J.A. Henckels 45pc Angelico Flatware Set

I was in need of a new set of flatware since I only had 7 out of twelve forks left in my set. Where do those things go?

After a little research I discovered that 18/10 stainless is the best and that it is getting more and more difficult to find. You have to watch for 18/0. If you aren't reading carefully you may think is 18/10. It is definitely a poorer quality.

The quality is excellent with this set. I don't think I've ever owned as nice a set. My previous set was an 18/10 Oneida set that is no longer available. I loved the serving set that is included especially the slotted spoon. The only thing I wish it had was a gravy ladle.

I was so happy with this purchase that I decided to purchase another set and discovered that the price had went up considerably in just a few days time. I found an opened box set from Amazon warehouse that I ordered a little cheaper than the first set and was thrilled with it.

This flatware is elegant and heavy weight. I ordered a set last year and loved them so much I ordered another. I also gave them as a wedding gift and the recipient couldn't be happier.

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I LIKE THIS FLATWARE A LOT. THE SHAPE IS JUST RIGHT, AND I SEARCHED A LONG TIME FOR THE RIGHT LOOK. THE SERVING PIECES ARE A NICE ADDITION, AND THE FLATWARE WASHES WELL, IS SHINY AND WELL MADE. MY ONLY HESITATION, AND THE REASON I GAVE 4 STARS, IS THAT IT ALL SEEMS A LITTLE LIGHT WEIGHT. THIS IS SUPPOSEDLY 18/10, AND IS PRICED LIKE 18/10, BUT FEELS LIGHTER THAN THE 18/0 I HAD BEFORE. NOT SURE WHAT THAT'S ABOUT. IN GENERAL, I'M QUITE HAPPY WITH THE SET.

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These aren't the world's worst flatware given the world is filled with shoddy flatware, but they most certainly are not worth $100 and I cannot even call them "fair" or "good" because of the price. As a few others have noted, they feel very light for 18/10...but no big deal there even though it is a little odd. They are reasonably well-balanced and very attractive in styling. I got these about two-three months ago. They've never been stored coated in fruit acid, sugar, syrups, or other rust accelerants, and they've not been left wet for an extended period, and they are stored in a room which is climate AND humidity controlled (about 10% humidity). Starting about a month ago, they began to develop spots. I did not think much about it because 18/10 is supposed to be highly resistent to rust, hence the term "stainLESS". Well, then one night my girlfriend noted that those spots were the beginnings of rust. And it did not look like rust because it was more pitting than it was surface oxidation, making it hard to see. I've been eating off of rusted flatware for over a month. $100 rusted flatware at that. Probably not the safest thing...I spent money as this was exactly what I wanted to avoid with a cheap set. I really wanted to like these, but they just aren't all that great and certainly not the quality from a maker who at one point in time had an esteemed name. They look great...but they have not held up well cosmetically either, which also brings the steel into question. They scratch easily which high chromium stainless steel should NOT do (nor should it rust with such little exposure). I am now curious as to what metal they use, who they get it from, how they heat treat it, and what the quality control is like. For those with flatware made from truly high chromium stainless, they are familiar with the general stainLESS properties, which for whatever reason these do not have.

Another thing this listing fails to note...these are NOT European flatware...they are "European 'Design' "...as in someone in Europe drew some pictures and a factory in China made these. $100 for 'Made in China'...these may have cost $5 USD to make (take a look at the costs of labor and steel in China and you will see that figure isn't as far off as many people will say). Surely the shipping of the items were more expensive than the production itself. And that isn't a joke either. If you look on the stamp on the back side, it says "China" right on it...and the stamp isn't even very clear. Chinese stainless steel is known to generally lack the properties which makes high quality stainless steel what it is. Certain additives and methods of heat treatments are used to give steels certain properties, and if this is not done right, the outcome is sub par steel which does not perform as well as it theoretically can. I would not call the steel on these completely terrible, but I would call it low grade stainless and certainly not stainless worth the price. While better than most of the entry level sets, this simply isn't that big of a step up and is not proportional to the price. The advertising used is somewhat sneaky and this is almost certainly because of the lack of high quality steel coming from China. For anyone who is skeptical to this claim, I invite you to visit a few forums dedicated to metalcrafting or cutlery, in which there is a large body of factual knowledge showing steel that comes from the US, Japan, and Germany is going to be of substantially higher quality, plus the problem of the lack of quality control and verifiable production with most Chinese steel production lines. There is no such thing as a high quality folding pocket knife from China...it doesn't exist, and there is a very good reason.

So what is my final take on this? J.A. Henckels' flatware has followed the same downward trend that their cutlery has. Quality goes down, price stays the same. They are charging a fortune for a flatware set that probably costs less to make than a value meal from a fast food chain for one person. They make these in an area known for it's low quality steel and lack of quality control, and attempt to use their name to compensate for the difference in price and quality. It's better than some, and if the price was half of what it is, it would be a much better buy. But it should not be marketed as a high-end set made for consumers looking for something of high-quality, because it isn't. If you want something really nice, save your money as this is not going to be the flatware set that outlasts you, and you can take comfort in knowing that much higher quality sets are available for not much more. There are a few high end makers in the US and Japan using steels of verifiable and known properties (plus with workers who are paid a true living wage). You'll pay closer to $160-200 for a 45 piece set, but the difference in quality is tremendous. I wound up going with Liberty, which is an American metalcrafter...compare the two side-by-side and you will see why I have given the Henckels such a poor review.

6/23/2013 edit-I have added pictures on the main pictures,

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I had a flatware set that I picked up from Big Lots. They started rusting after 6 months. After a month of research, I bought this set. They have a good weight to them and the style feels good when in use. I especially like the beveled tip on the handle. I fits in such a way in your hand as to make it feel secure. The knifes cut great!! My only complaint is I wish there were more spoons in this set.

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