How OVE Cutlery Is Made: The Steel, the Process and the Mirror Finish
by CWDH, 2 min reading time
Ever wondered why OVE cutlery keeps its shine through years of daily restaurant service? Here's what goes into every fork, knife and spoon — from German steel to hand polishing.
When you pick up a piece of OVE cutlery, you're holding the result of a surprisingly involved manufacturing process. Here's what actually goes into the forks, knives and spoons we supply to restaurants, hotels and caterers across Ireland — and why it matters for how they perform in daily service.
It starts with the steel
OVE cutlery is made from two grades of stainless steel, and the difference between them matters when you're kitting out a venue.
18/10 steel contains roughly 18% chromium and 10% nickel. The chromium gives corrosion resistance; the nickel adds a deeper lustre and extra protection against acids and repeated dishwasher cycles. Collections like Como, Torino and Amarone use this grade — it's the choice for fine dining rooms and hotels where the cutlery is part of the presentation.
18/0 steel keeps the 18% chromium but skips the added nickel. It's still durable and corrosion-resistant, but more economical — and because it's nickel-free, it's also hypoallergenic. Collections like Bologna and Fjord use this grade, which makes them a smart buy for high-volume operations: bistros, pizzerias, canteens and busy cafés replacing cutlery at scale.
From steel sheet to finished fork
Each piece goes through a long chain of steps before it reaches a table. The steel is cut into blanks sized for the final piece, then stamped and formed into shape. Edges are ground smooth so there are no rough spots, and decorative patterns are pressed into the handles where the design calls for it.
The mirror finish — polished three times
The finish is where OVE stands apart. Every piece is polished in three stages: two machine polishing cycles that remove tiny surface defects and smooth the steel, followed by a final polish to a true mirror effect — on premium lines, this last stage is done by hand. That's why an OVE knife catches the light the way it does, and why the shine survives years of commercial dishwashing rather than dulling after a few months.
Coloured collections — the Amarone Gold, Bronze and Black lines, or the Fjord Black and Gold ranges — get their finish through PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition): metal is evaporated in a high vacuum and settles as an ultra-thin, tightly bonded layer of colour on the steel. It's not a paint or coating that chips; it's part of the surface, and it's dishwasher safe.
Checked before it ships
Before packing, every piece is cleaned of production residue and inspected for shape, balance and surface quality. That balance check is why OVE cutlery feels right in the hand — the weight sits where it should, whether you're a guest cutting a steak or a waiter polishing 200 covers before service.
What this means for your venue
Cutlery is one of the few pieces of equipment every single guest handles. The production care above is why OVE pieces are sold with confidence into intensive daily use — and why most of our OVE range carries a 100-year corrosion guarantee. Browse the full OVE cutlery collection on cwdh.ie, from classic Como and Torino to the coloured Amarone and Fjord lines, all sold in service-ready packs of 12.
