Why are Filarmonicas so expensive?

**surfsanclem** · 04-22-2012, 02:58 PM

Like the title say, why are these razors so expensive? I don't see many people talking about them or stating they shave with them regularly.

**Kentos** · 04-22-2012, 03:08 PM

There are bunch of guys here who love em and have em. The cost is just the law of supply and demand :)

**Alum of Potash** · 04-22-2012, 03:08 PM

Originally Posted by surfsanclem

Like the title say, why are these razors so expensive? I don't see many people talking about them or stating they shave with them regularly

Others will certainly chime in here (edit: Kent already has). I use my no. 12 Filly fairly regularly; and IMO, it's one of the nicest razors I have, if not my favorite. I believe they are expensive because the word has been out on them for a while, and a "bubble" has been created as a result. I was lucky to pay the price I did for one in unused condition at the time. I certainly would not want to pay the prices they are fetching these days, although I would love to get my hands on a Filly square-point.

**Chefbaze** · 04-22-2012, 03:31 PM

Originally Posted by Alum of Potash

Others will certainly chime in here (edit: Kent already has). I use my no. 12 Filly fairly regularly; and IMO, it's one of the nicest razors I have, if not my favorite. I believe they are expensive because the word has been out on them for a while, and a "bubble" has been created as a result. I was lucky to pay the price I did for one in unused condition at time. I certainly would not want to pay the prices they are fetching these days, although I would love to get my hands on a Filly square-point.

I was at my barber(Joe,Old school local Italian) this past week, for a haircut..I had just come back from visiting a friend, and fellow B&B guy, so I had some of my razors with me...When my barber saw them, he said "you shave with those?" when I answered, yes, he said " why you no atella me, you alike athese arazors..I woulda keepa mine to givea you" He said " I hada 3 Kama, anda 2 from a Spain" I was like, "Spain? Joe, you mean Filarmonicas?" "ah yesa thats it, afilarmonica,
I justa throwem in da garbage, lasta month, theya neva use.."

......."I no alike a them..Solingen, amucha betta! but evena those, I no use a no more"

GREAT!!!

So you see. One mans garbage, is another mans treasure!!

**global_dev** · 04-22-2012, 03:33 PM

they shave really really nicely, not that others don't shave nicely... but the 14s have a great balance to them with their heft

**professorchaos** · 04-22-2012, 04:10 PM

It can't be the law of supply and demand - unlike say, a Puma Gold, there are plenty of them out there! I think shill bidding, auction dynamics and more money than sense conspire keep the prices high.

**Kentos** · 04-22-2012, 04:17 PM

Originally Posted by professorchaos

It can't be the law of supply and demand - unlike say, a Puma Gold, there are plenty of them out there! I think shill bidding, auction dynamics and more money than sense conspire keep the prices high.

Good point Prof. Kinda like the last batch of Grelots to ever be sold...again.

**global_dev** · 04-22-2012, 04:31 PM

i think it def could be law of supply and demand... the issue is that no one really knows how many are out there. they slowly are released and who knows when the well will run dry...

**Great White Shavealo** · 04-22-2012, 04:33 PM

Originally Posted by Alum of Potash

I believe they are expensive because the word has been out on them for a while, and a "bubble" has been created as a result.

I agree. I watch Ebay religiously, since I am picking out deals there when I can get them, and there are some brands of razors I won't bother bidding on because people have just gone crazy and will pay far too much just so they can have one.

Originally Posted by Chefbaze

So you see. One mans garbage, is another mans treasure!!

That was a great story! Sad... but funny.

**Rapier** · 04-22-2012, 06:33 PM

There are quite a few great razors, but, early bubbles have just kept inflating; wade and butcher and films are two that come to mind. I have a 12, 13, and 14. I admit that they shave well, but the prices are out there ...

**johnmrson** · 04-22-2012, 07:52 PM

Are they worth what they sell for? Only the person who buys them can tell you that. I've got three in my collection. I've found them to be excellent shavers. They are easy to hone and hold a great edge.

**Drybonz** · 04-22-2012, 08:25 PM

I have three of them... I got relatively decent prices on all of them. They are my favorite shavers in collection. All that said... I have seen them go for prices that I think are absurd, and would never pay that much, even knowing how nice they are.

**tomjr** · 04-22-2012, 08:27 PM

beats my 2 pair!!

**Earcutter** · 04-22-2012, 08:37 PM

I had this conversation with a buddy not all that long ago. We laughed and felt all empowered as we discussed everyone spending thier money on them like they were gold or something... then he broke down and got one lol. Spoke so highly of it, I broke down and got one lol.

I love mine! I look forward to it showing up in the rotation, heck sometimes I'll skip just to get to it next. I paid $125 for my baby Fili - a little 4/8 (I like em smaller) - that's allot for a 4/8 but, I would do it again.

**surfsanclem** · 04-22-2012, 08:53 PM

Hmmm, maybe I will invest in one :p

**Kentos** · 04-22-2012, 10:23 PM

In the end, as Johnmrson said, there is no intrinsic value in the razor like gold bullion, so it's up to the buyer to justify the cost he/she will pay.

If you want one, and can afford it, get it!

**FiveOhNine** · 04-22-2012, 10:56 PM

IMO, there's no intrinsic value to gold either....its all about people speculating and betting what it is worth that creates the 'worth'. It's a vicious cycle :)

I do like a good Filly though.....

**Chefbaze** · 04-22-2012, 11:06 PM

Originally Posted by FiveOhNine

IMO, there's no intrinsic value to gold either....its all about people spectating and betting what it is worth that creates the 'worth'. It's a vicious cycle :)

I do like a good Filly though.....

Gold has been the worlds default "currency" for thousands of years...You cant just print more...Paper currency in the USA was traditionally backed by the Gold Standard..A dollar bill was a note ensuring its value in gold, on reserve at Ft. Knox or the like..anyway, thats for a different place..

Razors or anything really, are worth whatever someone is willing to pay.....How bad do you want it, and how fast do you need it $$$$$$$$

**noahpictures** · 04-22-2012, 11:15 PM

I have thought about the same question for at least a couple of years, "Why are Filarmonica razors so expensive?" I read many posts stating "it's all hype" while prices continued to rise. I finally got lucky to hone and shave with them and I must admit they are special razors. Maybe it is the Spanish steel or something else but they are excellent razors. I find Filarmonica razors to be sharp, smooth and very easy to hone. Whether they perform better than other top brands is debatable.

I'll propose this question: Do you think all those people (mostly experienced with straight razors) are fools to pay so much money for razors that don't have Solingen and Sheffield on them? Or do they know value when they see it?

**Kentos** · 04-22-2012, 11:19 PM

Originally Posted by FiveOhNine

IMO, there's no intrinsic value to gold either....its all about people spectating and betting what it is worth that creates the 'worth'. It's a vicious cycle :)

I do like a good Filly though.....

You are right of course, but if you had a razor made of gold it would at the minimum be "worth it's weight" in gold, not including the extrinsic worth it had from the stand point of removing stubble from the face. A Filarmonica, on the other hand, derives it's value extrinsically, as it's steel blade and plastic scales are worth a buck twenty-nine at most ;).