Well, I bought these and a set of Martha Stewart mills at the same time. These are quite nice, they do what they are supposed to do. HOWEVER, compared to the ones I gave to a friend, her birthday gift is nicer than the ones I elected to keep. These are a good classic shape, but hers are prettier. They do indeed crush, but I would greatly prefer that the crushed bits were much smaller. And althugh its silly, her refills came in little glass bottle, while mine are plasic tubes. So, these are nice, and I would likely have been pleased with them if I hadn't have had the easy oppurtunity to compare them to the Martha Stewart ones. (I suggest Martha Stewart Collection 7" Del Norte Salt and Pepper Mill)