Hermès is dead - long live Christofle?

So it initially appeared, after a challenge to Hermès' tricked out $450 chopsticks (below) arrived unexpectedly from the Far East.

One MN, known in a previous life as MT and - to those who love her- as PJ, but we won't go there just now, brings news of these most elegant Chinese chopsticks (top) from the French masters.

Christofle's are fabricated from ivory resin, "surpassed only by their delicately etched silver tips."

$45 here.

So what are we to do?

Opt for wood or a soft ivory sheen over our soba?

What a delightful dilemma.

But if $45 still seems slightly steep for chopsticks, well, there're always the old standby

Clothespin version for $3.95 a pair.

But wait - this just in, from my crack research team.

They've been on the chopstick beat all week and have come up with an even more appealing collection, for the Yohji Yamamoto set in the meatpacking district.

It's the Clothespin version, all right, but dressed up - or down, depending on your point of view - in clear, blue, purple, or pink acrylic.

Even better, there's a price drop of over 25% - we found them for $2.99 a pop here.

Come on, who's your daddy? (Pedro Martinez, call your bullpen: the long reliever is ready)