 Soup Spoons, 6 Teaspoons, 6 Dessert Knives, 6 Dessert Spoons and 2 Serving Spoons

58 piece sets tend to come with 8 Table Knives, 8 Table Forks, 8 Soup Spoons, 8 Teaspoons, 8 Dessert Knives, 8 Dessert Spoons and 2 Serving Spoons

If you entertain guests often, you will need a more elaborate set. If you are a smaller family, single or live quiet lives, it is fine if you have ordinary, hassle-free cutlery that can be used on a daily basis. Remember that ultimately, it is about buying what you really need. Manufacturer

About the Author

Blue Shoots love our cooking at Blue Shoots Ltd and understand that to be a successful cook it helps to have the right cookware and kitchen accessories . As a specialist cookware shops it is our aim to bring you a wide selection of quality kitchen appliances and kitchen gadgets at online, affordable prices.

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