This Is the most simple and elegant flatware set I have ever seen or owned. The handles are round and almost teardrop shaped with a nice weight to them. They are beautifully balanced and they are a bit larger than your average flatware set. The knives being 3cm longer than the knives from my old set. The forks are also oversized but you get used to them. When I compared the salad forks to my old set they matched my dinner forks in size perfectly! Having said that it has taken me less than 24 hours to get used to the change. The reason I got the Pallone set was the shape of the forks and the knife blade shape I love the vaguely spork like shape of the forks and the knives are SHARP meaning you can use them to actually cut meat without breaking a sweat. This set is pricey but a worthy investment. Your grandchildren will be fighting over who gets these when you are gone.