India, Aug. 4 -- Gone are the days when cutlery was seen only as a tool for eating. Today, cutlery is getting the designer treatment, with gem-studded spoons and forks so pretty they could double as jewellery. Think flatware encrusted with gems, or handcrafted silver forks that look like ribbons. This recent wave proves that cutlery is as much about decoration as it is about function.

The trend is a full-circle comeback of something that's been around for centuries. Since ancient times, humans have elevated mealtime with ornate tools, from bronze and wooden utensils in Egyptian tombs to silver spoons from Pompeii.

Over the years, cutlery became a symbol of taste and refinement among the elite. The Victorians took it to another level wit...