I've just recently picked my silver out - I'm still waffling between two china patterns, and I can't find any crystal I like.
I never really thought about it until I moved away from home and my mom gave me her old everyday china (Nikko - Blue Peony). There is only one salad plate left in the set, and I always use the salad plates for toast and such in the morning, so I went looking for her pattern (it's inactive now, btw). I was amazed at the sheer number of patterns out there, and most of them are soooo pretty =)
Silver: Towle's Old Master
Fine China: either Wedgwood's Celestial Platinum or Waterford's Alana
Everyday China: Nikko's Blue Peony
Crystal: So far the only one I like reasonably well is Reidel's Vinum, but I would prefer a similar uncut crystal with a silver or frosted pattern on it. I never really like the heft of the cut patterns (the crystal has to be thicker for a cut pattern).
I'd put pictures in, but I don't know how - you can find them all at replacements.com, though
