WMF Carlton 45-Piece Flatware Placesetting, Service for Eight

Needed a new set of every day flatware. The existing 18/0 Oneida flatware (not the Community series----this was the casual, every day line) was looking beat up after twenty years.

The finish on this new WMF set is beautiful, and they come out of the dishwasher sparkling clean---something that did not happen with the every day Oneida set (a higher end Oneida 18/10 "Community" set--very formal "best flatware" pattern--does come out nice and clean as well). The dishwasher is a mid-range Bosch, not a dishwasher that is failing or on its last legs. And yes, it uses Finish tabs and Jet-Dry. The message here is that 18/8 or 18/10 flatware is worth the extra money, and more carefree to maintain if you use a dishwasher. With 18/0, one was constantly rubbing out spots or scouring the utensil AFTER it emerged from the dishwasher.

Bear in mind that this pattern is designed by Hepp and sold under the WMF label in the USA. WMF and Hepp are under the same ownership. In Germany, you would buy Carlton with a Hepp label. If you go to WMF's USA website, you will see a menu tab for Hepp, and in their flatware line you will find Carlton. It is very popular for restaurants (Hepp's specialty is restaurant supply), which speaks of its durability. Pieces feel very nice in the hand. Tablespoon probably a bit too large for a woman's mouth, about right for an average size man. The tablespoons seem to be "bistro size", not surprising since Hepp is a major restaurant supplier. There are other WMF patterns with smaller spoons if this is an issue.

WMF's 18/10 Cromargan line is a notch or two below their top of the line Cromargan Protect line---Cromargan-Protect sets sell for $500-1000, and are what people in Germany use for their "best flatware", if they can afford it. It almost never goes on sale or special offer. Note that in Germany, flatware is sold in sets of six or twelve place settings, unlike US marketing tradition that sells "service for four" or "service for eight" (and if you want twelve settings, you buy one of each set). Their products for the US market are sold as per US tradition, either a 20 piece set or a 45 piece set. It's too bad the German pattern isn't seen here, because four place settings can be a little sparse except for a couple or single person, whereas six settings would cover most family dinners or a couple or single person inviting 3-4 guests to dinner.

For everyday use, however, the value of these 18/10 Cromargan (non-Protect) sets is hard to beat. They aren't made in Germany any more, but are supposedly designed by and manufactured to WMF's traditionally high standards. The WMF website sells open stock serving pieces (e.g. an extra serving spoon or serving fork) for very reasonable prices, about $4 each at present.

I ordered this thinking it was the same pattern I had a few pieces of. It wasn't but I Like it better. The pieces are bigger than I expected, but are beautifu, well balanced and a joy to use. So far it is holding up well to frequent use and dishwashings.

Buy WMF Carlton 45-Piece Flatware Placesetting, Service for Eight Now