This is my second set of this particular cookware. The first set we received several years ago, and I retired a few of those pieces due to wear and tear - but I definitely still could have used them. There was some scratches and such, but they still worked great. My new bronze set is beautiful and functional! The color is really classy. I love the various sizes offered in this set - really a great starter set with small-to-large pots and a few sizes of frying pans - including an awesome "sided" pan that is great for cooking soupy mixtures, hot dish, frying taco meat, etc. The lids are awesome, too.  This cook set is really sturdy, and the hard-anodized finish is very high quality and won't scrape off unless you go at it with a metal utensil (which you shouldn't do ... but sometimes husbands forget). :) I definitely recommend this set!