The 10 Best chef's knives £52, hartsofstur.com These are crafted from ceramic zirconia, second in durability to diamond - say its makers - and are extremely light in the hand. Can be put in the dishwasher. Naifu D67 £79.50, chefsknifestore.co.uk Beautifully balanced Japanese-style knife that has bevelled indentations ground into its Damascus steel blade to avoid friction, leaving a clean slice. ProCook classic £10, procook.co.uk Inexpensive, but fully tanged (where the blade runs all the way through the handle), so you can sharpen it as you wish. A good "starter" knife. Joseph Joseph £15, josephjoseph.com Comfy handle and non-stick blade. It has a clever, weighted handle, so you can put it on the side and it tilts so the blade doesn't touch your work surface. Kai £165, taylors-eye-witness.co.uk Anthony Bourdain once said: "Don't touch my dick, don't touch my knife" - he probably had one of these at the time. Global £130, globalknives.uk.com Hollow, feather-light handle and an exceptionally strong blade. Only gripe is the heel (where blade meets handle), which could be bigger, so beware the odd slip. Lakeland Select £33.99, lakeland.co.uk Some chefs favour high-carbon steel, so their blades remain true. Many like these, with slightly softer blades, as they can be sharpened to the point you need. £42, conranshop.co.uk This doesn't rely on its heritage - it's top-notch: made from one single piece of high-carbon steel, which means it should keep its edge for years. Veritable Sabatier £57, taylors-eye-witness.co.uk Another blade made from a single piece of high-carbon steel, this is tough as old boots. It's also in the French style - almost triangular - so it is a perfect slicer. Welch £52, robertwelch.com Like most German chefs' knives, this has a curved section at the front, which is useful for those who like chopping in a rocking motion. Comfy in the hand too.