Knowledge Center
Flatware Finishes and Coatings
Two identical patterns in the same steel can look completely different depending on how the surface is finished. Finish is a separate line on the specification from grade and gauge, and it drives both appearance and cost.
Mirror Polish
Mirror polish takes the surface through progressively finer abrasive stages until it reflects like glass. It is the brightest finish available on bare stainless steel and the one most associated with formal table settings.
It is also the least forgiving: a mirror surface shows fingerprints, water spots and fine scratches more readily than any other finish. Buyers supplying banquet and hotel service usually accept that trade off for the appearance.
Machine Polish
Machine polish, sometimes called satin or matt polish, stops short of the mirror stage and leaves a fine directional grain. The result is a softer, less reflective surface.
Because the grain breaks up reflections, machine polished pieces hide light scratching and water marking far better in daily service. High volume catering ranges frequently specify it for that reason.
Gold Polish and Gold Plating
Gold finished flatware is produced by plating a gold coloured layer over a polished stainless steel base. The base still has to be polished first, because plating follows the surface underneath rather than hiding it.
Gold finishes are almost always specified for gift, wedding and premium retail programmes rather than for heavy commercial service, since a plated layer is thinner than the steel it sits on.
PVD Coating
PVD stands for physical vapour deposition. The pieces are placed in a vacuum chamber where a metal compound is vaporised and deposited on the surface as a very thin, hard, evenly bonded layer.
PVD gives colour options that bare steel cannot reach, including black, champagne, rose and gold tones, and the coating is harder and more wear resistant than a conventional plated layer. Like gold plating, it is applied over a polished base, so a mirror polished blank produces a brighter PVD result than a machine polished one.
Related Products
HouseLeader Products Limited produces stainless steel flatware in 410, 18-0 and 18-8, with mirror polish, machine polish, gold polish and PVD coating finishes.
FAQ
Common Questions
Which finish is most durable in a commercial dishwasher
Machine polish generally shows wear the least, because the grain disguises fine scratching. PVD is the most wear resistant coating, but the base finish under it still matters.
Can a mirror polished piece be re-polished later
Bare stainless steel can be re-polished. A plated or PVD coated piece cannot, because polishing removes the coating.
Does PVD change the food contact status
PVD deposits an inert, tightly bonded layer. Food contact suitability should still be confirmed in writing for the specific coating used on your order.
Put This Into a Specification
Send the grade, finish and packing you have settled on and the factory quotes against it.