<p>In the market for a new set and found a great pattern on sale online. They arrived and I love the look and weight but they’re shiny and I noticed fingerprints when I touched them. They’re sitting out on the kitchen counter as I decide if it’s worth it to try a set, wash them, etc. and see if they look good when used.</p>
<p>Anyone have shiny rather than matte silverware…how do your pieces look?</p>
<p>Signed, feeling lucky this is my <em>problem</em> of the day!</p>
<p>When you say “silverware,” do you mean silver, or stainless? I think most real silver looks better when it is used and develops some character. My silver and my stainless are both essentially “shiny,” certainly not matte. Never noticed fingerprints.</p>
<p>I have shiny stainless. I like it, but it does show water spots if you have hard water. Then you have to towel dry.</p>
<p>I’ve had the same set of shiny stainless by Gorham for 28 years and I’ve never noticed a fingerprint. I also have an inexpensive set of shiny stainless that I only use when I have lots of people over. Now that you mention it, I can see fingerprints on those pieces. But they aren’t very noticeable now that the pieces have those tiny scratches from normal wear and tear. If your pattern has a mirror-like finish now, chances are it won’t stay that way.</p>
<p>Thanks for the responses…I should have clarified that this is stainless…18/10. Grits80, I think that’s what I was wondering…after a bit of use, would it be an issue. On the other hand, celesteroberts, having to hand dry each piece coming out of the dishwasher doesn’t sound all that fun either (as I do think we have hard water).</p>
<p>I’m still using the Oneida stainless steel flatware that I got as a new bride 31 years ago.
Have never noticed finger prints. Still looks pretty good considering it’s age and every day usage.
I bought some inexpensive matte stainless steel from Target for our vacation home. It spots.</p>
<p>I have well water that’s chock full of minerals, but adding a rinse agent (Cascade or Finish brand) to the dishwasher pretty much eliminates spots on my shiny stainless flatware. I bought a new set a few years ago and found that the shininess that looked like too much at the start really calmed down after some use.</p>
<p>I have had Towle 18/10 stainless for years—10+, I would guess. The very shiny surfaces are now covered with tiny, tiny scratch marks, but no water spots. My D/W has cutlery baskets that require each utensil be placed in its own spot, so I don’t think the wear and tear is all from the D/W. Nonetheless, spots have never been an issue, but now that I have looked at it closely, perhaps I should be buying new!</p>