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Go with a classic. I was tempted to register for something a bit ostentatious and showy for our wedding china, but I'm so glad that family and friends talked me into something more classic and reasonable. You can always be more showy with chargers, fancy salad plates, tablecloths, etc.

I wish you had told us a little more about your tastes! With that lack of information in mind, I picked one of the simpler patterns, the Rochelle Platinum, but I also like the Maestro.

Regardless of the style and color scheme of your dining room, those will both look elegant.

I've always liked Aegean Mist and would have registered for ti when I got married if I hadn't inherited my great-grandmother's china. If I remember correctly, the soft blue has a hint of green in it that doesn't show up in the website pic.

I love the Maestro pattern--so simple, yet there seems to be a rhythm happening between the varying band widths. Would look great on a raw table top for more casual use, or on top of a bold table cloth for when you're feelin' sassy.

I like the Platinum Wave
http://chinaware.noritakechina.com/shoppingCart/noritakechina/ImagePopup.asp?image=//www.noritakechina.com/images/Products/Close_ups/9317.zoom.jpg

or for an enduring classic, the Atlantique
http://chinaware.noritakechina.com/shoppingCart/noritakechina/ImagePopup.asp?image=//www.noritakechina.com/images/Products/Close_ups/9344.zoom.jpg

Hard to choose for *you*, but I'd go with Maestro for its classic shape and color. It's a pattern with staying power and one that you can accessorize easily for different seasons and decor. Plus, I just think food looks more appetizing on simple china. Lucky you, have fun!

I also like the Aegean Mist - we ALMOST registered for it, but switched at the last minute for a Mikasa pattern with a little more glam.

I voted for Maestro here. I preferred it to the Rochelle Platinum largely because of the teacup (I prefer the shape - less girly, more mod), but also because of the great wide band on the salad plate. I like that one piece of the set is a little different from the rest.

Am I the lone wingnut calling for Metronome? I think pattern is timeless...of course my wedding cake also had a diamond pattern, so I might be a wee bitty biased here.

Definitely go for the Maestro. It has a more modern appeal. It also has much more of a unisex feel, while the Rochelle Platinum, which I also liked, has a primarily feminine look to it. The Maestro will be much more functional while the Rochelle Platinum is more for your fancy, gals only get together. So, I vote Maestro unless you're big on hosting elegant parties for your girlfriends - which is a definite possibility!

I'm with you ChryssF -- I love the Metronome pattern. Classic but still with personality, and not too girly.

I really like the Yoshino - it's a nice bridge between a modern and a classic pattern, but gives off a bit of an asian vibe as well.

When I chose my wedding china in 1985 I picked a very girly floral (Remembrance by Mikasa) - even though my design sensibilities have changed a lot since then, I still really love it.

The best surprise I got in buying our house is that in the attic there was a big box completely covered in dust and inside was almost a complete set of Noritake china, with serving trays and everything - the design is Floreal. I have no idea how long that box had been up there but the pattern has long since been discontinued. The thing is I use it all the time - I guess because I didn't actually pay for it. I love it.

Anyway, I wouldn't be too afraid of doing something a little bolder than just the very neutral patterns.

What a fantastic prize you won!

I can't really suggest which pattern is best for your taste, but wanted to point out that Noritake is really durable. I have my grandmother's set from the 1930s or 40s. I use it every single day, wash it in the dishwasher, and it still looks great.

The only patterns that can't go in the dishwasher are the ones with gold or silver leaf -- it can wear off. So I'd recommend a non-metallic. That way, you can really use your nice china, and not just stash it away for special occasions.

I have Noritake's Imperial Platinum. It's timeless. I got it for my wedding years ago and have never regretted it.

Veneto! That gold woven pattern would lend itself well to any season - pair it with bright green or pale blue linens and lots of flowers for a spring/summer affair, autumnal colors and acorns, branches and leaves for Thanksgiving and bolder jewel tones and gold for a sparkling holiday table.

I don't know what your tastes are, but I imagine this would work equally well in modern and traditional decor.

Am I alone in this? The poll says that this pattern is coming in second to Maestro (which is tasteful enough but leaves me cold). Anyone want to back me up?

Maybe my liking this has something to do with the gold kick I'm on right now, after years of banning anything gilded from my home!

I'm with bandanamom... Yoshino. (And what an thrilling attic find in the Floreal, it's beautiful!)

For Faye, Maestro is quite lovely as well.

If it were me, I'd give consideration to the patterns that will be discontinued in 2010, but I'm sentimental, I guess. The prospect of getting an entire service in one go lets you consider these, whereas you wouldn't if you were collecting pieces over time. Of the soon-to-be-discontinued patterns, Aria Platinum and Colorwave Sky look appealing.

Another vote for the Metronome! I love the architectural feel to it.

So many of the others like Maestro look like plain old boring wedding-banquet china...

...since you're not paying, I'd have some fun w/ it and choose the Yoshino - although the Veneto looks like it would mix well with other patterns too.

Maestro, it will go with whatever you put with it.

First, what an amazing thing to win! Picking out china is very hard, especially not knowing your tastes. I love the Veneto. It's classic, modern and just a little different.

The Maestro looks like it will go with anything and is lovely.

One thing I would suggest is going into the store and making sure whatever you choose is a true white. I chose Noritake's Sweet Leilani, and I still love it, *but* it's a translucent pale-gray instead of a true white. If I mix it with white pieces it looks dingy in comparison. (On the other hand, against a deep-colored tablecloth it glows, so it's not all bad.)

Also, I wouldn't worry too much about silver rims and the dishwasher. My Noritake is my everyday ware and goes into the dishwasher all the time, and the silver is fine. (Unlike the *cough* Waterford. Which is ok, as I have a mix of silver-rimmed and plain anyway. This just ... speeds up the process of getting things to match. Yeah, that's it.)

What a great prize! You know, I can see Veneto becoming the plaid of the 70s in about 10 years... I like Maestro, but the shape of the cup handle is giving me a problem.

I do, however, love the Windsor Platinum Set. I think it's slightly less boring than a single, banded service - but still classic and easily accessorized. Plus, I love the coupe shape of the cups.

It is never the plate but the food that goes on the plate.
Keep the plate simple so the food is the decoration. That would make my vote for......."Maestro"

I'm for the Rochelle Platinum. Normally I hate the idea people buy expensive china since they don't use it - but since you won it, good for you!

I voted for Rochelle Platinum because I like the art deco feel of the border, but I also really like Venetto. I think the Venetto has more punch to it, but it's less elegant. I also checked out the Noritake website and really like the Birchwood set:

http://chinaware.noritakechina.com/shoppingCart/noritakechina/Catalog.asp?category=Elegant&family=WhitePorcelain&product=6088&accessory=1

Have fun choosing!

I think the Yoshino is beautiful. If that is to your liking, I'd probably go with that. I mean, it's fancy china... so you may as well go all out if you ask me. But the Rochelle Platinum is lovely and very simple, too. So if you're more of a minimalist or if your style tends to change frequently, I'd go with that. I think both are beautiful. And you can't really go wrong here.

I liked the Hayden and the Palmer from their website.

16 is a lot of place settings. Will you ever use that many? Maybe split it and give 8 settings to a very good friend or family member (holiday gift?) or sell or re-raffle? Storing so many settings seems like a PITA.

You probably, deep down, have one you really, really want to get.

But if not, my strong opinion is Yoshino. It's so out of the ordinary compared to the others! And you probably already have other china-- it's not like you've been eating off the floor. Get something with pizzazz, something that shows off your personality.

That said, if you really do want to go with something "classic", keep in mind that Veneto's plaid and Metronome's sassy diamonds are both 60s throwbacks-- totally trendy. (Not to say they aren't awesome, just that they're not "classic").

also... Palmer is beautiful

oh, just another thought- any chance you can trade 4 or 8 of the settings for some serving pieces?

I totally vote for other....if I had any room in my condo when I was registering for my wedding I would have chosen Platinum Wave...I'm still holding out for it when we move to a real house and have a place to put nice china

hm, not really a fan of any of them...

Go with your gut and get the Veneto! Very chic.

My mother's china is Lennox, but it's a pattern very similar to Maestro, and she's had it for almost 40 years now -- and it doesn't look dated at all. It's simple and elegant, and while fashionable and trendy may be eye-catching, the truth is that if the china is quality (as Noritake and Lennox both are), then you'll still be using it in 40 years, and then your children may in turn use it as well... so you definitely don't want something that in ten years makes you go, ugh, what WAS I thinking? Elegance really is simplicity.

My mother's advice to me when picking a pattern was to see how long the company's been making that pattern. Don't buy if it's been less than five years -- because you don't want a plate broken five years from now and have no option of replacement b/c the pattern was a temporary trend. If it's a classic, there's a better chance you'll be able to get replacements ten, fifteen, or more years from now if anything gets broken. (Her pattern was introduced by Lennox in the 30s, I think, and is still being made... and we kids did kinda require a few replacements in our time.)

Her other advice was if you only have X amt of money, get the plateware in a simple pattern -- and later you can splurge on the servingware in a trendier (or holiday-oriented) pattern. A mix of bowls and large platters in different patterns makes for a vibrant table, with the simpler plateware acting like the classic simple-black museum frame. It'll blend nicely without competing against the larger/noisier single pieces that are also cheaper to buy, trade out, and trade up as your taste changes.

i am a little surprised no one else made this suggestion yet....why not split your settings into 8 of one pattern and 8 of another coordinating one so you'll have the option to use one pattern for some gatherings and mix and match for others...more bang for your buck...oh wait, you're not paying...even better!

Following links: my mother's Lennox pattern is very similar to Noritake's Atlantique. It's not a bone white, but a creamy almost-yellow, and she's mixed it with a variety of platters, bowls, and whatnot inherited and found and purchased, many of which are truer whites. The creamy-yellow plateware doesn't look dingy at all, but under candlelight it's a much warmer kind of glow than the pure white, which looks better in daylight.

I've never thought about it before, but I guess if you know you prefer to do mostly evening fine dining, then a yellower-base is better with candle/soft interior lighting, but if your finer dining is morning/daytime (like Christmas or Thanksgiving dinners, which are usually mid-day), then maybe lean harder towards a true white.

Spectrum is a classy, simple modern that goes well with everything! It works for everyday (which is great for china because constant use makes it stronger) and for special occasions.

I was always kind of partial to the Stoneleigh... it's a classic! Very crisp and nice detail. BUT, I longed for Crestwood Cobalt Platinum! I used to work in the china department at a big store, so I wasn't buying but we used to put together place settings all the time, lol.

One thing that is important to remember, if you're serious about matching you might want to look into the shapes of the teapot and serving platters and such. Just in case! Some of the extras are hideous, I find.

Faye here:
Simply put, you guys are awesome. My husband and I were considering Rochelle Gold - our dining room chairs are red with a dark wood table, so I thought the gold would look great with the red. I am so freakin excited to show all your replies to my husband when he gets home! Should I add that we also get to pick out crystral stemware from Noritake and Yamazaki cutlery? Ak!!! I'll let you guys know what we decide on! Thank you so so much!