Some of the factors that drive up the prices of razors have little to do with the shaving performance, so it’s worth being aware of that.
High quality polishing is expensive and difficult to achieve without affecting the razor tolerances, and in some cases it is the majority of a razor’s cost. Some metals are harder to machine and will require more machine time or wear out machine parts faster, which adds cost. Some designs add complication to the production process too, though they may look great or add functionality (e.g. an adjustable razor). And low volume production is inevitably much more expensive per piece, especially when you factor in the razor development and testing costs.
All of those things may have no effect on the way a razor shaves, but they are still legitimate factors in a razor’s pricing. You have to judge for yourself whether they are worth paying more for.
That said, most of us expect that if a razor is expensive it should give an excellent shave (which can mean very different things to different people, but still). So if a pricey razor does not perform well it probably will not sell well over time. Hence there is usually some connection between price and quality.
And, as many already said, you have to work out what kind of razor characteristics you prefer before you can find the right razors for you. It’s good to talk about what you have, what you like and dislike about it, what you wish it was more like, and you’ll get helpful recommendations. There are truly excellent razors at all price levels, so everybody should be able to find their ‘grail’ razor.
Or, to save time and expense, you could buy a Lambda Athena razor and you’re probably done.
High quality polishing is expensive and difficult to achieve without affecting the razor tolerances, and in some cases it is the majority of a razor’s cost. Some metals are harder to machine and will require more machine time or wear out machine parts faster, which adds cost. Some designs add complication to the production process too, though they may look great or add functionality (e.g. an adjustable razor). And low volume production is inevitably much more expensive per piece, especially when you factor in the razor development and testing costs.
All of those things may have no effect on the way a razor shaves, but they are still legitimate factors in a razor’s pricing. You have to judge for yourself whether they are worth paying more for.
That said, most of us expect that if a razor is expensive it should give an excellent shave (which can mean very different things to different people, but still). So if a pricey razor does not perform well it probably will not sell well over time. Hence there is usually some connection between price and quality.
And, as many already said, you have to work out what kind of razor characteristics you prefer before you can find the right razors for you. It’s good to talk about what you have, what you like and dislike about it, what you wish it was more like, and you’ll get helpful recommendations. There are truly excellent razors at all price levels, so everybody should be able to find their ‘grail’ razor.
Or, to save time and expense, you could buy a Lambda Athena razor and you’re probably done.
