Is Sand Dune Flatware Right for Me?

by Gene Logan

Many people start to think about flatware when they register for their wedding. Actually, anytime in your life is a great time to think about investing in flatware. Not only will you be adding a touch of refinement and class to your dining setting, you will also be investing in heirloom quality pieces that can continue to be passed down in your family for generations to come.

Don’t let the many different brands of flatware on the market overwhelm you. You may think to yourself that you could never choose between the different prices, styles, colors, qualities, and brands of flatware. However, if you take a breath and ask yourself what is important to you in your new silverware purchase, you will be walking home with a new set in no time.

First pick one area of flatware to research and work your way out. A great place to start is with the world famous brand Oneida. You may even want to get more specific and start with their Sand Dune line.

With an interesting and long legacy, Oneida has established itself as a power player in the flatware market. This brand goes all the way back to the 1800′s where in a small commune in upstate New York a silver company was started. This small silver company was the only thing to survive the communes somewhat notorious past and has gone on to grow to one of the most well known flatware companies in the world.

Oneida’s Sand Dune line is just one example of the quality and craftsmanship that has been born out of the legacy of this company. Advertised as being “contoured, contemporary, and cool” the Sand Dune pattern consists of intelligent clean lines that edge a teardrop like shape. This modern yet classic design will compliment the styles of anyone’s tastes, but does it stand up to its competition?

A comparable brand to consider would be Lenox. Lenox has many similar designs that feature contemporary styling, but more often Lenox tends to favor for a more traditional styling in its details. Lenox also does not offer a “pattern for a lifetime” guarantee. This means that if for some reason Lenox decides to discontinue your pattern, you will not be able to order or replace any part of your set if it were to be lost or stolen. Lenox does offer a “breakage replacement” but as most pieces are made from stainless steel or silver, having your flatware broken is not necessarily a common occurrence.

Another brand to consider for comparison is Mikasa. Mikasa is a relatively newer company compared to Oneida, but has wasted no time in establishing itself as one of the top producers of dinnerware. Mikasa has a few different lines that compare to the Sand Dunes style and design, however, unlike the Sand Dune collection, if you were to lose even one piece of your collection you would be unable to buy just that one piece. Without the open stock policy of Oneida that Sand Dune provides, you will be forced to buy an entire new set instead of just the piece that was lost.

In this article we only approached two of the hundreds of different styles and brands that you can compare the Sand Dune flatware with. The options can be confusing, but this is why it is so important to go through with all of your research and look not only at what sets are most appealing from a design stance, but also from an investment standpoint.

You will most likely be spending a fair amount of money when buying a quality flatware set whether you choose to go with the Sand Dune pattern or not. This is why it is so important to take into account all of the points that accompany your brand, not just whether it looks pretty on your tabletop. If you follow through with your research you will be guaranteed to be enjoying a quality set of flatware that will be a part of your life for many years to come.

About the Author:

No Comments

Leave a reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.