Years ago, cast iron cookware was made to a higher standard. Increasing production costs and pressure from aluminum cookware forced cast iron manufacturers to look for lower-cost methods. This change in production method resulted in the inexpensive cast iron cookware we see on the mass market today which is notably heavier and rougher than it should be. In order to cast this skillet to the tolerances and finishes we were looking for, we turned to a casting method called Investment (or lost wax) casting which has never been used before to create cast iron cookware. It is an extremely labor-intensive process, but we think it’s worth it. With the 10.5” skillet we have brought back the casting quality that existed years ago. If you could only have one pan in the kitchen the 10.5” Cast Iron may be your best choice. Cast by hand in Michigan