Some of these include:

1. The design of the pattern
2. The type of steel used
3. The weight and gauge of the steel
4. The attention to details
5. The skill of the designer
6. The marketing intent of the company

The cost of producing a pattern is not only determined by the raw material cost, but also the development and production of the pieces. Some patterns require many hours of tool work to render the artist's design into an actual piece.

Once a concept has been approved and the artist's drawings completed, sample pieces are produced. Because of Ginkgo's commitment to quality, rigorous inspection standards are set. This inspection process occasionally makes it difficult to produce a product to our level of excellence. We must then go back to the drawing board and make corrections in order to produce a perfect piece.

This is a difficult question because better stainless companies such as Ginkgo International, Ltd. always use the proper weight and gauge of steel to properly execute the designer's intention. So this is not our major focus. Our pieces do tend to have more weight and a heavier gauge than other companies', but this is because of the designs. In addition to the gauge of the steel, we focus on the execution of the design features.

Companies trying to reach the lowest possible price points, of course, focus on the material used. If they can use 13 chrome steel and a light gauge of steel, costs of a pattern can be significantly reduced. However, if a piece is easily bendable, you may want to consider paying a little more for better quality and better long term value.

When you own a pattern by Ginkgo, not only will you be proud of your flatware, you'll have a product that gives a lifetime of beauty and durability.

Now inspect the piece carefully. Is it marked 18/8 or 18/10? There marks will ensure long lasting beauty. Do the spoon bowls taper to thinner edges at the tips? Many less expensive patterns are not “rolled” or “graded”. This results in poorly balanced pieces that are the same thickness at the ends as they are at the base of the bowls. Look between the tines of the forks, these should be finished to prevent burrs and rough edges. Tines should also taper to a point and have soft edges. The elevation of the tines and bowls should be consistent and not vary from piece to piece.

If you are using the stainless for entertaining, you may want a pattern with larger pieces as you will probably be using 10” or larger plates. You should ask yourself: Are the knives long enough? Do they have sufficient heft? If they are serrated, is the serration fine enough? With the knife on the right side of the plate, and the blade facing the plate, the serrations should be on the reverse side so that they are hardly noticeable. This prevents you from cutting into your plate, and it is more aesthetically pleasing. Ginkgo steak knives are serrated, but for the most part, we prefer to temper the blades of the dinner knives and put a fine edge on them. You should be able to judge the finish for yourself. A bright mirror finish should not have any pits or scuffmarks, and should be uniform and pleasing. A brushed or bead-blasted finish should be judged on it's uniformity and pleasing aspects to the eye. All finishes will show abrasions over time. This is natural, and a beautiful patina will develop with normal usage.

The designer pays attention to details you may never be aware of. Yet there is a certain something that just makes a piece look and feel right. Ginkgo, along with their designers, start with the conception of a pattern. The designer will present many drawings that will eventually evolve into a single design of what we feel is right. The models are then made from nickel silver, sterling, wood or aluminium, depending on the designer. These are critiqued by Ginkgo and the designer to ensure the proper feel, weight, balance, radius of curve, elevation of shoulder, tines and bowls. Detailed engineering drawings and soft dies are prepared for initial samples. The new samples are then critiqued. Final changes are made to any errors in the design, execution or production. Occasionally, concepts cannot be executed in large production runs without affecting the look and feel of the piece. We then have to go back to the drawing board to re-think our concepts. When we have finished a piece that Ginkgo and the designer are happy with, we begin production. When you choose a Ginkgo pattern, you should feel the love, care and attention to detail that goes into every piece.