Gillette platinum
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The ultra rare (AFAIK) Italian market (note Gillette S.p.A. Milano) Platinum Plus, also called the Super Silver Platinum Plus on the blade. The date code is H3 i.e. Q3 1987. Whilst I can't prove it conclusively, I strongly suspect these were made in England and are just regular Platinum blades with alternate market specific branding.
Now for the 'Swedes'...
Please note that these were never manufactured in Sweden (Gillette has never had a factory there), they acquired the name because 'intellectually challenged members of a major US forum' misinterpreted the distributers details on the reverse of the pack.
Please note that these were never manufactured in Sweden (Gillette has never had a factory there), they acquired the name because 'intellectually challenged members of a major US forum' misinterpreted the distributers details on the reverse of the pack.
The classic 'Swedes' - note 'Stockholm' at the end of the list of distributers. This last word is important. Distributers, not manufacturers. Following the introduction of the EU Single Market in 1993, if a product was made in a member state, it was not a requirement to label a product with the place of manufacture if that place was in the EU; just the distributers details.
I have these blades labelled both V3 (Q3 2000) and some with no date code, however this article in French: https://www.lesechos.fr/1999/04/le-siege-social-de-gillette-france-quitte-annecy-767801 tells us that DE blade manufacturing at the French Annecy ceased in 1992 and the Gillette French head office moved to Levallois-Perret in 1999, so they were manufactured in somewhere other than France after 1999. So we are looking for another EU source...
Gillette acquired both Wizamet in Lodz, Poland and Astra in Prague, Czechia, so one of these is the likely source. @Mopar Mark has already commented that Lodz was repurposed for cartridge manufacture, Gillette making no DE blades of their own there, so Prague is the most logical place of manufacture. This further substantiated by this Czech Blades presentation: http://www.icc-cr.cz/files/akce/130925_26_ewbf2013/iv_04_milan_masa.pdf showing Gillette ownership from 1996 to 2005 and I own NOS Gillette Stainless Blades clearly showing Gillette Czech s.r.o. as the place of manufacture:
I assume that at some point after 2000, Gillette decided to stop using date codes at this plant.
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These are known as 'Annecy Swedes' on the grounds that Annecy is listed as the site of the French distributer and once again Stockholm is listed at the end of the distributors list. Furthermore, no place of manufacture is listed. I have these blades with a Q1 i.e. Q1 1996 date code which ties in with these once more being made by Gillette Czech s.r.o. Annecy at this point was the French distribution centre, but manufacturing had ceased: https://www.lesechos.fr/1999/04/le-siege-social-de-gillette-france-quitte-annecy-767801
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The final of the trilogy. 'Argentine Swedes'. The place of manufacture is clearly illustrated: Buenos Aires, Argentina. I have these with date codes L3 i.e. Q3 1991 and N3 Q3 1992, clearly replacing Annecy production and filling the gap between manufacturing ceasing there and the acquisition of Gillette Czech s.r.o. in 1996.
To sum up:
Gillette 'Swedes' fall into three clear groupings:
Argentine Swedes: 1991/92 - 1995: Gillette Argentina
Annecy Swedes: 1996 - 1999: Gillette Czech s.r.o.
The Classic Swedes: 2000 - 2006: Gillette Czech s.r.o.
All Gillette Platinum blades after this date are highly likely to be manufactured in St Petersburg, Russia, although it's possible there might be some Indian production immediately following the divestment of Gillette Czech s.r.o. in 2006
Certain vendors have been known try and pass-off current Gillette Platinum production as 'Swedes'. Don't fall for it. Totally different blades which are noticeably less sharp.
Please feel free to chime in with more examples and evidence etc
Gillette 'Swedes' fall into three clear groupings:
Argentine Swedes: 1991/92 - 1995: Gillette Argentina
Annecy Swedes: 1996 - 1999: Gillette Czech s.r.o.
The Classic Swedes: 2000 - 2006: Gillette Czech s.r.o.
All Gillette Platinum blades after this date are highly likely to be manufactured in St Petersburg, Russia, although it's possible there might be some Indian production immediately following the divestment of Gillette Czech s.r.o. in 2006
Certain vendors have been known try and pass-off current Gillette Platinum production as 'Swedes'. Don't fall for it. Totally different blades which are noticeably less sharp.
Please feel free to chime in with more examples and evidence etc
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Great Write up sean & very informative
Thanks for sharing
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One of the best posts I have read in a while.
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With a hot shower, good facial wash and usage of good soaps I can tell zero difference nowadays. None, nichts, nada.
FWIW, I exit the shower and dry everything but my face and then after lathering I let the soap sit on my face for at least a minute after lathering before commencing the shave. All blades pretty much shave the same with this method. YMMV.
The ultra rare (AFAIK) Italian market (note Gillette S.p.A. Milano) Platinum Plus, also called the Super Silver Platinum Plus on the blade. The date code is H3 i.e. Q3 1987. Whilst I can't prove it conclusively, I strongly suspect these were made in England and are just regular Platinum blades with alternate market specific branding.
Answering my own question...
A huge surprise, they are actually Spanish
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I've used a Chinese Gillette platinum blade today and I liked it. It was smooth and sharp.
The Super Thin, which is described as platinum coated, plus the lesser-known Goal (for Indonesia) and Super Nacet (for Malaysia) are a little sharper, and better as a result IMHO, than platinum blades out of St Petersburg
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Answering my own question...
A huge surprise, they are actually Spanish
The Gillette Company 75 years, 1901-1976 (low resolution)
Publishing platform for digital magazines, interactive publications and online catalogs. Convert documents to beautiful publications and share them worldwide. Title: The Gillette Company 75 years, 1901-1976 (low resolution), Author: shaving.archive, Length: 36 pages, Published: 2009-06-22
www.calameo.com
Bloomberg News, March 19, 1994