This was the first "nice" knife I've bought, intending on getting an entire set over the next few months, and it is a winner.
Obviously the first thing you notice is the blade's sharpness (I almost sliced myself when I first picked it up). It will cut through pretty much anything with ease. I busted it out the night I first bought it and sliced some radishes paper thin with ease. In fact, the hardest part is avoiding your fingers. The santoku portion means foods you are cutting will slide off the knife because of the "air pockets" that the grooves create.
The next thing you'll start to notice is the balance of the blade itself. Even compared to other Wusthof knives, the Ikon is exceptionally more balanced and lighter in the hand.
Finally, on an aesthetic level, the African wood handle sold me. It's contoured so it fits your hand well, yet feels sturdy enough to last a lifetime. The lack of a huge "red" Wusthof symbol on the handle is nicer, in my opinion, than the more inexpensive Wusthofs.
My recommendation, save your money from buying inferior knives and buy this one instead. You won't regret it.
