How long have you had your cutlery, how many sets?

[Oneminutespeace1]

How many sets of cutlery do you have, and do you have enough when friends come over?

My Viners 18/10 set is for 8 (household of 4). We currently use disposables if lots of people come and have a buffet style rather than sit-down meal. I was thinking 10 or 12 would be better.

Its also 15 years old and fairly scratched. It’s been discontinued so difficult/expensive/in some instances impossible to find replacement pieces. However it has sentimental value.

I’m trying to work out whether to carry on with the existing set, get more used pieces where I can and ignore its scratched condition. Or give up and buy a new set for 12 people, nice quality, for less money than supplementing my old set, for which I could easily and relatively cheaply purchase replacements if needed as it’s a current style.

I have kings. I don't know how much I buy replacements on Amazon if knives for eg are running low.

£8 per piece, for 18/10!

How old and scratched up is yours exnewwifeproblems? Do you see it going the distance anyway?

I’ve got two sets of 8, have had them for at least 20 years and they’re not at all scratched or damaged, I don’t think I ever expect to replace them!

I don't buy 18/10. I just buy generic off Amazon.

I've thrown out a couple of knives but no more than that. A few have got lost and teaspoons disappear like I don't know what.

I'm not precious about them. They go through the dishwasher and seem to last just fine.

I've random mixed up brands and sets and it's fine

I have a set of ‘good’ cutlery - for 6 place settings, including fish (?) which was a wedding gift. I have augmented that with 2 sets of IKEA Data cutlery, which I actually prefer, plus 2 sets of steak knives - the ones with the bees on the handle.
Between that and cake forks etc, we generally manage.

Chewbecca how are yours not at all scratched? Ours are used daily, go in and out of the dishwasher, constantly rubbing up against each other. Maybe we’re just hard on ours. I thought 15 years was a pretty good innings!

You’ve got me wondering that myself now! Perhaps it’s because we are a family of 3 (mainly) and have a lot of items so maybe each item has low usage?

We have about 16 of everything (family of 5), probably more teaspoons. It started with a basic cheap set we bought when we moved in together (own brand from a cheap department store) then we received a Villeroy and Boch set for our wedding, and they all just mix along and have been supplemented by a new pack of cheap teaspoons here and there. We don't save anything for good, they all go through the dishwasher, and the ultra cheap ones are in just as good nick as the expensive ones.

My pattern is all the same to reiterate - they're all kings.

One inherited set (belonged to my great grandparents), only used if catering for large numbers. Wedding set (12 years old) used daily, 8 place setting, goes through dishwasher, in good shape. Odds and sods we had before, all very battered (much was from charity shops), used daily.

I have a set that was a wedding gift so 17 years old and used daily, still in good condition. 12 pieces for 5 of us.

Then I have a 12 piece solid silver set that was my grandparents and I use that if entertaining, but hardly ever as it has to be hand washed! It has all sorts of extras in the box and it looks so pretty!

I’ve got my Grans South Seas silver set, my mums wedding set and a kings set I got for my wedding (22 years ago) I’ve got mine and mums mixed up together. They’re not scratched at all. My grans cutlery comes out for Christmas and special occasions.

Oh, I think I’ll try and just keep this set going, albeit ridiculously pricey. Less wasteful, I suppose. Surprised at so many people having silver cutlery... sounds lovely. Thank you so much for the replies. Happy Sunday!

We bought 2 sets (6 persons) when we married 25 years ago. Still going strong. We never entertained more than 12 people, and having so many for just the 3 of us (360 days of the year) means we don't need to put the dishwasher on every day. Somewhere along the line, we've lost a fork, but we can live without it.

OP you probably know this but it's quite ok not to have all matching cutlery. If you want to keep buying matching pieces because you personally love it, of course go ahead. But if you'd actually prefer to buy a cheap unmatching set to use alongside your Kings one, and spend the extra money on something completely different, that's quite ok too. Noone will judge you if they come for dinner and you don't have all matching cutlery. (Or if they will, don't invite them!)

Mine is from our wedding, so getting on for 30 years. Nothing posh, but it isn't scratched or anything. Not sure how it would get scratched, tbh. Our cutlery just stands up in the basket of the dishwasher - it isn't being bashed around when washed. (though we didn't have a dishwasher for the first 9 years or so)
We supplemented it with a box from Argos about 15 years ago, so we had enough when people come round. Can't remember how much - I just used Nectar points so it was free, in effect, but I'm thinking it was under £15 for another 12 knives, forks and spoons.
Tea spoons, I do buy a bundle of every now and then.

I've been thinking about buying new cutlery. We have a nice Viners set with six settings and I supplemented that

I’ve got the left overs of two sets from my wedding 28 years ago. When I’ve looked at replacing them I’ve been shocked at how flimsy cutlery is now, in comparison.

We have a set of Oneida (I think), with 12 place settings, bought over 40 years ago. We have never added to it or used anything different and it still looks great. It was expensive at the time, but has turned out to be amazing value.

We have the 2 complete canteens of the Viners 18/0 - which does 16 people. Bought for our wedding over 15 years ago. Still going strong, and has been used everyday.

We normally host around 12-16 at least a couple of times of year so everything gets used.

I have a wedding present set for 8 places and an everyday set for 6. Both have large and smaller knives and forks so for a large party that gives 27 place settings (one knife and fork got lost). I also picked up a cheap set of 4 from a charity shop and have a relatives hand me down set of 6. I don't cater for that many people more than once a year though. (As it stresses me out)
If you can afford/ would like a new set then I would get them and keep the older ones as the party back ups.

We have a set of 8 that came from Kitchen Spoils when I went to uni, more than 20 years ago. Keep thinking we should upgrade but there’s nothing wrong with it!

We have a posh set for Christmas.

I have a set that I bought when I had my first flat, so 35 years ago. Now missing a few pieces but everyday use for me & ds.

And I have an 18 place Arthur Price set bought years later, for entertaining . It looks lovely when it's all out.

I wanted nice cutlery when I was young. I was offered a set by inlaws when I got married but I didn't want it as a gift, I wanted to buy my own, which is silly because I've never since thought that was a good way to spend money. I have two sets of 4 that are very similar. One set is nearly 30 years old, the other about 25. They're fine and will see me through i think!

Yes, that’s what I should have done... bought a new set and kept the old one for party back-ups. I had to make a quick decision and I’ve ended up buying more of the old pattern at an extortionate price. Don’t know what I was thinking!

Good point those who mention using the smaller knives and forks, esp for children, if needed.