Silver Flatware on the Web

You’ve decided to buy some nice silverware – after all, whether it’s a dinner party or just a special occasion, you want to adorn the table settings as much as possible. You can’t show off your china plates or crystal glasses without a really beautiful set of flatware.

Flatware can be categorized in three main types: traditional, ornate, and contemporary. You’ll want to figure out which category your crystal and china fall into before purchasing any flatware. Stick with the same style to make everything on your table match. Mixing styles can sometimes work, but more often looks a bit garish.

Most people have an everyday flatware set, and one for formal occasions. Stainless steel is probably best for your everyday needs, but the elegance and beauty of silver is definitely the way to go for formal dinners.

Sterling silver is roughly 92.5% pure silver (with 7.5% of another metal added for strength – 100% pure silver is too soft for dining use) and must carry the word “sterling” stamped on the back to be authentic. Sterling silver is more expensive than other flatware, but the price is worth it.

Silverplate is another option. Silverplate is where an outer silver plating is applied to a core of another cheaper metal. It has the appearance of silver, but there are a couple of points to consider: sterling lasts forever. Silverplate lasts perhaps 20 years before the silver will eventually begin to wear off. Also, the resale value for sterling silver is incredibly high. Not so for silverplate.