Stainless steel is an alloy comprised of steel, chromium and nickel. Chrmoium gives stainless steel its rust resistance, while nickel gives it its shine. The amount of chromium and nickel is usually indicated on the package as a ration of 18/10, 18/8 and so on. These numberes actually represent the percentage of chromium and nickel. Quite simply, the higher percentage of nickel, the higher the quality. In addition to being the most economical option, stainless steel flatware requires little maintenance, is dishwasher safe and is highly durable. By far the most popular, stainless steel flatware is guaranteed to last for years to come!