The colors are amazing; for plastic/acrylic handles, these have good heft & really sharp blades. A great starter set for any new kitchen, or for folks who need a good quality knife set without breaking the bank. These five knives are really all you need. We've gotten larger sets as gifts, and most of the "specialty knives" have gone completely unused in the 20+ years we've been married (who the heck needs a fish scaling knife?).  We're downsizing, and these knives are excellent replacements for our worn out gear!