7 Days of Utopia (Chrome Razor Back in Stock)

Shave for 9 May 2014 ...

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I will put the Utopia handle away for a while to give some other razors use. All in all it became a more interesting review thread than I thought it would be when I started it.

 

For further information on the updated Utopia Gold razor please see below:

http://theshaveden.com/forums/threads/i-received-a-monster-in-the-mail.37592/page-4#post-673774

 

Here we go again. Price increase to $10.99 but available for now.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CCGK2J4/?tag=thshde-20

 

Can't really blame them for raising it by $1. I wonder how the new full line will do. I know most people were buying it for the handle, and I've never used the head as there's really no reason to.

 

I am thinking about ordering this for the handle. I am curious if it will fit in my Omega shave stand. I saw GD mention that the handle is .5 inches wide but is slightly larger at the bottom. Anyone mind giving me an exact measurement on the widest point of the handle?

 

Mine is about 9/16th of an inch.

 

Thanks for the quick reply. I think this is going to be a tight but good fit in the stand.

 

Well if your Omega stand is the same as mine, it will fit. (Realized I had an Omega stand after my last post and your reply)

 

Ha, yes, that's the one I have (in chrome). Thanks for digging that up.

Just out of curiosity, I see your daily rig doesn't include the utopia handle. Anything specific make you sour on it, or did you just move on to greener pastures?

 

The utopia is a nice handle and was in my rotation for a while. The problem with me is that I am an impulse buyer and liked the look of the Apollo razor. It was after I received it that I noticed how similar the two razors were. The Utopia handle is chrome plated brass where the Apollo handle is stainless steel and is actually about an eighth of an inch longer than the Utopia. Both handles have a nice solid knurling pattern but I had seen reports of thin plating on the Utopia and felt it would be a better display razor or introductory piece than a daily user. Since I am relatively new to the DE shaving world I am sure my tastes will change and I will explore other shavers. Right now I am in a 30 day challenge where I am using a 1912 Gem Damaskene with a really tiny handle. After the 30 day challenge I will be moving on to the Phoenix whose handle also has really nice knurling but is shorter and hollow so it does not have the weight or length. just keep an eye every so often on my daily rig and you will see that my razor and handle will change periodically (which it has now to reflect my challenge razor, thanks for reminding me).

 

I am a big fan of the Apollo handle. I've been using it for the past 4 months on my EJ89, and now on my iKon SC 102 and I love the combination. I just purchased an R41 2013, but judging by the fact that I really like the style of the Apollo handle, and other stock handle seems to me to be rather light. In a search for alternate handles, given that Amazon raised the price from $25 (when i bought it) to $30, I came across this thread. Looking at the handle, it seems to be of a "lesser" quality as the Apollo, granted sight unseen, just form pictures.

Doing the search on Amazon, I found the Utopia razor, but also came across this one.: (I can't post links yet, so you must search for the "
SimplyBeautiful Double Edge Long Handled Safety Razor"

It's only $15, and it seems to be much closer in style and material as the Apollo. also judging from the pckg weight at 6.4oz, it seems to be closer to the weight of the Apollo, which comes in at 3.5oz.

I pulled the trigger last night...what do you guys think?

 

It is a nice looking razor but if that head is stainless steel then I am a purple dancing pixie. Seriously that is a carbon copy Zamak head the same as many newly made DE razors. I would weigh it against another head and compare. A stainless head should be much heavier. I do like the handle though and for fifteen bucks I would break down and give it a try if I wasn't ordering some brushes at the moment. Good luck and write a review for it in a stand alone thread.

 

Gotta be honest... Not really looking or even slightly considering the head. As far I'm concerned I bought a handle that coincidentally has a head to it.

I feel that some Mfg's, particularly the more commercial ones, don't put much effort unto the handles as say ikon, ATT, Weber..leaving an unmet opportunity to make a good razor great.