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There’s an art to choosing the right flatware set, whether you’re shopping for your next grand holiday meal or want to brighten up weeknight dinners with the family. You might think silverware is always silver, but we like gold-finished forks, knives, and spoons to bring a new look to the dining room table. There are so many style choices: Glossy or matte? Rose gold or standard? Maximalist, minimalist, modern, or more traditional?
There are practical considerations, too. The best gold flatware sets are scratch-resistant, won’t chip or fade over time, and can be used in settings from formal meals to cocktail parties. And happily, gold flatware doesn’t have to cost a fortune, so there’s no need to save it for hosting fancy parties. We spoke with interior designer Arielle Mizrahi, and Anam Sadarangani, the founder of the tableware company Sprezz, to help us find the best gold flatware sets for every budget and style.
Who says luxury has to cost a fortune? This set from India is hand-forged, giving it a special, bespoke appeal. But at this price point, it leaves room in your budget for other special items, like upgraded holiday serveware, a gorgeous new dinnerware set, or even that Dutch oven you've been eyeing all season. The set has a gently rustic look that elevates any decor style. It’s a timeless look that will make everyone happy. We guarantee your dinner guests will ask where you got these golden beauties.
This set easily gets our vote for the best gold flatware set. Be aware that the five-piece assortments are sold individually, so consider ordering multiples.
Material: Stainless steel | Includes: Salad fork, dinner fork, tea spoon, soup spoon, butter knife | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes
This steal of a deal delivers luxe looks on a budget. It includes four five-piece place settings with a glossy, shiny finish, at less than five bucks per item. The Berglander set could make an ideal gift for students, new graduates, or new homeowners, maybe alongside a favorite tablecloth.
Part of the reason it's inexpensive, however, is that this set uses 18/0 stainless steel, a lower grade than the 18/10 or 18/8 steel other brands use. It's more prone to chipping, bending, and corrosion, so you need to treat it carefully. It's dishwasher-safe, but hand-washing can help preserve the luster.
Material: Stainless steel | Includes: 4 salad forks, 4 dinner forks, 4 tea spoons, 4 table spoons, 4 dinner knives | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes
This hand-finished set comes from a family-owned factory in Portugal and offers extraordinary quality that you don’t have to baby when it comes to washing. The contemporary matte gold look is stylish but matches just about any decor, and the pieces all feel weighty. You can also get the set in matte black, and matte or polished steel if you prefer.
This is pretty expensive flatware, though it's very durable — and we like that Year & Day sells pieces a la carte, so you can replace any lost items without buying a whole new set. Pro tip: Add the brand's matching Serving Spoon and Fork Set to tie together every element of your tablescape.
Material: Stainless steel | Includes: 4 small forks, 4 big forks, 4 small spoons, 4 big spoons, 4 knives | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes
Elongated, elegant, and unlike any flatware set, the Dragonfly set is a stunner worth gift-wrapping. Gentle curving lines define this set with a delicately swooping knife blade, teardrop-shaped spoons, and round handles that give everything a lithe, ethereal quality. The polish on the gold has an understated, grown-up look, too. Some retailers sell the five-piece sets only one at a time, but if there are also four-place-setting packs available that saves a little money.
Material: Stainless steel | Includes: Salad fork, table fork, tea spoon, soup spoon, table knife | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes
Timeless elegance is the name of the game with this 20-piece set. With fluted handles and a delicate engraved pattern at each end, these forks, knives, and spoons make every meal feel like a special occasion. They’ll last for years, too: The color comes from a process called physical vapor deposition, which creates a more even, chip-resistant surface than traditional gold-plating. You can also throw everything in the dishwasher without having to worry about corrosion and deterioration. The set is, on the other hand, fairly pricy.
Material: Stainless steel | Includes: 4 salad forks, 4 dinner forks, 4 tea spoons, 4 dinner spoons, 4 dinner knives | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes
Arhaus makes some solid, well-priced gold flatware sets; we included three of the brand's sets. The Annika pattern is a little heavier than Arhaus' Murray above, with a weathered, rustic look that pairs nicely with the warm rose gold hue. Pair this antique-inspired flatware with some rustic cloth napkins for the perfectly cozy dinner party vibe.
Material: Stainless steel | Includes: Salad fork, dinner fork, tea spoon, soup spoon, butter knife | Dishwasher-Safe: No
This set was inspired by Georgian design, but you don’t have to be a British history buff to appreciate its antique appeal. The brushed gold is an easy choice for fancy parties and everyday elegance. This set is made to last, with heavy-duty 18/10 stainless steel — and it ought to, as it's pretty expensive. You can buy five-piece place settings one or four at a time, though there's only a small volume discount. This set is technically dishwasher-safe, but we'd recommend hand-washing to protect the gold coating.
Material: Stainless steel | Includes: Salad fork, dinner fork, dessert spoon, soup spoon, knife | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes
Who knew bright white and gold were such a perfect pair? This set matches gold fork, knife, and spoon heads with white tapered handles for a highly effective minimalist appeal. The statement-making set comes with a generous 25-year manufacturer’s warranty, so you can be sure your investment will go the distance.
Material: Stainless steel | Includes: 4 salad forks, 4 dinner forks, 4 tea spoons, 4 dinner spoons, 4 dinner knives | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes
Want to pick and choose the exact items in your gold flatware set? Bon Chef sells the 10 matching pieces of its Como pattern individually. You can select from a standard soup spoon, smaller iced tea spoon, extra-large serving spoon, tiny tea spoon, or round bouillon spoon, along with two knives and three forks (including this one), to create your assortment. The brand is the choice of Kanate Ungkasrithongkul, owner of Manaao Thai Comfort Food in Tustin, California. "They're mega-durable, and don't show scratches or fingerprints," he says. It also helps that they're dishwasher-safe.
The Como gold flatware is pretty reasonably priced per piece, but the problem is that you have to order them 12 at a time. If you're looking to build service for a dozen, it's a beautiful, easy-to-care-for option that lets you leave out whichever items you don't want.
Material: Stainless steel | Items Available: Dinner fork, salad fork, cocktail fork, soup spoon, tea spoon, iced tea spoon, bouillon spoon, serving spoon, dinner knife, butter knife | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes
Yet another great choice from Arhaus, the Oberon set will make your guests stop and take notice. With slim, narrow handles and an enviable luster, this flatware is designed for a modern home. The weightiest Arhaus set on our list, these pieces feel pleasantly heavy in hand, and have a fresh, clean aesthetic — we love those tidy barrel handles! Despite the unique look, these cost the same per set as their brand mates.
Material: Stainless steel | Includes: Salad fork, dinner fork, tea spoon, soup spoon, butter knife | Dishwasher-Safe: No
Playful, highly unique, and made to last a lifetime: Mepra's cheerful Italian-made set brightens any meal. The hues of the resin handles are meant to imitate the colorful houses of the Cinque Terre region, and there are many joyful options available, from creamy, neutral vanilla to deeply saturated cobalt or red. There's even one set with a different color for each utensil. The Fantasia flatware is dishwasher-safe, but be careful with the handles; they can get stained if they sit in acidic liquids like coffee, tea, or tomato sauce.
Materials: Stainless steel, resin | Includes: salad fork, dinner fork, coffee spoon, soup spoon, dinner knife | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes
For the most part, gold-colored flatware is not made of actual gold; it's stainless steel with a gold coating or finish. Solid gold flatware sets exist but are expensive and require special care. Stainless steel adds chromium to the usual mix of iron and carbon to make a shiny and rust-resistant material, but different types of stainless also include other elements. Three common varieties used in flatware are 18/10, 18/8, and 18/0, named for the percentages of chromium and nickel in their composition. Essentially, the higher that second number, the more nickel in the steel, which makes it stronger, corrosion-proof, and more expensive.
When buying flatware, one place setting usually includes five pieces: two forks, two spoons, and a knife. You can buy individual place settings or multiples at a time, but product names can get a little confusing — a 20-piece set and another including service for four people might have the same 20 items. If you throw big dinner parties often, you might want to pick up a large set (60 pieces, or service for 12, is usually the biggest available), but for everyday family meals, a dozen forks and knives are probably too much.
Another thing to keep in mind if buying flatware for the long term is whether the brand sells individual replacement pieces. You'll inevitably lose a fork or drop a spoon in the garbage disposal over the years, and it's annoying to have to buy a whole new set to get just one extra item.
For washing flatware, you'll want to follow the brand's recommendations. Never put a hand-wash-only item in the dishwasher. Even with dishwasher-safe gold flatware, the harsh detergent and high temperatures in the machine can harm the finish over time: If you use a dishwasher, adding a rinse aid will help combat water spots and mineral corrosion.
No matter how you wash your gold flatware, avoid citrus detergents, whose acidic ingredients can corrode the metal. You should thoroughly dry your flatware. Standing water can create spots and dull the finish permanently.
Yes and no. “The higher the quality, the less they will scratch,” Mizrahi says. However, Sadarangani adds, “Gold-plated flatware is more vulnerable to scratching than solid gold or harder materials. Its thin gold plating can easily show abrasions from contact with rough surfaces.” Plus, even the best flatware can become nicked or scratched when handled carelessly.
“Ideally, they would be stored in a silver flatware box with velvet lining, separating all utensils,” says Mizrahi. Sadarangani says that if you must store your gold flatware in a stack, a soft cloth or piece of felt between each utensil will minimize the potential for scratching.
“The best way to clean gold-plated flatware is with gentle soap and water and a microfibre cloth,” says Mizrahi. If you're struggling to remove stuck-on food or sauces, don’t reach for an abrasive scrubber like steel wool. “For challenging spots, use a soft-bristle toothbrush or a cotton swab,” says Sadarangani. The drying process is just as important, too. Sadarangani says: “Pat the flatware dry with a soft, clean cloth or towel. Avoid air-drying to prevent water spots or tarnishing.”
It’s worth noting that neither of these design and decor experts suggest using the dishwasher, even though many manufacturers say their gold-finished items are dishwasher safe. The strong cycles and harsh detergents can cause damage, corrosion, and even flaking to this delicate style of flatware.
If the gold looks dull or tarnished, Sadarangani suggests a gentle polish specifically made for gold-plated flatware, or a jeweler's cloth designed for gold. For extra-careful cleaning, she also notes that wearing soft cotton gloves helps avoid smudges when handling flatware.
Booth seating Rochelle Bilow is a food writer and commerce editor with over a decade of professional experience. Previously a senior associate editor and social media manager at Bon Appétit and Cooking Light magazines, Rochelle is also a novelist, a culinary school graduate, and a former professional baker and line cook.