Gillette 7 O'Clock

[FonGu]

Can someone give me a run down on the differences between the Gillette 7 O'Clocks (yellow, green, black, etc.)? Or, if this already exists somewhere can you post me a link to it? Thanks in advance.

[SALBONE]

Can someone give me a run down on the differences between the Gillette 7 O'Clocks (yellow, green, black, etc.)? Or, if this already exists somewhere can you post me a link to it? Thanks in advance.

+1

[xillion]

http://www.christophermendoza.com/razors/7oclocks.jpg

The top row are made in India. I find the blacks to be sharp, smooth, and long lasting. The greens felt rough on my face in my DE89L but others here love them.

The bottom row are made in Russia. The blues are supposedly made to the exact same specs as the blacks. The blues and blacks are my favorite 7 O'clock blades.
The yellows are a very close second, I also find them very sharp yet smooth. The Russian greens performed about the same as the Indian greens for me and felt rough
on the second and third shave. As always, your mileage may vary.

Here are a few threads discussing the various 7 O'clock blades:

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/205169-Which-is-your-favorite-Gillette-7-o-Clock-Blade

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/172795-7-o-clock-Blues

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/72411-7-O-clock-Super-Platinum-%28Black%29?ltr=1

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/133978-What-s-the-difference-between-7-O-Clock-yellow-amp-green

[CaptainK]

PermaSharp Stainless (Green pack) - India
Super Stainless (Green pack) - Russia
SharpEdge (Yellow pack) Russia
Super Platinum (Black pack) - India
Super Platinum (Dark Blue pack) - Russia

IIRC, one of the greens recently had their name changed, and now both Russian and Indian greens have the same name. (I don't recall which name that is.)

Performance - sharpness & smoothness - is very much a YMMV thing. If I were to guess from what I've read, the Yellows seem to be the most popular, with excellent performance for a reasonable price. Others prefer the Blacks or Blues, but IIRC they're more expensive and don't offer a proportional increase in performance. The greens are less expensive and, while not as sharp/smooth as the others, their performance is more than adequate for many.

This is all MHO. Please excuse me while I brace for the incoming impact of other's opinions! :laugh:

[CaptainK]

As always, your mileage may vary.
Beat me to it! As they say, a picture us worth 1,000 words. Thanks! :001_smile

[man00ver]

The Greens are the value-tier blade in both markets.
The Yellow is very sharp but very rough on the first shave for me; it performs much like a Feather in this regard, and it seems to me it was put in a yellow package specifically to compete with Feather.

The Super Platinum blades are the premium-tier blades in both markets. I just got to try the Russian Blue for the first time last night, and so far it's about half-a-hair better than the Indian Black (somewhat sharper if just a wee bit less smooth). But they're both top-shelf in my den for comfort and effectiveness, ranked as favorites.

[bkfist]

Guess the Russian blades all have the goo dots on them?

How about the Indian blacks?

[man00ver]

Guess the Russian blades all have the goo dots on them?

How about the Indian blacks?

The dots are MUCH smaller on the Blacks.

[cbogg]

Fwiw i like the yellows.

Off topic - FonGu, isn't that something uh, vulgar in Italian? If not, then it's close, i remember a boss would say something to me when I'd get him mad but I can't place it, sounds familiar tho.

[mikey]

I have tried all three Russian varieties but neither of the Indian varieties.

For me, the Blues are smooth and comfortable but I cannot get a close shave with them. The Crystals and Astras (SPs?) perform better for me and are cheaper.

I can get a close shave with the Yellows which are sharp but I get some irritation from them. They are better than the Feathers as they do not give me weepers, are fairly forgiving and less expensive. But again, they do cause a bit of irritation.

I believe the Greens are uncoated and are fairly rough for me with quite a bit of tugging. They remind me of Derbys.

Hope this helps.

Thanks,
Mike

[FonGu]

Off topic - FonGu, isn't that something uh, vulgar in Italian? If not, then it's close, i remember a boss nwpuld say something to me when is get him mad but I can't place it, sounds familiar tho.

Yes :tongue_sm, but very phonetic. I've used it as a screen name for years and you are the first to call me on it. SWMBO Grandpa was Italian, and he would drop it everytime he got angry about something!

[cbogg]

Yes :tongue_sm, but very phonetic. I've used it as a screen name for years and you are the first to call me on it. SWMBO Grandpa was Italian, and he would drop it everytime he got angry about something!

Yeah like i said, sounded familiar, and the circumstances you heard it sound about right lol. Don't feel bad, for some reason in usually the first to screw something up lol.

[gregoe86]

I believe the Greens are uncoated and are fairly rough for me with quite a bit of tugging. They remind me of Derbys.

I'll second that, hoo boy -- the green pack is one of the worst blades I've tried. Never tried any of the others, so can't be much help otherwise.

[oc_in_fw]

The top row are made in India. I find the blacks to be sharp, smooth, and long lasting. The greens felt rough on my face in my DE89L but others here love them.

The bottom row are made in Russia. The blues are supposedly made to the exact same specs as the blacks. The blues and blacks are my favorite 7 O'clock blades.
The yellows are a very close second, I also find them very sharp yet smooth. The Russian greens performed about the same as the Indian greens for me and felt rough
on the second and third shave. As always, your mileage may vary.

Here are a few threads discussing the various 7 O'clock blades:

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/205169-Which-is-your-favorite-Gillette-7-o-Clock-Blade

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/172795-7-o-clock-Blues

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/72411-7-O-clock-Super-Platinum-%28Black%29?ltr=1

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/133978-What-s-the-difference-between-7-O-Clock-yellow-amp-green

Thanks. The yellows are my favorite DE blade- may have to try the blues.

[FonGu]

Much thanks for all the info. I have some reading to do now with my morning coffe this Sat.!

[bobusa]

Good info

[Bobtrumpet]

The Greens are the value-tier blade in both markets.
The Yellow is very sharp but very rough on the first shave for me; it performs much like a Feather in this regard, and it seems to me it was put in a yellow package specifically to compete with Feather.

The Super Platinum blades are the premium-tier blades in both markets. I just got to try the Russian Blue for the first time last night, and so far it's about half-a-hair better than the Indian Black (somewhat sharper if just a wee bit less smooth). But they're both top-shelf in my den for comfort and effectiveness, ranked as favorites.

This is almost the exact same experience I have had with the various Gillette 7 O'clock blades.

I thought the yellow's were my go-to blades. I've recently used some of the blues and the Personna med lab blades, and I am slowly coming to a determination between the two. So far, both give me comparable shaves, and are the only two blades I have ever used that give me a good second shave.

[wulfgar1976]

I'll second that, hoo boy -- the green pack is one of the worst blades I've tried. Never tried any of the others, so can't be much help otherwise.

The Indian version, Permasharp Stainless, is coated and is one of the sharpest, smoothest and longest lasting blades for me. I have some late '60s Gillette Platinum Plus made in the USA and I think I prefer the Permasharp by a small margin.

[camjr]

I've tried both the Russian Blue and Russian Green. So far, the Russian Blue is one of my favorites, with the Green right behind.

[kaseri]

Day two with a Russian Blue. 4 pass BBS shave without any issue. Great blades!

[kinglaiho]

Anyone know of any cheap suppliers of these blades? I've only tried the russian (and hated them) but would like to try yellow blue and black! :D

[rwagner76]

I've only used the Russian Greens myself, and I actually find them to be one of the smoothest blades I've tried in my DE89. (I'm eating through a large variety pack slowly). Didn't like them nearly as well in my open comb Grafco/Merkur or Slim.

[rsaltonstall]

I have used the Blacks and Indian Greens on an early 40s Fat Handled Tech, a 50s Ball-End Tech, and a 40s Aristocrat. I, overall, find the Blacks to be sharp, but they do not have the longevity and smoothness of the Greens. The Greens, however, have mixed results depending on the razor: they work best with the 40s Tech giving me a very smooth and close shave. When used on the Ball-End, I get the smoothness but not the closeness of the 40s Tech; the blades seem less sharp on the Ball-End requiring more pressure. When used in the Aristocrat, I need an extra pass for touch ups.

[MarkStar]

I've tried both the Russian Blue and Russian Green. So far, the Russian Blue is one of my favorites, with the Green right behind.


I've only used the Russian Greens myself, and I actually find them to be one of the smoothest blades I've tried in my DE89. (I'm eating through a large variety pack slowly). Didn't like them nearly as well in my open comb Grafco/Merkur or Slim.

The Russian Greens (Super Stainless) are as good as Astra SPs in my book. Both are interchangeable as my current "goto" blades.

[JCinPA]

The Russian Greens (Super Stainless) are as good as Astra SPs in my book. Both are interchangeable as my current "goto" blades.

I feel the same way. I thought they were very similar to the Astra.

[deruitem]

I have tried all but the greem permasharp. They are all worth trying but I am still trying to decide what ones I like best

[ShaveThis]

Great info all. Thanks.

[mdw15]

This is almost the exact same experience I have had with the various Gillette 7 O'clock blades.

I thought the yellow's were my go-to blades. I've recently used some of the blues and the Personna med lab blades, and I am slowly coming to a determination between the two. So far, both give me comparable shaves, and are the only two blades I have ever used that give me a good second shave.

+1

I've taken the same 7 o'clock journey, stopping at med prep personnas along the way, before buying a serious supply of blues and stopping there. Best combination of sharpness and smoothness for me, by a discernible distance, whether in a Mergress, a slim or a super adjustable.

Yellows and med preps are great blades too, of course.

[VGA Ubersoldat]

I only have tried the yellow's out of all of those shown and it is currently in my top three blades in the Everything Sampler pack I got from West Coast Shaving.