By Carl Formby

Cutlery is the most essential part of tableware. Known as flatware (of which silverware is just a form) in the USA, it refers to any hand utensil used to serve and eat food in. It traditionally includes spoons, forks, and knives. In the US, it also includes plates, besides spoons, forks, and knives.

A flatware set commonly comprises a salad fork, a dinner fork, a dinner spoon, a soup spoon, and a teaspoon. It is available in the market both in single units as well as a set of five, twenty, or forty five pieces. These utensils are primarily of two main types, sterling silverware and stainless steel. There are other less expensive variants such as silver plated, plastic, and ceramic flatware. Based on the raw material used, the prices may vary from $10 to hundreds of dollars. Available in a wide variety of prices and styles, these items of flatware serve both utilitarian and decorative purposes.

The most expensive variety of silverware available is sterling silverware. According to US regulations, sterling silverware must contain at least 92.5% pure silver. The balance metal in sterling silverware is copper which is added for strength. Silverware required for a five place seating costs anything from $200 to $800, or perhaps more.

Silver flatware can be manufactured in an ornate and unique design, as silver is highly malleable in nature. Such cutlery is very flamboyant and is available in sets of not only five, but also in over a hundred pieces. Sterling silver, however, tarnishes very soon and needs regular polishing.

A more utilitarian and affordable variety of tableware is made of stainless steel. Manufacturers market them as 18/0, 18/8 or 18/10 stainless steel flatware. The figures depict the amount of chromium and nickel in the stainless steel alloy. In the 18/8 variety of stainless steel flatware, the 18 stands for the percentage of chromium and 8 stands for that of nickel.

Generally considered corrosion-free and stain-proof, stainless steel flatware is easy to maintain. There is a wide variety in the design and cost based on the finishing, weight, design, and knife blade quality.

Silver-plated flatware is another very good alternative to expensive silverware. Made from stainless steel coated with a thin layer of silver, it is more affordable and attractive. Production of plastic cutlery has increased manifold in recent years. Used as disposable flatware, it is very hygienic and has great usage in the fast food industry and by various airlines.

The flatware industry has come a long way since its inception in the 1800s. With a large variety in its design and its cost, it today caters to the demands of each strata of society.

Carl Formby owns and operates http://www.flatwarechoice.com, a website dedicated to Antique Silver Flatware.

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By Rod Low

When you purchase a casual flatware set, it’s quite hard to go wrong with any of the brands you buy. However, it does appear that Oneida is the top seller in this category with their stainless steel sets of 24-pieces, 53-pieces, or 65-pieces. The Oneida Flight Stainless Flatware 24-Piece Flatware Place Setting, Service for 4 sells for $35.

You will get a 24-piece mirror-finish flatware set with four 5-piece settings and 4 extra teaspoons. Each setting includes a standard dinner fork, salad fork, spoon, knife, and teaspoon. Oneida’s flatware is made of corrosion resistant 18/8 stainless steel and is dishwasher safe. The 25 year warranty also assures you that the set will last. Although not exactly a wedding gift quality, its Oneida set makes a great housewarming gift. One complaint among users is that the pieces are actually too lightweight, other than that they will all say Oneida makes a great flatware sets.

The 53-piece Oneida flatware set is service for 8 and sells for about $80. However, if you anticipate larger gatherings at your house, then consider the Oneida Satin Garnet 65-Piece Flatware Set with Caddy, Service for 12 ($130) – a great collection looks stylish and will last forever. Henckels makes a 45-piece flatware set for slightly more than $70 that ranks high and the Wallace Terrace 102-piece Flatware Set with bonus caddy goes for about $70.

We all run into the problem at some point in our lives with a mismatched set of flatware. We either lose a piece or break something and wish we had a replacement ready to fill in.

I went to Oneidas website to see just what their policy is on discontinued silverware sets and how to find replacements if I need. They say that they can only do their best to notify customers at least 6 months in advance before they discontinue any product. Oneida also says that most patterns are made with the idea they will be around forever.

When I search online for “discontinued Oneida flatware”, the largest group of results came from eBay (as usual). I went to eBay and found that it literally lists 1000’s of flatware sets or pieces for sale everyday. Rest assured that your set is probably listed if you have to purchase something on eBay. My advice is always start by contacting Oneida.com directly through their customer service department to see if your set is still available or if there are replacement pieces available through them.

The Sterling Silver Flatware is an online store with hundreds of different Sterling Silver
Flatware at discounted price.

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