Just a quick review of the 2.0 versions of the brush offerings from Saponificio Varesino.
The new brushes, like the older version are crowned with your choice of a pewter or gold topper at the base of the knot. The brush is marketed as a 26x50 High Mountain Manchurian White Badger ( a mouth full ). My personal opinion is that the knot type is exactly that Marketing, as I don't think that the HMMW has a nametag.
That being said it does not suffer from performance in that regard, so to me it could be armpit hair from the monster on Big Trouble in Little China, and I would still love this knot.
I did not have calipers to get exact measurements, but it is extremely soft right out of the gate, but without lacking backbone, and the density of the knot is very nice.
It is a hefty brush and is a bit larger than the Paladin PK-47, of which mine has a 28x50 fan.
The brushes come in a variety of flavors from wood to various faux resins, I chose the faux ivory. The presentation and packing is typical of Saponificio Varesino and could, I guess be called opulent, I prefer just very fine quality.
Pre Blooms:
The brush post bloom is an umbrella and very easy to load, and the water retention and flow thru are fantastic. It seems to love all soaps, as I do my "break-in" magic with shampoo and MWF, and it proved to lather MWF like no-ones business.
The fit and finish of this brush are top-notch and scream being handmade and with the quality and attention to detail that Italian Artisans are known for. The deep etching on the Crown match all the other branding as well.
Post Bloom and size comparison to PK-47:
Although I do not post Lather pictures, the performance of this brush is fantastic and used with any soap the load is easy, and only a small amount of water was needed to have enough lather to shave a small county.
Shape and hand feel is ergonomically very good, although again, it is a big thick brush. Soap release is very easy, but no overly so, and moisture retention, again, keeps the lather very nice with no re-loading or additional water needed though a three pass + clean up straight shave.
Unique to this brush is the stand and shown below in my SOTD photo, and is made of ebony with a small retention edge that fits the crown perfectly and puts the brush in a nice angle for display or while shaving ( Stand is extra ).
Also Saponificio Varesino has introduced a matching soap dish to most of the brush offerings making it is nice "Matched shave" for those of us that are OCD with our shave set-ups.
Stand Picture:
Currently I believe the brush is only available directly from the Saponificio online store, with the various flavors retailing from $168.00 - $190.00, with another offering of a custom brush starting at $128.00.
these can be found HERE
Admittedly, I am very Pro SV, however when compared to the other high end brushes it ranks at or very near the top. Would I buy again, Absolutely.
This is not an in-expensive brush, but fits right in with the other priced manufacturers on the top end of the price scale.
Overall Performance ( 1-10 )
Fit & Finish - 10
Knot Feel - 10
Flow thru - 9
Face Feel - 10
Water retention - 9
Ergonomics - 9
Price - 7 ( but again relative to what you like )
How it competes with the Big Boys - 10
Summary: It you are looking for a high end brush, this offering from Saponificio Varesino is well worth your consideration, and it should be noted shipping is lightning fast ( 4 days from ordering to door Via Fed ex ) and the Folks at AV are a pleasure to work with.
Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day.
The new brushes, like the older version are crowned with your choice of a pewter or gold topper at the base of the knot. The brush is marketed as a 26x50 High Mountain Manchurian White Badger ( a mouth full ). My personal opinion is that the knot type is exactly that Marketing, as I don't think that the HMMW has a nametag.
That being said it does not suffer from performance in that regard, so to me it could be armpit hair from the monster on Big Trouble in Little China, and I would still love this knot.
I did not have calipers to get exact measurements, but it is extremely soft right out of the gate, but without lacking backbone, and the density of the knot is very nice.
It is a hefty brush and is a bit larger than the Paladin PK-47, of which mine has a 28x50 fan.
The brushes come in a variety of flavors from wood to various faux resins, I chose the faux ivory. The presentation and packing is typical of Saponificio Varesino and could, I guess be called opulent, I prefer just very fine quality.
Pre Blooms:
The fit and finish of this brush are top-notch and scream being handmade and with the quality and attention to detail that Italian Artisans are known for. The deep etching on the Crown match all the other branding as well.
Post Bloom and size comparison to PK-47:
Shape and hand feel is ergonomically very good, although again, it is a big thick brush. Soap release is very easy, but no overly so, and moisture retention, again, keeps the lather very nice with no re-loading or additional water needed though a three pass + clean up straight shave.
Unique to this brush is the stand and shown below in my SOTD photo, and is made of ebony with a small retention edge that fits the crown perfectly and puts the brush in a nice angle for display or while shaving ( Stand is extra ).
Also Saponificio Varesino has introduced a matching soap dish to most of the brush offerings making it is nice "Matched shave" for those of us that are OCD with our shave set-ups.
Stand Picture:
these can be found HERE
Admittedly, I am very Pro SV, however when compared to the other high end brushes it ranks at or very near the top. Would I buy again, Absolutely.
This is not an in-expensive brush, but fits right in with the other priced manufacturers on the top end of the price scale.
Overall Performance ( 1-10 )
Fit & Finish - 10
Knot Feel - 10
Flow thru - 9
Face Feel - 10
Water retention - 9
Ergonomics - 9
Price - 7 ( but again relative to what you like )
How it competes with the Big Boys - 10
Summary: It you are looking for a high end brush, this offering from Saponificio Varesino is well worth your consideration, and it should be noted shipping is lightning fast ( 4 days from ordering to door Via Fed ex ) and the Folks at AV are a pleasure to work with.
Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day.