I have my first GEM coming this week (Minute Man). What is the best modern GEM and if you also own a vintage GEM how does it compare to the modern GEM that you believe is best?
I have a ‘30’s Micromatic and a ‘58 Push Button.
Yes sir.Sir, is that your version of vintage and modern?
Off the top of my head, here's a quick list:I have no knowledge or experience with "artisan Gem razors released in the last 5 years of so."
I'd like to hear more about that and some pictures if possible.
Above the Tie G1. The first version of this one was also apparently ridiculously mild, to the point that purchasers were offered free exchanges when the head was re-tooled. This was a really cool looking razor but as far as I can tell was a complete failure. I never hear anyone talk about it at all. I'm not even sure if it is still being made
So who decided these razors had any connection, real or imagined, to the Gem SE razors of yesteryear?
I could call my bicycle a Gem razor, I suppose, but that doesn't make it a Gem razor, or suggest any connection to the historical line of Gem razors!
So who decided these razors had any connection, real or imagined, to the Gem SE razors of yesteryear?
I could call my bicycle a Gem razor, I suppose, but that doesn't make it a Gem razor, or suggest any connection to the historical line of Gem razors!
ATT is happy to sell you a new G1 for $99 plus handle. I don't know if they're really pursuing that anymore though, or just selling out existing stock.
There is a naming hassle, because we can shortcut the name of any razor that uses Gillette-style double edge blades as a "double edge razor", because nobody else made a double edge blade that survived in the market. You can't really do that with single-edge razors because there are a few different kinds of SEs (Gem, Schick injector, Artist Club, Weck, Valet, etc.) so it's clearer to say that a Gem style razor is one that uses Gem-style single edge blades no matter who actually made the razor.
There weren't any Gem style single edge razors made from the 1980s until very recently, so that does tend to naturally separate "modern" from "vintage". But, it's also pretty easy to separate the ASR and predecessor-made razors that use the Gem and other trademarks into their own age categories, as shown in the chart that @mata_66 created and posted in a few threads on this board.
GEM and Schick don’t share the same blades or design. It’s your misfortune to conflate the two designs and brands
We usually discuss them as separate since they shave and are deigned differentlyI know they don't share the same blades or design. Neither do any of the others referenced. That was the point. They're all "single edge razors". So if you just say "single edge razor", which one do you mean? You can't assume Gem. Or Schick, or any of the others. They have to be referenced by the design of the blades they use.
Respectfully, the question is poorly constructed. Please define your range of the "modern Gem razors."
I have a tough beard and the best Gem razor for me (by far) is the Gem Micromatic Open Comb from the 1930's and 1940's.
I suggest the range for modern Gem Razors would be circa 1950 onwards.