Modern Cutlery

Cutlery anchors a dining table as much as the plates, with the weight and finish of the handle setting the tone of the meal. Our collection spans brushed stainless steel for everyday use, matte black PVD-coated sets for modern tables, and traditional silver-plated designs for occasion dining, each sized for UK and European place settings.

  • Out Of Stock
    Baguette Cutlery 42 Piece Set Baguette Cutlery 42 Piece Set
  • Out Of Stock
    Planish Satin Cutlery 42 Piece Set Planish Satin Cutlery 42 Piece Set

A four-place cutlery setting includes 16 pieces: four each of dinner knives, dinner forks, table spoons and teaspoons. Expanded sets add dessert forks and butter knives for 24-piece settings. Most households find a 24-piece set covers the needs of a standard dinner party without needing to wash up mid-meal.

Quality 18/10 stainless steel cutlery is fully dishwasher-safe, with the 10% nickel content protecting against the slight corrosion that cheaper 18/0 grades can develop over years of daily use. Silver-plated cutlery should be hand-washed to preserve the plating, which is the main practical difference between the two finishes.

The two numbers describe the chromium and nickel content of stainless steel. 18/10 contains 18% chromium and 10% nickel, producing a brighter finish with superior corrosion resistance. 18/0 contains no nickel and costs less, but develops a duller finish over time. 18/10 is the standard for quality cutlery and what Heal's stocks.

Modern matte black cutlery uses a PVD (physical vapour deposition) coating, which bonds at the molecular level and resists scratching or fading through dishwasher use. Cheaper painted or anodised black cutlery wears within months, so the PVD specification is the detail worth confirming before ordering a black-finish set.