I know it has been touched on before, but has it ever been determined if the Gillette Platinum Blades in the light blue box are different than those in the dark blue box? And, are either the same as the Gillette Silver Blue blade? I found this old thread: https://theshaveden.com/forums/threads/gillette-silver-blue-vs-gillette-platinum.65044/ But, it is not clear which Plat people were referring to.
I find the Light Blue Gillette Plat to be a sharp, smooth blade. I've read in many places that the GSB in not that sharp, but people like it because it is smooth. I've also read that people say it shaves more or less the same as an Astra SP. Some people claim the GSB is almost Feather-sharp. YMMV.
i like these. they have etched markings over inked,which indicates possibly newer upgraded equiptment, these are definitely newer than my 500 or so of these i haven't used the silver blues in a year or so,they aren't as sharp as the platinums imho.
Agreed, the dark blue box are aces! They’re my favorite Gillette blade. I have a few hundred stashed. I’ve one tuck remaining of GSBs in my box that is waiting to get the call, but with a bajillion and one other more plentiful to choose from, it’ll be a while. Edit: I reread my post and want to clarify that I was referring to the toppermost pictured Plat, which to my eye is dark blue, the other box is white with dark blue accents.
Yes, the first ones you pictured are the light blues I like. So I think that confirms that GSBs and Light Blue Plats are different. Are you also saying that Light Blue and Dark Blue are different? Thanks
Yes, I used to get confused. Without a reference, the blue on the Light Blues could be considered dark blue. When compared side-by-side, however, the blue on what people call the Dark Blues is darker than that of the Light Blues. To make it even more confusing, GSBs and Dark Blues use the same coloring scheme. I've heard people order one and get the other because the shipper pulled the incorrect ones from the shelf.
they could be but hard to tell.my dark blue packs (around 500 blades) were made around 2017 or earlier-thats when i bought them, and have inked logos .my light blues were made in 2021 and have etched logo.could be just an age thing.but clearly a different machine.not my pic. the dark box on the right is newer than mine.
I think I read that awhile ago. And of course people try to read between the lines of what P&G actually said. ("It's a conspiracy theory, I tell you!") I have a few King C. Gillettes left from the tuck-of-5 that came with their razor. I noticed no difference between it and a Light Blue Plat, but since others do, I'm still curious if the KCG blade is unique. I just posted in another thread that I saw a pack and it said "Made in China" now, which adds to the mystery. I probably need to do another comparison using a razor that might highlight the differences (if any) more, like a Feather AS-D2. I think the last time I did it using the King C. Gillette Chinese-made-or-is-it-a-Muhle-head razor. I'm not into doing the "each side of the face with a different razor" thing, though. If it takes that kinda thing to differentiate between 2 razors or 2 blades, then IMO the difference is negligible. I like to shave with one razor and/or blade one week, and then the next week shave with a different razor and/or blade to compare.
interesting that it's made in china now,probably /maybe because the originals were made in St Petersburg.I use kcg quite regularly as i get a subscription price on amazon,cheap enough.they are good blades.most folks couldn't compare them to gillette platinums(any type) because they don't know where to source them.just our little group of DE wet shavers collect blades like this.small amounts compared to todays shaving masses,though it is growing..slightly. my newest tucks of KCG are ink stamped instead of etched,giving further proof that they from a different machine..? maybe not.they could be a tuck of originals and the etched ones are from the st.petes plant..st pete's got new equiptment and that's when the light blue box etched platinums came out.. you did say they have "made in china" written on the tuck? edit.seems i have made an error.the black inked/more gold appearing tucks on left were the original blade pacs that came with my razor packaging..my apologies.
the light blue boxes are nicknamed "Swedes" i think...they have a British address on the flap.i souce mine from a Swedish vendor.
I don't think it's a state secret that you can buy blades online. I discovered the Light Blue Plats in a local dollar store a few years ago. When I saw them, I said to myself, "I think I've read about them." I bought 4 tucks. At 20 cents a blade, not a exactly a bargain, but it led me to see that I liked the blades. Then I googled where to buy and bought 100. Let me guess...Razor Blades Club. I've bought from them via eBay and their website. I wondered why the shipping was so fast, then tracking showed they were shipped from New Jersey, where I live. Regarding the nickname "Swedes": Supposedly Gillette made these some 20 to 30 years ago, and among other countries listed on the tuck, Sweden was mentioned -- probably the first one listed. Then they were discontinued. I'm not sure if they were called Platinum or not. Then, when Gillette introduced the Light Blue Plat, people claimed they shaved like Swedes. So now some people call the Light Blue ones Swedes. If you ask me, that's a stretch to nickname something using all that logic -- even for the originals. Probably not even made of Swedish steel.
From B&B..... " these two "Gillette Platinum" products have been produced simultaneously for years"..... "ETCHING: Blades from the Gillette factory in Russia switched to laser etching from ink printing. Gillette Platinum Light Blue blades are etched with the word "Gillette" and two arrows, while the Gillette Platinum Dark Blue blades are etched with "Gillette Platinum"..... "And for reference, here is the discontinued Gillette Platinum known as the "Gillette Swede" (due to address listed on the back of the card", see pic...........
i pass along what i find on other forums and such.i am happy to call them gillette blues at this point.. as for online blade purchasing,i know a handful of guys that use DE.not one of them ever thought to look up 100 packs or barber pacs.but,they are happy to grab a few tucks of wilkinson off the pharmacy shelf.. my blades are on route from sweden via Deutsche Post -
My Light Blue tucks come on a card like that -- the ones I bought in the dollar store, and the 100 lot that I bought, which come in boxes of 50. Of course, I know you didn't come up with the Swede nickname. I've referred to them as such sometimes so people would have an idea which blades they were. I bought a pack of German Wilkinsons in Bed Bath and Beyond a few years ago -- still haven't tried them. It was like 2 bucks and change for a tuck of 5. Overpriced per blade, but I can't resist when I see brand-name DE blades in a brick-and-mortar store that I've heard people talk about -- as long as they're not like $6 for 10 blades! I bought what I think are Israeli Personnas from Shop-Rite a few years ago when they were on clearance. I bought 5 packs of 10. They were something like 2 bucks and change for 10. I still haven't tried them. I'm suprised that people who use DEs don't think to buy online -- doesn't everyone try to buy everything online today to see if it's a better deal? I have a local barber supply store that sells a handful of popular DE blades. I bought my 100 packs of Atra SPs and Dorco Primes there. Other than those few examples above, I always buy by the 100, even if it is a blade I haven't tried. I found that most blades agree with my skin and whiskers, but some are just exceptional, like the Light Blue Plats. Buying by the tuck online is expensive per blade, and those blade sampler packs are, too. But right now, I have about a 14 year supply of DE blades, not including my SEs (injectors and Gems).
