For hundreds of years, families have treasured the silver flatware passed down from Mom or

Grandma. There is a relative newcomer catching up and on its way to becoming

one of America's favorite family heirlooms.

This new family heirloom is the stainless steel flatware

set your mother or grandmother passed down to you. Just as the family silver of

yesteryear brought back cherished childhood memories of an ancestor, many families

are finding that the stainless set they remember as children brings back the same

type of memories.

Sterling silver and silverplate flatware sets are still being passed down from

mother to daughter. However, we have seen a significant increase in the number

of people requesting replacements for an ancestor's stainless set. In fact, 50%

of our customers at SilverCollect.com are completing stainless sets received either from a family

member; or for a set they received as a wedding gift and wish to pass down.

There are also collectors of stainless patterns from a particular era or from a

particular flatware designer such as Jens Quistgaard, for example. A collector

may be attracted to the high quality of craftsmanship found in the vintage

flatware, or to the design - or both.

Unfortunately for those trying to complete these flatware sets, the patterns have

been discontinued more often than not. It can be difficult to locate vintage and

discontinued patterns in excellent condition. Patience is required as it can

often take years to complete a set. And for the more popular patterns demand is

high, supply is low, so you may find yourself paying more for stainless than for

sterling silver.

Here are a couple of tips to ensure that you maintain a complete stainless set; and to create a family heirloom to pass on to your children:

• If your pattern is still in production, buy extra pieces before it isdiscontinued. After discontinuation, supply can quickly become depleted; and

  prices can quickly go up.

• When you find pieces in great condition for your discontinued pattern, buy asmany extra pieces as you can afford. It may be the last time you see replacements in your pattern.

It's a good idea to have extra pieces of flatware on hand because some pieces will inevitably become “lost” or damaged. Forks are used the most so tend to get “lost” or damaged before the other pieces. They are

generally harder to find and often more costly to replace. Teaspoons have a tendency

to mysteriously disappear too.

Above all, just take care of your set. Use it but don't abuse it. It is

relatively easy to do, particularly in comparison to sterling silver or

silverplate. Silver can be relatively carefree if used regularly, but most

people just don't use it daily. Click here for more about Stainless Steel Flatware

Retired in 2005, the Frostfire stainless steel flatware pattern was produced for 20+ years by Oneida Community. This simple, yet very elegant pattern features a satin-finish handle, and is among the most popular flatware patterns. It is becoming increasingly difficult to find certain pieces and brand new stock is going fast. If you need or want to add brand new pieces to your existing set, buy now before all is gone.

Frostfire prices are holding steady at the moment but as stock quantities continue to dwindle, prices may increase. When these new pieces are no longer available on the market, previously-owned and used pieces could very well be priced higher than the current price of new pieces.

New Frostfire flatware is still available at SilverCollect.com. If the particular piece(s) you need shows as Out of Stock, just let us know via the automatic Stock Notification feature as described in this article.

What is Stainless? Stainless flatware is most commonly either 18/8 or 18/10

stainless steel. Some stainless flatware compounds contain varying amounts of

chromium and some contain nickel. Better flatware brands are made from steel

containing both chromium and nickel. The 18 in 18/8 and 18/10 means the steel

contains 18% chromium in combination with either 8% or 10% nickel; 18/0 indicates

0% nickel.

Chromium gives steel its stain and rust-resistant properties. Nickel provides

three functions:

• it combines with the other elements to make stainless rust free;

• it minimizes the steel's susceptibility to stain; and

• it imparts a brighter andwhiter color which gives the flatware a look similar to silver.

Care Instructions

Stainless steel requires some care, although minimal. It is not stain-proof.

Stainless is resistant to most foods, however, discoloration can be caused by

ingredients found in coffee, tea, eggs, salad dressing, vinegar, mustard and

salt. Pitting and spotting are usually the result of a high mineral content in

the water, undissolved particles of a high chloride detergent, or food with a

high salt content. It is recommended that all pieces should be washed

immediately after use. Avoid soaking in water overnight or for an extended

period of time.

Hand Washing: Wash in hot, soapy water using a mild detergent. Rinse in clean,

hot water and dry immediately. Avoid using abrasive cleaners and pads as these

will scratch the finish.

Using a Dishwasher: Use the engery cycle or remove flatware before hot air

drying. Hot air drying increases the probability of discoloration and can damage

hollow handle knives. If you use the extra detergent opening, be sure this does

not deposit the detergent directly onto the flatware. This can cause detergent

build-up which dulls your flatware finish.

If your flatware has already been dulled from dishwasher detergent, try hand

washing a few times to remove it. You can also use a non-abrasive stainless

cleaner. Use a cleaner which is not granular and specifically states it will not

scratch. At SilverCollect, we always have non-abrasive silver polish on hand,

and this works just as well as a stainless cleaner.