Custom Flatware 'Blade & Bloom' Sweetheart Set - Stainless Steel Black PVD Flatware

This flatware set has a very clean, classic design that can be dressed up for special meals or alternately used every day.  It is versatile enough to do both which is why this pattern appealed to us so much.  

Our contribution to this this product is the engraving, which was made to be used as a "Sweetheart Set" for meals with that special someone in your life.  The logo on this combines a Rose and Knife and it is meant to symbolize both the masculine and the feminine. (But note that both items are a bit "prickly" at times...we are realists over here.) 

We customize each set with two letters of your choice.  One for you and one for your partner.  We think these are great for newlyweds, anniversaries and Valentine's Day Dinners. 

When you order, make sure the email you use under the order form is valid. We will email you within 2 days to confirm the letters you would like on your set. Once confirmed we will send a proof of the image as it will appear on your knife and once you "OK" the proof, we will process the order.

*Please know that these are engraved to order so please allow 1-2 weeks to process before the order ships. If you have a specific date that you need your flatware by, then let us know via email at info@noraknives.com and we will do our best to accommodate your needs. As of 02.05.20, due to a large amount of orders received, we can not guarantee Valentine's Day Delivery but we will do our best!

FOR MORE INFO, READ ON...

HOW IS THE WEIGHT ON THESE?

In a perfect world I would love for this set to be just a bit heavier.  The knives have a good weight to them but the fork and spoon feel on the lighter side and my preference is a heavier flatware set.  Weight is a personal preference however so this may be a perfect fit for someone that likes their flatware to feel a bit more nimble.  I would overall place this square in the mid-weight category.  If you want a really hefty feel to the set though this may not be your ideal fit.

WHAT ABOUT THE SIZE OF THESE?

The spoon is larger than most on the market.  I feel it is a perfect soup size.  It will also be appreciated by the men in the house.  It may be a bit over sized for most children.  The fork is mid-range and feels neither too big or too small.  Likewise, the knife feels not too big, not too small although the entire set will be better suited to adult hands as compared to smaller children.

HOW DO THEY GET THAT BLACK FINISH?

The black finish on this flatware is the result of a process called PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition.) PVD is a thin vaporized coating, such as a metal or oxide coating (usually titanium), that manufacturers adhere to flatware in a controlled sealed vacuum chamber. In general, PVD provides a much more uniform coating than any other technology and is generally recognized to form coatings that are stronger and better bonded to the substrate material.  This is in contrast to many electroplated flatware sets that may look similar but will have a much less durable finish and show scratches quickly. 

WHO MAKES THIS SET?

This set is manufactured by the Dutch flatware company, Amefa. Amefa has been in business since 1931 and is a large player in the European flatware market. We chose to use Amefa's products after purchasing a variety of other sets on the market and testing them.  Amefa was a good combination of quality and price and we felt comfortable known their cutlery was consistently the same throughout testing.  We couldn't say the same for many other brands we tried who seemed to have mixed results.  

SIDE NOTE: Ideally, we would love to source a US manufacturer for this product but, alas, there is only 1 (one!) flatware manufacturer in the US and they do not currently produce any black colored flatware.  

WHAT IS THE STEEL MADE OF?

18/0 (Fork & Spoon)
18/0 indicates the percentage of Chromium, which is 18%. Nickel is not added to this set which is why the second number is "0". The presence of Nickel gives a flatware pattern a superior shine, which is intended to mimic new silver flatware.  In this case, because the flatware is being coated with a PVD finish, the nickel is not necessary which is likely why it is not used in this product.  The nickel does add weight, however, which is a factor for many people when choosing a flatware set.  

13/0 (Knife)
13/0 indicates the percentage of Chromium, which is 13%. Nickel is not added (still with good corrosion resistance). This steel is basically what is used on virtually every flatware knife out there. The knives use a different steel from the forks and spoons because they generally require a higher hardness and, as such, this steel has a slightly higher carbon content. This type of steel can be hardened and re-shaped when needed. An advantage that ensures the sharpness and durability of the knife blades for a longer period of time. 

IS THE KNIFE SHARP?

This is a hard one for us to answer as flatware knives are painfully dull in comparison to what we are used to on our knives.  The short answer is that the knives are generally sharp enough to cut most food items but we would (of course) love for them to be sharper. These will not work for a tougher steak or those food items that are generally better suited to steak knives.

With that said, the sharpness on this set seems somewhat par for the course and there are few that we have found that are much sharper.  (On the plus side, no one is going to get injured at Thanksgiving dinner.)

HOW DO I CARE FOR THESE KNIVES?

The cutlery featured is made of 18% (18/0) quality stainless steel and safe for contact with food. This cutlery is dishwasher safe when taking into account Amefa's instructions:

First, a note on handwashing...
Handwashing remains preferable and is advised to maintain the shine. Avoid scouring pads, bleach detergents and the use of sodium. Rinse food residue promptly or wash your cutlery directly after using, prolonged exposure to salts and food acids causes damage. Don’t leave your cutlery soaking. After washing, dry straightaway with a soft cloth.

Dishwashing...
Dishwashing is fine when taking into account the following instructions: When using the dishwasher, avoid aggressive detergents as these will damage your cutlery, use gentle detergents with a phosphate level below 3% and avoid sodium. We recommend using dishwashing programs with a low temperature of 40ºC or less. Check if your dishwasher features an eco-friendly program, most of these programs offer a low temperature of 40ºC or less. Rinse food residue promptly before putting the pieces in the dishwasher, prolonged exposure to salts and food acids (e.g. mayonnaise, vinegar, mustard) causes damage. Do not wash your cutlery in contact with cutlery, knives or utensils of a lower steel quality as chemical reactions will mark the steel. Remove the pieces from the dishwasher when the cycle is finished and towel dry your cutlery to prevent spotting. Don’t leave your cutlery to cool. Remove any water spots with a soft cloth to keep its shine.

Also, carefully hand wash your cutlery before first use.

SO WAIT...CAN I OR CAN'T I WASH THESE IN THE DISHWASHER?

You can wash these in the dishwasher. Samples of this set have survived 70+ wash cycles here at our own house with no sign of staining, rust or discoloration. We used both the standard cycles and the high heat sanitize cycles and had no issues with either one.

Please note, though, that these knives don't play well with others.  What we have noticed is that if you have older, vintage sets they themselves may discolor.  This was the case with a vintage bronze set of flatware that we have. When we washed it with the black PVD it actually tended to discolor the bronze.  No issues with the Amefa set at all but something we wanted to note.  As mentioned in the care instructions above, which are taken directly from Amefa, it appears the PVD coating may react with certain other metals so its best to wash this set with modern flatware if possible.

EVERYONE KNOWS THAT WITH A FORMAL PLACE SETTING THE KNIFE BLADE SHOULD FACE TOWARDS THE PLATE.  SO WHY IS THE ENGRAVING ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE???

We're rebels that's why.  Why not get a little crazy and break the rules sometimes? 

Also, the "AMEFA" brand logo is located on the other side and that's just not as pretty to look at.