What does a flatware set include? Lenox flatware sets include a five piece setting of stainless flatware. You can also buy the box sets which include 8 to 12 pieces. There are typically two different styles....
There are typically two different styles. Fine stainless steel is typically what people register for. They buy registry wares, a plate setting where it's a 5 piece setting of stainless flatware. It includes your plate fork, plate knife, salad fork, plate spoon, and a teaspoon. That's your five piece plate setting.
The advantage is it is available in open stock pieces. This refers to where you have all of your different hostess pieces like stir table spoon, sugar spoon, butter knife, and gravy ladle. Those are the most typical hostess pieces depending on certain patterns and how big they are. Sometimes they extend beyond that and get into seafood forks and accessory pieces.
Then, there is also what the industry refers to as the expanded sets, which are boxed sets. Typically, they range anywhere from a set of 8 to a set of 12. Typical sets are an 8/5 piece plates settings or a 12/5 piece plate setting. It is usually lower priced.
Q: The fine flatware can be ordered at your convenience?
Correct. You can order as many plate settings as you need. You can order the open stock anytime you want the additional pieces with a box set. When you buy the box, that's all you get. If you need more accessories, you need to buy a whole other box set again.
That is the big difference between the two, not just the quality but the availability. Typically a set pattern or a box set pattern is not around as long as a fine stainless pattern. Whenever a bride registers for the five stainless steel pattern, the chances are its going to be around for a number of years. We have patterns that have existed now for 25 years.
As for our box sets, they last about two years and then pretty much exit the market place.
