9 Best Silverware Sets for Everyday Use That Can Pass as Fancy Flatware
Eat up these silverware deals while you can!
There’s something special about carefully setting out your best silverware set on your dining table when you’re expecting guests for supper — a fact that’s especially true during the holiday season. With Thanksgiving and the winter holidays fast approaching, we’ve begun to think about all those little finishing touches that will make our feasts and festivities that much merrier. But who’s to say we have to wait? If you ask us, life’s too short to only use our best utensils for company. If you feel like we do and want to put your best flatware forward on a more regular basis, we’ve got you covered. Below, find our picks for the best silverware sets you can use whenever the fancy strikes!
Best Silverware Sets On Sale:
What is the best silverware set?
- Most Stylish Silverware Set: Argent Orfevres Stainless Steel Flatware 4-Serving Set
- Best Silverware Set for 1: Villeroy & Boch Montauk 5 Piece Stainless Steel Flatware Set
- Best Designer Silverware Set: Kate Spade New York Fair Harbor 45-Piece Flatware Set
- Best simple Silverware Set: Ginkgo Simple 42-Piece Flatware Set
- Best modern silverware set: Nambé ‘Bend’ 45-Piece Flatware Set
- Best gold silverware set: Arezzo Flatware
- Most Economical Silverware Set: Cambridge Silversmiths Logan Rainbow Mirror 20-Piece Flatware Set
- Best Splurge Silverware Set: Christofle Mood 24-Piece Flatware Set
- Best Vintage-Style Silverware set: Oneida Wordsworth Flatware
What is the best silverware?
The best silverware sets for daily use are typically made of stainless steel. Though silverware can be crafted from metals such as aluminum, these tend to rust and are not as durable as the old steel standbys. Higher-end options may also be made from more precious metals, such as gold and sterling silver, but prices for 925 silver utensils (those that are made from at least 92.5 percent real silver) can start from $150 for a single spoon!
Those shopping for stainless steel cutlery will likely come across the following descriptions: stainless steel 18/0, stainless steel 18/8, and stainless steel 18/10. The first number depicts the percentage of chrome found in the product, while the second number represents the percentage of nickel. For a heavy-duty, rust-free, stainless steel product with plenty of corrosion resistance, opt for the highest level of nickel — 18/10.
When it comes to cutlery, most collections are comprised of your basic dinner forks, spoons, and knives. Some of the best silverware sets might also include separate forks, spoons, and knives for different meal courses, as well as serving utensils, such as ladles or butter knives.
How to Place Silverware
While you can, of course, place your eating utensils any which way you like, be it on the plate, wrapped in a napkin, or upright in a glass, fans of proper protocol can follow these five easy steps below from the etiquette gurus over at The Emily Post Institute to create a table placement that will rival a royal butler’s.
- Forks go to the left of the plate, with knives and spoons on the right.
- Knives are placed with the blade facing the plate.
- Eating utensils should be placed in order of use, working from the outside in
- Only set out the utensils that will be used (i.e., there’s no need for a dessert fork if you’re serving chocolate mousse).
- Dessert spoons and dessert forks should be placed on the table horizontally at the top of the plate, with the spoon on top and the fork underneath. The spoon head should be angled toward the left, while fork prongs should face the right.
To recap, if you’re serving soup, salad, a main course, and cake — in that order — the table setting, from left to right, would go: salad fork, dinner fork, plate, dessert spoon (placed horizontally above the plate), dessert fork (placed underneath the dessert spoon), dinner knife, salad knife, and soup spoon.
To completely floor your guests, you can also set a small bread plate above the forks with a butter knife resting diagonally across its width. Glassware should go above the knives on the righthand side.
How to Polish Silverware at Home
To ensure your cutlery stays in tip-top shape, dry items well after washing. You should also give them a quick polish when taking them out of the dishwasher and before putting them away. To get them extra sparkly, you can soak them in a basin of water and white vinegar mixture (one part vinegar to eight parts hot water) every few months. Leave them in the solvent for a full 10 minutes before giving them a quick rinse under the tap. To finish them off, wipe them well with a clean lint-free dish towel.
Before you get to cleaning, however, you’ll need to decide which of the best silverware sets is the one for you. We’ve selected nine of the most stylish, durable cutlery collections on the market to suit every style, requirement, and budget. And for even more kitchen inspiration, check out our roundups of the best nonstick cookware sets and the best Dutch ovens to add to your collection!
Keep scrolling for Woman’s World’s picks for the best silverware sets!
9 Best Silverware Sets of 2021
Argent Orfevres Stainless Steel Flatware 4-Serving Set
- Description
- Pros
There’s something so effortlessly chic about this Orava flatware set. Made from heavy-duty stainless steel and coated in titanium, you’ll love setting the table with these. Perfect for impressing guests, this set will also help elevate even the most casual weeknight meals.
Happy customer: “This set is lovely; beautiful in design and weight. Worth the price and great to get or give. Wonderful gold and silver blend.”
- Gorgeous gold look
- Ideal for both casual and formal table settings
- Designed to last if washed by hand
Villeroy & Boch Montauk 5 Piece Stainless Steel Flatware Set
- Description
- Pros
Sea lovers will love the unique, twisty “rope” handles of this nautical-inspired 5-piece cutlery set by Villeroy & Boch. Featuring a super-shiny, lustrous finish that’s tarnish-resistant and dishwasher safe, this handy collection will feed parties of up to four. We love that these pieces look equally in place on a casual dinner table as they do in more formal settings, and they just might become your new everyday go-tos.
Happy customer: “Fabulous! Very cool look and has some weight to it.”
- Unique, nautical design
- Rust-resistant
- Great for everyday use
Kate Spade New York Fair Harbor 45-Piece Flatware Set
- Description
- Pros
As is typical of Kate Spade products, this Fair Harbor flatware set is plenty durable thanks to its 18/10 stainless steel construction. We mostly love it, however, for its chic and minimalistic design, which features clean lines that aren’t too “in your face.”
Happy customer: “I absolutely love the way [this set] looks: It’s heavy, [and has a] high-quality feel and ease of care. Does great in the dishwasher and [you] can’t beat the price.”
- Minimalist design
- Includes service for 8, as well as 5 serving pieces
- Dishwasher safe
Ginkgo Simple 42-Piece Flatware Set
- Description
- Pros
Minimalists everywhere will have an “a-ha!” moment as soon as they lay eyes on this Ginkgo simple flatware set. With cutlery for eight people and four extra serving utensils (solid serving spoon, pierced serving spoon, meat fork, and sauce ladle) this sophisticated set has a black finish to appeal to lovers of understated design. It’s also made from a mix of sturdy 18/10 stainless steel and titanium oxide, so you can safely pop it in the dishwasher after use.
Happy customer: “This flatware is quite nice. The color is nice and consistent. It washes well and feels heavy in the hand.”
- Ideal for any occasion
- Sturdy stainless steel construction
Nambé 'Bend' 45-Piece Flatware Set
- Description
- Pros
For those of us who prefer a more minimalist aesthetic, this understated yet elegant flatware set by Nambé features a clean, modern design that goes with practically any table setting. Included in this set are eight five-piece place settings, in addition to a serving fork, serving spoon, slotted serving spoon, butter knife, and sugar spoon. Each piece is made with durable stainless steel, so they’ll last for many meals to come, and you can simply put them in the dishwasher for easy cleaning.
Happy customer: “Love our new stylish silverware. It is very durable and looks classy. Cleans well in the dishwasher. Very good set for a reasonable price.”
- Clean, modern design
- Includes 8 place settings
- Made of stainless steel
Arezzo Flatware
- Description
- Pros
Looking to take your at-home meals to the next level? A stellar set of gold flatware, like this lovely collection by Degrenne, is sure to make even the simplest weeknight dinners feel a little more special. We especially love the shiny mirror finish, and the fact that this set has a luxe look without veering into “gaudy” territory. For hassle-free cleanup, they can go right into the dishwasher, and if you find yourself falling in love with this set as much as we have, it comes in silver via the same links as well.
No reviews yet, but yours could be the first!
- Luxe, gold mirror finish
- Includes 5 place settings
- Dishwasher safe
Cambridge Silversmiths Logan Rainbow Mirror 20-Piece Flatware Set
- Description
- Pros
For a 20-piece stainless steel silverware set on the cheap, check out Cambridge Silversmiths’ Logan set, which serves four people. The funky rainbow mirror design is sure to delight your guests, and its aurora effect means the cutlery will never need to be polished. These dinner and salad forks, knives, spoons, and teaspoons are all dishwasher safe, and buyers report that they’re sturdy, heavy, and “even more beautiful in person” — all for less than $4 per piece!
Happy customer: “I loved the set the first time I saw it online… and it is even more beautiful in person. VERY nice quality and I highly recommend this set of flatware.”
- Fun, rainbow mirror finish
- Never needs to be polished
- Dishwasher safe
Christofle Mood 24-Piece Flatware Set
- Description
- Pros
If you’re looking to invest in silverware that will never go out of style or lose its value, you might want to consider shelling out for this Christofle Mood 24-piece collection. Complete with a stainless steel, egg-shaped container that provides effortless storage, this set offers up place settings for up to six people. It also comes equipped with care instructions from Christofle to ensure your set always stays as good as new.
Happy customer: “I love this concept of having the flatware handy, plus the egg adorns any table beautifully! The knives and forks are pleasant to handle and fit the hands very comfortably. In addition, the flatware is insulated and protected.”
- Includes a chic, stainless steel container
- Contemporary, silverplate flatware
- Includes 6 place settings
Oneida Wordsworth Flatware
- Description
- Pros
Oneida’s Wordsworth 45-piece flatware set could fit right into a royal setting with its superior metal craftsmanship and antique look. Comprised of eight separate serving sets, plus five convenient serving utensils, this collection is crafted with sturdy stainless steel for longevity, and has a bit of heft to it, if you prefer the feel of weightier silverware.
Happy customer: “I bought this set for my parents and it is absolutely gorgeous! The weight is perfect with just the right heaviness. The pattern is elegant and beautiful. My mother accused me of buying it so I could inherit it someday, ha, ha! I think I’ll have to buy another set!”
- Ornate detail
- Includes 8 place settings and 5 serving pieces
- Strong, sturdy design
