Should You Invest in Othenia Flatware?

by Hellen Zee

You have finally reached that age where you are starting to think about investing in a quality set of flatware. However, there are so many different kinds and brands of flatware on the market that sometimes it can be overwhelming. One of the first sets of flatware that you come across is Othenia flatware, but how do you know if Othenia is the right flatware for you? Here is a comparison of Othenia to a group of similar popular brands on the market.

Othenia is a unique piece of Oneida flatware in that it was inspired by the designs and sculptural details of Scandinavian furniture. Even though the inspiration comes from classic design, Othenia flatware still presents a sleek, clean design for your tabletop setting.

Othenia is only one small pattern in a historic line of silver and flatware that has lived as part of the century old legacy of Oneida. With top of the line craftsmanship and the title of one of the best silverware makers in the nation its now wonder why this company has lasted as long as it has. In fact Oneida carries five of the top designs in the industry, but how does its Othenia design stack up to its competition?

One such competitor is the flatware maker Gorham. Gorham has been in production longer, and is also similarly priced to Othenia, but it is also known for having a more traditional design. Othenia offers a more modern touch and takes its modern sense to its business practices as well by offering an open stock policy. This policy allows you to order single pieces of replacement flatware if part of your set gets misplaced or stolen. If this were to happen with your Gorham flatware you would have to buy an entire new set.

Another similar brand is the Towle Flatware Company. With three hundred years of experience, this brand has been known to offer classic style while still keeping up with the modern trends and designs of the market. However, Towle is still much more traditional then its Othenian counterpart. Towle also does not provide a "pattern for a lifetime gauruntee". This means that unlike Othenia, once its pattern has been discontinued, you will no longer be able to order replacement pieces.

Another possible brand to consider is Heritage. Heritage is by far the most comparable brand both in style and in cost, but it also unfortunately does not provide the same guarantees that an Oneida brand can offer when it comes to replacing lost or stolen pieces of your set.

You may also want to consider researching similar patterns within the Oneida brand. One such pattern is the Aquarius line. With a similar look and modern feel, Aquarius allows you the look you want while still providing the same guarantees of the Othenia brand if part of your collection were to be lost or stolen.

There are so many options available to you in the flatware market today that it would take an entire book to compare them all. That is why it is incredibly important to research not only the style, but the quality and promises that go along with the brand that you are considering purchasing.

Buying sterling silver or stainless steel quality Othenia flatware is a major investment. As long as you intelligently research the market and consider all your options before buying, you will end up with an heirloom quality addition to your future home dcor and dining experience.