We’ve sourced out some incredible gold flatware for you to drool over. Imagine one of these sets proudly displayed on your holiday table for everyone to “ooh” and “aah” over. Your friends and family might even be afraid to “break them in.” Paired with your best china, any one of these sets will add a shine to your holiday table presentation.
All of these sets are rated well above 4.0 stars on Amazon, and all of them except the Lenox ones come with free shipping. And there’s Amazon’s incredible return policy, of course.
With all Top 5, you will receive:
- 8 salad forks
- 8 dinner forks
- 8 dinner knives
- 8 dinner spoons
- 8 teaspoons
Our #1 “Wowser” Pick: Mikasa Cameo Gold 65-Piece Gold Flatware Set
This sterling silver flatware set comes with golden accents in a gorgeous edging pattern. You also get a bonus of not only a service for 8 but actually a service for 12. Extra pieces come in handy over time in case of damage or loss. (Or giving a couple of place settings to friends for their very own).
What really makes this set stand out for me is that the pieces are made of sterling silver with 24K gold accents rather than stainless steel. Most flatware sets are sterling silver (not quite as high-grade as fine sterling silver but high-content silver at over 90%) or even stainless steel of varying grades or silver-plated. But this is well-crafted flatware has included 24K gold instead of 18K gold accents so they’ll make a classy statement on your table.
You’ll also get a 5-piece Hostess Helper Set which includes:
- Tablespoon
- Pierced Tablespoon
- Sugar Spoon
- Butter Knife
- Cold Meat Fork
My other favorite part is definitely the pattern. I love the subtle edging design. Whether you’re after a stunning decorative set or one for formal dinners, you’ll rake in compliments for them. If you have a fancy china pattern or design, sometimes the “simple flatware” patterns make a good combination. And if you have gold-rimmed china, these gold sets can be stunning. Be sure to take a close look at this one to see if it is a good match.
So if you fall in love, be sure to check out other sellers at the “new” price level.
Sometimes the pricing can be significantly better on some sellers, especially when the set has such exceptional value like this one.
But given the price, make sure you’ve chosen a reputable seller.
This isn’t an inexpensive set by price or quality, but if you’re looking for upscale, high-end, fabulous quality flatware, I encourage you to take a look.
Our #2 “Fabulous” Pick: Oneida Golden Juilliard Flatware
Looking for something simpler? Try this 18/10 stainless steel flatware — it comes with 18K gold electroplate and has golden tip accents in a romantic fleur-de-lis pattern. If your china or stemware is trimmed in gold and would look good with an understated flatware pattern, be sure to check out this set from Oneida’s Heirloom Collection.
If you’re looking for a classic pattern that will never go out of style, I believe this will be your icing on the cake for an enviable holiday display. The big thing with formal place settings is that it always comes down to your china design. You want a good match. So check out this pattern if you think it might be a good complement to your china set or stemware and add elegance to each place setting.
Do you want something less expensive than fine sterling silver as the base metal (Wowser #1 above)? Or even sterling silver? Then the 18/10 stainless steel you see here is the next best bet. The metals in this alloy help reduce corrosion, increase durability, and provide a soft sheen that looks similar to silver. (For more technical information, read here.)
The 18K gold electroplate is a thin sheen of 18K gold added to the stainless steel to provide some additional “amazing” to the basic pattern.
For 18/10 stainless steel with gold electroplate, the price is surprisingly reasonable at Amazon.
So for a quality offering in high-end stainless steel with gold trimming, I like the looks of this one. I think you will, too, if you like the simpler touch.
Our #3 “Larger Than Life” Pick: Oneida Golden Aquarius 45-Piece Fine Flatware
This 18/10 stainless flatware comes with 18K gold electroplate and has golden accents twined throughout the handle. It’s an elegant pattern worthy of the Aquarius age itself and it’s sure to go well with the fanciest china. This set catches attention the moment you feast your eyes on the table and decorations. And, if you’re big on fancier gold patterning, it’s probably the best set of the five.
You’ll also get a 5-piece Hostess Set which includes:
- Serving Spoon
- Pierced Serving Spoon
- Serving Spoon
- Sugar Spoon
- Butter Knife
- Meat Fork
The 18/10 stainless steel, as I mentioned in the Oneida above, is the best stainless steel choice for your flatware. Unlike the 24K gold electroplate in the older Golden Juilliard set, this is a step down with 18K gold. My guess is that this is to keep the cost down because the gold plating is more extensive.
As a reviewer put it, “Even more beautiful than the picture, and we’d buy again in a heartbeat.”
With that recommendation, you owe it to yourself to take a look.
Our #4 “Subtle Elegance” Pick: Hermann Miller Royal Family Collection 72-Piece Fine Gold Flatware Set with Gift Carrying Case
This 18/10 surgical grade stainless flatware comes with gold engraved accents on the handle in an intricate display.
If you have gold-rimmed china or gold-banded crystal glassware, this set looks like it will be a beautiful but understated complement to them.
Common to larger sets, but unlike sets with only 8 or fewer place settings), a gift-style storage case is included. It is a good one for gifts and also carrying this flatware safely to avoid any damage. It includes a lock to make the lid stay on firmly. This also makes it easy to store this massive quantity of flatware easily.
This set is not your usual place setting combination. But with service for 12 you’ll get everything you need, just with some slightly different names. And with service for 12 people, you can always have extra pieces to substitute for a missing fork or spoon that you need for a place setting. You will get 12 each of:
- Knife
- Fork
- Spoon
- Teaspoon
- Tea Fork (salad fork)
You’ll also get an Incredible 12-piece Hostess Set which includes:
- Sugar Tong
- Meat Fork (2 included)
- Cake Spatula
- Gravy Ladle
- Soup Ladle
- Serving Spoon (2 included)
- Soup Spoon
- Salad Fork and Salad Spoon (1 pair for serving)
- Sugar Spoon
As a reviewer put it, “Everything is beautiful. I was afraid they could look barroque but instead this flatware looks elegant. I was concerned also about the weight; however they are not too heavy or too light, and perfect weight for my taste…” Overall, this set has a 4.6 rating as of our review with over 90 ratings to date.
If you’re looking for good quality, nice-looking flatware with a reasonable price, be sure to consider this one.
Our #5 “Unique Design” Pick: Venezia Collection ‘Milano’ 40-Piece Fine Flatware Set
This 18/10 surgical stainless steel flatware comes with 24K gold trim and has an banded ring on the solid and well-balanced handle.
If you have gold-rimmed china or gold-banded crystal glassware with an unusual edge, this might complement them better than complicated designs or overly traditional simple designs.
Unfortunately, this set does not come with a Hostess Set, which for sets this size is a bit unusual.
The flatware has a mirror polish on it so you don’t have to re-polish the pieces. And although they say they are dishwasher safe, I always wash mine by hand and dry right away anyway to be safe.
If you’re looking for high quality and nice-looking flatware with a reasonable price, be sure to check this one out further.
Our Final Recommendations — Care and Handling
Most people are aware that fine sterling silver and regular sterling silver flatware require careful handling. But it’s worth repeating when you’re spending a fair bit and wanting them to last.
You should always hand-wash these pieces with a softer, less-abrasive soap. Dry them right away to avoid spotting, and use a soft chamois or soft cloth to prevent scratching or damage. Also, silver needs to be polished regularly, at least twice a year even if you don’t use it. That will help keep it in top shape for years to come. Some makers say that polishing is not necessary, but I recommend not taking the risk.
While people believe stainless steel is dishwasher safe because it is “stainless,” I strongly believe — just like cooking knives — that it is still a good idea to wash them by hand. Like silver, you should also immediately dry your good flatware. Long experience has taught me that even “stainless” items can spot and corrode in the dishwasher no matter what they say.
And since gold is a softer metal, even in electroplate, it can damage more easily. Not to mention the terrible potential for bending or distorting items put in the dishwasher just because they were pushed against other residents of your dishwasher.
So take a look at some of these if you’re looking for gold flatware with service for eight. They’re gorgeous, with a nice range of prices, and a good place to start in your hunt for excellent table settings.