After a lot of research I ordered a Timeless razor direct from the States which arrived last week.
Ordered Thursday arrived the following Tuesday so service was excellent.
Fairly new to DE / proper shaving after a lifetime using cartridges, I had a limited number of prior purchases -
- one blade core - first try - very inefficient - would not go near more than a days growth
- cheap Wilkinson Sword - better but limited on heavier growth
nearly went back to cartridges ! then
- Grandad's old OC Gillette - a revelation - a really close shave - left the skin tingling so a bit much for everyday use but great on longer growth
(Grandad used it every day but he was made of tough stuff!)
- Merkur 34C - nice as an every day shaver but again not very efficient
- Muhle R41 - marginally closer than Grandad's old Gillette but took chunks out of my nose!
So what I wanted was a high-quality razor which I could use every day with ease and comfort and which, ideally, could also manage the "Monday morning" shave with 3 days growth.
After much deliberation I settled on the Timeless range - and was deliberating over the SS or the Ti which sounded great (I have a Ti bike) but looked a bit dull. Then Timeless launched the polished Titanium and that was it.
They offer two blade gaps with 0.68 being the milder. Then three options, SB, OC or scalloped which is apparently a middle ground. They offer the 0.68 Scalloped in a "gift" package, aimed at newer shavers. So that's what I went for.
So last week my polished titanium 0.68 scalloped razor arrives. Now this is an expensive razor, and that's before DHL add on 25% for duty VAT etc.. So my expectations were pretty high. But not having owned a "premium" razor before I wasn't entirely sure what to expect.
First impressions - nice box - well presented - but then the razor itself is just utterly lovely. Perfectly weighted, solid titanium and you can really feel it, beautifully polished, fabulous design. Every bit as much premium loveliness as I was hoping for.
Install the blade - new W.Sword (mostly what I have been using) - and I could just feel how firmly the blade was held. Looked like quite an aggressive gap in terms of blade exposure, making me slightly anxious!
Using shaving soap from Signature soaps in Bolton, which is lovely, I lathered up.
First shave - so mild - almost as if I forgot to fit the blade it's just gliding over my face. But I can hear it cutting - which I haven't really noticed before. Two passes (I don't do ATG) and I have a lovely smooth shave. Very little fuss just a lovely result.
Next couple of days - similar - just very mild easy fuss-free smooth shaves.
Sunday - two and a half days growth - how will this mild razor deal with the growth? The blade now has four shaves and I don't change it.
Really easy - went a little slower but barely felt any different to a regular day's shave - did need the second pass and a tiny bit of tidying under the nose but otherwise just a lovely smooth no-nonsense shave.
So I think I have found my "goldilocks" razor - not too mild - not too aggressive. Feels great to use. Looks great on the bathroom shelf too - I can't go in without looking at it.
I'm also delighted with my first (only?) "premium" razor. I had wondered whether a razor could really be "worth" this price. Rather like comparing a Ford to a Mercedes - they'll both get you there - only the driver can decide if the Mercedes is worth more.
Well my Timeless feels like the S-class Mercedes of the razor world and I couldn't be more pleased.
Ordered Thursday arrived the following Tuesday so service was excellent.
Fairly new to DE / proper shaving after a lifetime using cartridges, I had a limited number of prior purchases -
- one blade core - first try - very inefficient - would not go near more than a days growth
- cheap Wilkinson Sword - better but limited on heavier growth
nearly went back to cartridges ! then
- Grandad's old OC Gillette - a revelation - a really close shave - left the skin tingling so a bit much for everyday use but great on longer growth
(Grandad used it every day but he was made of tough stuff!)
- Merkur 34C - nice as an every day shaver but again not very efficient
- Muhle R41 - marginally closer than Grandad's old Gillette but took chunks out of my nose!
So what I wanted was a high-quality razor which I could use every day with ease and comfort and which, ideally, could also manage the "Monday morning" shave with 3 days growth.
After much deliberation I settled on the Timeless range - and was deliberating over the SS or the Ti which sounded great (I have a Ti bike) but looked a bit dull. Then Timeless launched the polished Titanium and that was it.
They offer two blade gaps with 0.68 being the milder. Then three options, SB, OC or scalloped which is apparently a middle ground. They offer the 0.68 Scalloped in a "gift" package, aimed at newer shavers. So that's what I went for.
So last week my polished titanium 0.68 scalloped razor arrives. Now this is an expensive razor, and that's before DHL add on 25% for duty VAT etc.. So my expectations were pretty high. But not having owned a "premium" razor before I wasn't entirely sure what to expect.
First impressions - nice box - well presented - but then the razor itself is just utterly lovely. Perfectly weighted, solid titanium and you can really feel it, beautifully polished, fabulous design. Every bit as much premium loveliness as I was hoping for.
Install the blade - new W.Sword (mostly what I have been using) - and I could just feel how firmly the blade was held. Looked like quite an aggressive gap in terms of blade exposure, making me slightly anxious!
Using shaving soap from Signature soaps in Bolton, which is lovely, I lathered up.
First shave - so mild - almost as if I forgot to fit the blade it's just gliding over my face. But I can hear it cutting - which I haven't really noticed before. Two passes (I don't do ATG) and I have a lovely smooth shave. Very little fuss just a lovely result.
Next couple of days - similar - just very mild easy fuss-free smooth shaves.
Sunday - two and a half days growth - how will this mild razor deal with the growth? The blade now has four shaves and I don't change it.
Really easy - went a little slower but barely felt any different to a regular day's shave - did need the second pass and a tiny bit of tidying under the nose but otherwise just a lovely smooth no-nonsense shave.
So I think I have found my "goldilocks" razor - not too mild - not too aggressive. Feels great to use. Looks great on the bathroom shelf too - I can't go in without looking at it.
I'm also delighted with my first (only?) "premium" razor. I had wondered whether a razor could really be "worth" this price. Rather like comparing a Ford to a Mercedes - they'll both get you there - only the driver can decide if the Mercedes is worth more.
Well my Timeless feels like the S-class Mercedes of the razor world and I couldn't be more pleased.
