Before I go any further, I must tell you that I do not recommend gold-toned utensils for everyday use—especially if you put your flatware in the dishwasher. That’s because the finish will eventually wear away. A polished gold will last longer than a matte gold, and hand-washing exclusively can extend its glow, too, but unless you have a cool $200K to drop on a set of flatware and serving utensils made with actual gold, your gold flatware won’t stay gold forever. The same is true for matte black, copper, champagne, and any other trendy metallic finishes that are applied over the stainless steel.
All of that said, gold flatware can look so cute on the table—especially for holidays, dinner parties, and other special occasions. And maybe you don’t even mind that the finish might not last last forever, as long as it looks good for a while.
So if you have your heart set on matte gold flatware, a well-made set like Fable’s will keep its gold color a lot longer than whatever trendy set you pick up at Target. That’s thanks in part to its PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) finish, which can last longer than other (cheaper) gold finishes, which will often start to lose its finish after just a few dishwasher cycles. Though it pained me to do so, I put just one of my place settings through the dishwasher for a week, and it still looked as good as the untouched pieces. The pieces are nicely weighted, and the design is what I’d call “modern basic.” It’s not nearly as timeless as the Made In set, but it’s also not so modern it will feel super outdated in a year or two.
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How we picked the best flatware sets
Most of the gear we test and review here has to perform in some way (think blenders making smoothies, air fryers crisping nuggets, or chef’s knives mincing garlic and breaking down squash, and even steak knives cutting through meat). But unless it’s oddly shaped for artsy aesthetic purposes, flatware generally performs as intended.
Understanding that not everyone prefers the same things I do, I put together a shortlist that included a variety of styles, finishes, and price points and then spent hours reading customer reviews because I didn’t want to bother testing anything that had lots of seemingly legitimate complaints regarding durability.
Finally, I ordered the sets that remained and used them at home for weeks, noting how they felt in my hand and how well they held up after many, many dishwasher cycles.
What to look for when buying a silverware set
First and foremost, flatware needs to do a good job of getting food from your plate or bowl to your mouth. So if the salad fork is so artsy looking that it won’t actually hold a piece of lettuce, or if the teaspoon is so small you can barely slurp soup from it, it’s not going to be functional everyday flatware for you.
The pieces—especially the fork—should feel nice in your hand. This means no sharp edges that press into your skin, a nice balance from end to end, etc.
Obviously, you want your flatware to look good on the table, but taste is subjective, so consider what is most important: A timeless or modern look? A polished or matte finish? Ornate details or no frills? And if you change up your decor often, you might want to go for something nondescript and versatile.
Your everyday flatware should be durable, especially if you plan to put it in the dishwasher. If it bends or scratches easily, it’s no good.
Some flatware is available as open stock, meaning if you lose a spoon or knife, or just need a few more forks, you can buy those without having to purchase a new full set. Classic patterns from older brands usually offer open stock, while it’s often harder to get replacement pieces from newer or DTC brands. And if you want matching serving pieces, check to make sure those are available too.
18/0 vs. 18/10 stainless steel
Stainless steel is a great material for modern flatware, but not all stainless-steel flatware sets are created equal. Stainless steel is an alloy (a metal made by combining multiple metallic elements), and you’ll typically find stainless-steel flatware labeled as either 18/0 or 18/10. The 18 is the percentage of chromium in the alloy. Chromium hardens steel, and it’s also what makes it “stainless” because it helps prevent corrosion. The second number tells you whether or not the alloy also has 10% nickel—which can make stainless steel shinier and more corrosion resistant.
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