17 06 25
by bronte.capper

Cutlery Explainer

When we talk about the quality of our cutlery we use terms like 18/10 stainless steel, PVD coatings and finishes, but what do these mean and why are they important?

18/10 Stainless Steel

18/10 refers to the 10% nickel content in our cutlery, which means higher durability, with better resistance to staining and rust compared to 18/0 cutlery ranges that do not contain nickel. 18/10 is the best quality stainless steel option for polished cutlery, since it maintains a brighter and more lustrous shine. 

18/0 Stainless Steel

18/0 cutlery means 0% nickel content; this is a more economical stainless steel compared to 18/10. The absence of nickel makes the metal magnetic; it is also harder than 18/10 and therefore more difficult to polish. 

Coatings & Finishes

Our cutlery collections come in a variety of finishes to complement different dining settings.  

Mirror Finish – Our most popular finish means the pieces are polished to a high-gloss reflective shine, creating a premium look and feel. Our mirror finished cutlery collections are ‘ultra-polished’, this means they’re not just polished for shine but also to smooth and round edges, producing cutlery that is comfortable to hold and that feels luxurious. 

Coatings & Finishes

Satin Finish – Comas cutlery collections such as BCN and Kodai** feature a durable PVD coating, creating a satin feel in colours like copper and black. PVD stands for Physical Vapour Deposition, which is a high-tech process to add a thin, durable layer of metal compound to the cutlery pieces. These contemporary, coloured collections are ideal for design-forward, modern restaurants. 

Stonewash Finish – A stonewashed finish refers to a textured, matte surface that is achieved through tumbling the cutlery alongside pieces of stone. This creates a rustic, patinaed effect that adds character to casual dining settings, check out Tanner Vintage or Sola Durban Vintage**. Stonewashed cutlery is extremely durable and has the added benefit of disguising scratches and finger marks, it’s also low maintenance since it doesn’t require polishing. 

Gauge

When we talk about gauge we’re referring to the thickness of the table fork and tablespoon at the neck of the handle. Cutlery ranges with a higher gauge are considered more premium, since they feel more substantial and luxurious. 

Our Cutlery Brands

Churchill’s cutlery collection features our own exclusive designs, manufactured in the finest quality 18/10 stainless steel. Comas and Sola brands are also available within the UK. Based in Barcelona, Comas bring innovative cutlery designs to modern tabletops. Sola Netherlands have been one of the world’s leading hospitality cutlery suppliers since 1922 and feature a broad portfolio of both contemporary and traditional designs. 

**Sola and Comas cutlery is only available in the UK 

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