Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

As I purchased this set in December of 2013, I feel that I can write a relevant review on this flatware. Over the past few years, the set has held up nicely. The components have been used frequently, cleaned in the dishwasher, and have endured the everyday wear-and-tear of young children, teens, and adults. Overall, I'm very pleased with them and plan to buy another set in the future. Here's the pros and cons: PROS | Metal: Solid, heavy weight. The metal is very strong. None of them have any rust. Streamlined design: The absence of grooves and other intricate details make them very easy to clean. Appearance: They look very high quality and have an elegant shape. Durability: Every single utensil has maintained its shape and function. None are bent, even after a few accidental encounters with the garbage disposal and other random events that have occurred. Finish: It's possible to maintain the same finish they have when brand new. However, it does require work to do so. CONS | High maintenance: Cleaning these seem to involve a high level of work to keep them in optimal condition. I'll explain below. Scratching: Nearly every piece has small stretches in them from normal use. However, as I mentioned, they're used a lot so I think this is to be expected. Water spots and residue: Don't expect to just air dry these and stick them in the cutlery drawer. In order to maintain the finish and to restore the shine, I use a dish towel or papertowel to buff them after they're washed (either by hand or in the dishwasher). I also found that using Jet Dry in the dishwasher reduces the residue. Note that I live in the Phoenix metro area, and we have hard tap water (hard = calcium and magnesium that's found in the water) that is full of minerals and not what I would consider to be drinkable (Phoenix city water is generally considered safe to drink but tastes disgusting). I'm not sure if this would be an issue for individuals who live in an area with higher quality tap water. Good news: Once I started using Jet Dry on a regular basis (or if I just hand wash them), it only takes a quick wipe to get them to dry without any residue. Fingerprints: The shine is nice but they do not disguise fingerprints very well. After drying and buffing them, I hold them on the side of the handles in order to prevent my fingerprints from transferring onto them. This usually works well. I just think that it would be gross for anyone, and especially a guest, to open the drawer and grab a fork or spoon with visible fingerprints.