Ten years ago we were gifted flatware for our wedding. That set worked well enough until this last Summer when I noticed the pieces were coming out of the dishwasher rusty. The issue is with the quality of the flatware itself. All stainless steel is "stainless" because of a nickel coating that results in the expected shine and general rustproofing. All stainless steel flatware have are made of steel, which rusts. Having a quality nickel finish is important, however not all flatware are created equal. That is where this set comes in. Now the brand is known for quality, but a name is just that if it is not backed up with the quality that is expected. This set is 18/10 stainless. That means the flatware is heavier than standard flatware, and have a thicker protective coating. That means your future grandchildren will someday inherit them. I chose this set because of the butterfly embossed on the handle. Butterflies have a special significance for my wife, which would help me to get her to agree with purchasing this set. I wanted a 18/10 set for a while but the expense was sticking point. Once I mentioned the rust on our old set, and pointed out the butterflies on this one, she was sold. The package was heavy, which I was pleased to know. If a cutlery set doesn't weigh much, it is probably not worth the money. When using them, they feel good, solid and well balanced in my hands. It is not unusual to find the balance of flatware a little off, where the handle is so much heavier than the front, that they can slip out of one's hand while using. This can lead to much dropped flatware, as well as chipped or broken plates. This happened to me once, on my first date. I was in sixth grade, and was invited to dinner at my girlfriend's house. The butter knife I was using slipped out of my hand and shattered a plate, the "good" china. I question the wisdom of using anything china with middle school kids, who are notoriously clumsy, but there I was, broken plate and all....well these Lenox flatware pieces are not going to fail. The fork and spoon handles flare out, and are flat, fit well in the hand, while the butter knives are well balanced near where the handle meets the blade. The finish is nice as well, being highly reflective. Once held, you know they are well made and of high quality. There are so many household items one could chose to spend money on. Often I ask myself if spending money on a luxury item is really worth it. Most of the time it is not worth paying for a top tier item, however this Lenox set of flatware is totally worth the money spent. Why wait? Go ahead and splurge on this flatware set, it will be the last set of silverware you will have to purchase. That is until your kids get married, then buy a set for them as well!
