Iridium vs Iridium (which one do you use?)

[TiberiuR]

Super Iridiums are my all around favorite blades, to date. Many guys here love them, but there are some people that are disappointed by them. What I want to find out is to see which are the blades that you use and if you like them.

This might be a case just like the Vertical vs Horizontal Derby blades.

I happen to have 2 types of Super Iridium blades
On the left it's the light blue Iridium. On the right it's the dark blue.
Bellow each pack there is a blade. On the back of the "light blue" Iridium there is a Dxxxx serial number of some sort.



Another picture where the color difference is more evident:



Now, I don't know precisely which is better. So don't ask.

What I would like, is for everyone who uses/used them to state:
-which type of Iridiums have you used? (Light blue / Dark blue) ?
-how many much experience do you have with them ?
-how much experience do you have with DE shaving ?
-what razor are using it in ?

My input:
-I used both dark blue and light blue
-I used the dark blue ones mostly, recently tried the light blue ones as well.
-I'm DE shaving for half a year now.
-Muhle R89 or Muhle R106

Waiting for your input gents

 

[aimsport]

Dark Blue without the Dxxxxx Code. Love mine.

Could it be that demand has resulted in the enlistment of another production facility... and so once again popularity leads to quality problems?

Or is it that the Dark Blue are newer... I hope someone can tell us.

 

[ISilva]

To me it just looks like the light blue is old stock and time wear as taken some of it's colour, even the white paper on the back of the blade has turned somewhat yellowish on the light blue, clear indication of time wear.

The ones I have atm are dark blue no serial and I love them in pretty much all my razor's.

 

[TiberiuR]

To me it just looks like the light blue is old stock and time wear as taken some of it's colour, even the white paper on the back of the blade has turned somewhat yellowish on the light blue, clear indication of time wear.

The ones I have atm are dark blue no serial and I love them in pretty much all my razor's.

No, the light blue pack is new. I'm certain it's new and has nothing to with sunlight making the pack yellowish.

 

[Stubblefield]

I have used both and can't find any difference between the two.

 

[schatz]

Just received my first order of these and they were of the light blue variety.

 

[DE Shaver]

I use the dark blue packaging. I haven't had a chance to use ones that have the lighter packaging. I doubt there would be any difference.

 

[VR6ofpain]

Mine look like the one right, except the actual blades say POLSILVER on them. I believe they were a production error. The 10 pack was given to me by another member of the forum.

 

[IrkMe]

Light Blues for me with no issues although I've never tried the dark blues so I can't make a comparison.

I've used them in all my razors with no problems other than having to wind my fatboy down from 9 to 7 for my XTG & ATG passes (used Kai's before)

I rotate between the Iridium's & Bleue extras & would give the edge slightly to the Iridium's

I also do a 3 stroke hand strop before each shave with any blade (old habit from when I tried to get on with Feathers )

 

[shamus]

The Dark Blue are the only blades that I have. I've not had the opportunity to try any Light Blue and most likely will not for some time. I bought a pile of the Iridium blades from a board member not too long ago.

Cheers.

 

[TheBigL]

Mine look like the one right, except the actual blades say POLSILVER on them. I believe they were a production error. The 10 pack was given to me by another member of the forum.

Were they Polsilver iridium or stainless?

 

[brg]

-I'm on the 2nd blade from a dark blue pack
-Been DE shaving for more than a year now
-Used both on a Merkur 34C

These are good blades. The wax is horrible, and they are very sharp, so you have to be careful and apply no pressure at all. But they deliver good results.

 

[TiberiuR]

So I shaved with the dark blue package Iridium as well.
There wasn't any noticeable difference between the two.
But I will test them a bit more.
I'm glad that for once, if they change a blade, they don't ruin it. Like they did with the Derbys.

 

[zliv]

During the last few months all blades manufactured at the Saint Petersburg plant got the numbers on the back of the paper sleeve. Not only the Iridiums. The blades are the same. Just those numbers added. Here in Bulgaria these blades are sold as Polsilver Super Iridium and are in this package http://www.spodlady.com/zasoby/images/big/polsilver.jpg. I ordered a pack of Iridiums from westcoastshaving just for the sake of comparison. They are the same.

 

[TiberiuR]

During the last few months all blades manufactured at the Saint Petersburg plant got the numbers on the back of the paper sleeve. Not only the Iridiums. The blades are the same. Just those numbers added. Here in Bulgaria these blades are sold as Polsilver Super Iridium and are in this package http://www.spodlady.com/zasoby/images/big/polsilver.jpg. I ordered a pack of Iridiums from westcoastshaving just for the sake of comparison. They are the same.

Very useful info! Thank you!
I have other blades made there but still don't have the numbers marked on them. That includes Gillette 7o'clock blades.

About the Polsilvers, are they just like the Iridiums?

 

[siouxsie]

The "W" logo on the packet is for Wizamet, which is the Polish company who used to make these and the Polsilver Stainless before they were bought out. I am going on memory and I could be wrong and if so, someone will correct me.

open_razor on ebay sold the Polsilver Iridium for a very short time.

 

[zliv]

siouxsie

Yes you are right. But the Polsilver Super Iridium sold by open_razor on ebay were manufactured in Czech republic and were quite different to the Russian. The ones I buy here in Bulgaria are different only in packaging and the word Polsilver. Inside it is the same blade as the Iridiums sold by westcoastshaving. I didn't notice any difference whatsoever while shaving with both.

 

[siouxsie]

Okay, I didn't know if they were the same blade or not...the old Polsilver Iridium made in Czech Republic. I only know he had them and ran out before I could snag some! I wonder how they shaved?.

As for yours, marked Polsilver...maybe they just kept the name for Eastern European distribution.

 

[zliv]

Okay, I didn't know if they were the same blade or not...the old Polsilver Iridium made in Czech Republic. I only know he had them and ran out before I could snag some! I wonder how they shaved?.

As for yours, marked Polsilver...maybe they just kept the name for Eastern European distribution.

Yep, that's bacause the Polsilver brand was quite famous here back in the 70s and 80s. There were even different Wizamet razors sold in Bulgaria.

 

[siouxsie]

Yep, that's bacause the Polsilver brand was quite famous here back in the 70s and 80s. There were even different Wizamet razors sold in Bulgaria.

I have two. A cheap little aluminum Junior and an adjustable. The first looks terrible but shaves great. The second looks cool but shaves terribly! The stainless Polsilver blades I have are very good though.

Sorry to go off on a tangent....