So I received my Da Vinci 293 silvertip yesterday and had first shave this am. Here is my first take. Out of the (beautiful ) box , this brush is a work of art! It is really a beauty. It's 22mm and weighs 414 grams so it has a nice heft. The black handle is made from a material called Perspex , which here in the USA is lucite. Very comfortable to hold. The fine awn silvertip hairs are so soft , it glides on my face without any pin pricking feeling like my badgers or boars. It's just a delight to use. it holds a lot of water and lathers much better than my previously mentioned brushes. It's by far my most expensive brush , but well worth it. I had a really nice bss 3 pass shave with my Parker 22r. It's a keeper. Check it out guys, I purchased on Amazon. Best price and fast shipping.