I bought these knives when the set was on special for $60 instead of the usual $100. While they look great, the pros of this knife set end about there.

They don't hold their sharpness very long and require constant sharpening to maintain a useable edge. That in itself is a rather minor complaint, but it gets much worse. These knives rust VERY easily. If you leave them in the sink for even a day, rust spots will appear. Normally this isn't a problem since you can just clean it off, but where the rust appears, the metal quickly weakens. In less than 8 months I've had 3 of the steak knives acquire CRACKS in the metal at the base, and one of the cutting knives chipped off a 3mm area of the cutting blade while being sharpened.

The only reason I've given this set 3 stars is because Chicago, after much argument, was willing to send me replacement knives at no cost. Otherwise, this set would be a flat 1.

Long story short, for $100, way not worth it.. you can do far better for the same price with other higher rated sets on Amazon. For $50 this set would be worth it.

I bought this set from Bed Bath and Beyond. We used several knives, hand washed them and let them dry overnight on a rack in the sink. One knife had a large rusty stain on it in the next morning! My wife and I could not believe it. It would not happen even to one of our dollar store knives! So much for the steel made in China! We were able to return the set and bought Henckels from Amazon and have been satisfied with them. I made sure, the set is made of German steel in Germany.

First off, I've worked in kitchens for about eight years. All high end resteraunts, so I understand what makes for high quality cutlery. For work I have a set of Wusthof Triton blades, you won't find many better knives than that. But at home I have this Insignia set because I would never trust my roommate or girlfriend with a $150 Wusthof knife. Having this set has paid off immensely.

I always wash a knife by hand, just common sense. True their stainless steel, but stainless can still rust. Some of these knives have unfortunately been through the dishwasher a couple of times and have come out just fine; I have never had any problem with rust.
The balance of these knives is superb. And the quality of the steel is very good. These knives will keep a sharp edge for weeks, and I use them daily.

People complain that they're not that sharp, but what they don't realize is you can't just run the sharpener over them to sharpen them. You have to keep the knife at low angle and maintain that with every stroke. If you know how to sharpen knife, these will come very close to a brand new professional blade.

I would easily recommend these knives to anyone looking to spend $100 to $200 for a set. I have seen much cheaper quality sets for more money. This definately is a great buy for the money.

I know others had problems with rust spots - I haven't had ANY issues like that. I think if you hand wash after use you will be fine. They definitely aren't for the dishwasher.

My only complaint is that they arrived dull. Yes, there is a sharpener, I received two in fact, but still, having to sharpen all the knives (not the steak ones obviously) took a bit of the newness out of the situation, and made it work.

Otherwise, they are great, and after a lot of time spent for the initial sharpen I haven't had a problem. They are nicely balanced, and look very nice on my countertop.

Better than most expensive knives for a fraction of the price.

Bio-factor: I bought these because they do not have any seams. Most other knife sets have a seam where the blade and handle meet, thus allowing grime to build up and bacteria etc to live between the handle and blade. (I'm sure you've seen knives before with that little bit of mystery crud in the crevices) Of course, if you are a meticulous perfectionsit like me, you make sure that you scrub that area very well with soap hot water and the scrub brush (and dont forget to dry them!), but many people are not that way. Since this is a one-piece design, and is quite fluid, it is VERY easy to clean, and there is ABSOLUTELY NO PLACE for dirt or bacteria to hide and grow. *****

When I first saw these knives, they caught my eye and stopped me in my tracks. The design is absolutely beautiful. Additionally, the balance is pretty good on the larger blades. The smaller ones are not as balanced, but because of their light weight and small size, it really does not matter to me. We have had this set for over 2 years now, and the blades are stil nice and sharp. Either way, they are very aesthetically pleasing, very comfortable to use, and still dangerously sharp. *****

Another thing... many types of metal DO rust. However, if you take care of your kitchen tools, this should not be a problem for you. Generally, you are supposed to hand wash you knives and dry them after use. (no dishwasher!... There are certain things that should not go in the dishwasher: your good knives, children, car parts, etc..) Some people even recommend oiling the blades. These knives are great tools, and a great investment. Take care of them and they will take care of you for a very long time. BUT... If you just want a set of knives that you can throw in the dishwasher, or leave sitting in the sink full of water, then look elsewhere. *****

cutting 4.5/5
appearance 5/5
blanace 4.5/5
ease of cleaning (bio factor) 5/5