Gillette Platinum (Swede), wow!

[awa54]

I had wondered if the "King Gillette" packaging was an attempt to re-brand PPI products for direct sale in the US market (read: create significant mass-market interest in a de facto emerging market, which is dominated by ad and image driven product lines, rather than companies who have maintained a continuing presence in the quality DE shaving products niche).

Seems like that might be a "yes".

I like $12-$20/100 blades, more than $50+/100, though the packaging *is* pretty spiffy

 

[Maxime D.]

This thread should be renamed « Russian Platinum » or « Blue Platinum » as these blades are NOT the long discontinued Gillette Platinum « Swede ». The real « Swede » were manufactured at the Gillette factory in Berlin, Germany and later moved in Lodz, Poland after P&G bought Gillette. There was also a factory in Bueno Aires, Argentina that manufactured them along with the Bleue Extra & Super Stainless.

 

[Jopo]

This thread should be renamed « Russian Platinum » or « Blue Platinum » as these blades are NOT the long discontinued Gillette Platinum « Swede ». The real « Swede » were manufactured at the Gillette factory in Berlin, Germany and later moved in Lodz, Poland after P&G bought Gillette. There was also a factory in Bueno Aires, Argentina that manufactured them along with the Bleue Extra & Super Stainless.

View attachment 1394977

But what exactly makes a Swede a Swede? You say it was made in 3 different factories, and they were all Swedes, but when they were made in Russia they were not Swedes?

Note - Gillette purchased Wizamet in Lodz in 1993. P&G did not purchase Gillette until 2005.


The Gillette Platinum Light Blue is considered the successor to the Swede due to the similarity in packaging, distribution area and quality of the blade. Certainly we can see a continuity:

Gillette Platinum Swede:

Gillette Platinum White/Light Blue:
The tuck changed colour from white to light blue when all PPI blades were redesigned a few years ago - new Gillette logo, blade icon on packet. The EAN/UPC number remains the same

As with the Swede, the White/Light Blue box blade is imprinted with "Gillette" and two arrows^


The Gillette Platinum Dark Blue has always been imprinted with "Gillette Platinum", and sold on a kiosk hanger in 100 packs.

 

[Maxime D.]

We are talking popular nomenclature here, the nickname was given to those specific Gillette Platinum back when they were packaged the way they were and manufactured in the aforementioned countries. Meanwhile the Russian Platinum manufactured in St.Petersburg were nicknamed « Dark Platinum ». It’s like whisky and scotch.

Note - You are correct, Gillette purchased Wizamet in Lodz in 1993. Swedes were likely made at both Berlin & Lodz facilities at the same time. I mixed up with the new P&G plant built in Lodz in 2007/2008.

 

[Jopo]

We are talking popular nomenclature here, the nickname was given to those specific Gillette Platinum back when they were packaged the way they were and manufactured in the aforementioned countries. Meanwhile the Russian Platinum manufactured in St.Petersburg were nicknamed « Dark Platinum ». It’s like whisky and scotch.

Note - You are correct, Gillette purchased Wizamet in Lodz in 1993. Swedes were likely made at both Berlin & Lodz facilities at the same time. I mixed up with the new P&G plant built in Lodz in 2007/2008.

Hmm, seems a bit nebulous. Do you think the Swedish address needs to be on the back for a Swede to be considered a Swede? In a thread from 2007, members are discussing the change to a Surrey, UK address on the packaging, and they conclude that they are Swedes: