The best flatware is made of sterling silver. When it is of the highest quality, it is an attractive, sparkling addition to the table setting. This is meant to be used when there is a special occasion such as a holiday, birthday, anniversary or other day when guests are invited to dinner. This kind of flatware must be washed and dried with a soft cloth after every meal. It should be polished whenever it begins to appear dull.

To round out your tableware collection, silver plated flatware is a nice alternative to sterling silver. It is generally less expensive than sterling and more expensive than stainless steel. The silver on the flatware is actually very thin. Even with the thin coating, this can be valuable and very nice to own.