Crystals vs. IPs

I really like them a lot. They're both smooth and comfortable for my face in all my razors. For a while now my preferred DE is an iKon 101 with bulldog handle, but I still use my Red Tips, Techs and a Merkur 42C from time to time. But here's the thing. I seem to get 50% more shaves from the IPs. Crystals tend to give me 4 comfortable shaves and then they get tossed. IPs otoh can give me 6 comfy shaves. I always do 3 pass shaves, regardless of razor.

What's your opinion of these blades?

I don't find Crystals to be as good as IPs, in shave or longevity. Which is odd because the forum "wisdom" is that they're the same.

The blade vendor that I frequent says that there is part of the confusion is that many have found the two blades to be similar in performance. But he has confirmed that there is multiple blade factories in Israel. I have liked the Personna Reds and need to use some more because its been a while since I have had any to try. I have been enjoying the Crystals and I would call it a middle of the road, good medium aggressiveness while have a high level of smoothness/comfort. Not a very very close shave but for the most part, I can have an enjoyable shave because I am almost guaranteed to avoid irritation.

(02-27-2016, 04:54 PM)Gig103 Wrote: I don't find Crystals to be as good as IPs, in shave or longevity. Which is odd because the forum "wisdom" is that they're the same.

That's how I've understood it as well.

(02-28-2016, 12:27 AM)zaclikestoshave Wrote: The blade vendor that I frequent says that there is part of the confusion is that many have found the two blades to be similar in performance. But he has confirmed that there is multiple blade factories in Israel. I have liked the Personna Reds and need to use some more because its been a while since I have had any to try. I have been enjoying the Crystals and I would call it a middle of the road, good medium aggressiveness while have a high level of smoothness/comfort. Not a very very close shave but for the most part, I can have an enjoyable shave because I am almost guaranteed to avoid irritation.

Interesting info. I wouldn't have thought there'd be more than one factory in any country making DE blades.

(02-28-2016, 03:51 AM)chazt Wrote:

(02-27-2016, 04:54 PM)Gig103 Wrote: I don't find Crystals to be as good as IPs, in shave or longevity. Which is odd because the forum "wisdom" is that they're the same.

That's how I've understood it as well.

(02-28-2016, 12:27 AM)zaclikestoshave Wrote: The blade vendor that I frequent says that there is part of the confusion is that many have found the two blades to be similar in performance. But he has confirmed that there is multiple blade factories in Israel. I have liked the Personna Reds and need to use some more because its been a while since I have had any to try. I have been enjoying the Crystals and I would call it a middle of the road, good medium aggressiveness while have a high level of smoothness/comfort. Not a very very close shave but for the most part, I can have an enjoyable shave because I am almost guaranteed to avoid irritation.

Interesting info. I wouldn't have thought there'd be more than one factory in any country making DE blades.

There is only one factory making the IP/Crystal blades. In 2013-2014 Crystal changed their packaging from Platinum Chrome to Stainless Steel, may be because someone told them that they are only PTFE/Teflon coated.

Strange for a blade marked Super + Platinum but this has always been the case.

(02-29-2016, 08:59 AM)suffolksupplies Wrote: There is only one factory making the IP/Crystal blades. In 2013-2014 Crystal changed their packaging from Platinum Chrome to Stainless Steel, may be because someone told them that they are only PTFE/Teflon coated.

Strange for a blade marked Super + Platinum but this has always been the case.

Paul, are the blades one and the same, or are they manufactured to different specs?

i have tried both many times and imo the ip's are MUCH better blades then crystals. but crystals are a tiny bit sharper. with ip's being far smoother. i like ip's in certain razors. i do not like crystals personally.

(02-29-2016, 01:43 PM)chazt Wrote:

(02-29-2016, 08:59 AM)suffolksupplies Wrote: There is only one factory making the IP/Crystal blades. In 2013-2014 Crystal changed their packaging from Platinum Chrome to Stainless Steel, may be because someone told them that they are only PTFE/Teflon coated.

Strange for a blade marked Super + Platinum but this has always been the case.

Paul, are the blades one and the same, or are they manufactured to different specs?

There is only one blade available marked Super + Platinum from the Nazareth plant. If you buy enough blades I am sure the plant would customise any blade for you, but I have always sold these as the same blades.

I changed from Crystal Stainless to Super+ a while a go & haven't received any feedback that these are different.

Thanks, Paul. What you report makes sense. I figured the Crystal branded blades changed only in their marking, not in actual spec. I still am curious though; is there a definitive difference between Crystals and IPs, or is this like trying to understand the difference between Med Preps and Lab Blues? Not trying to put you on the spot...

(03-01-2016, 03:37 AM)chazt Wrote: Thanks, Paul. What you report makes sense. I figured the Crystal branded blades changed only in their marking, not in actual spec. I still am curious though; is there a definitive difference between Crystals and IPs, or is this like trying to understand the difference between Med Preps and Lab Blues? Not trying to put you on the spot...

I have not used them side by side & I do not care for them really. I like the Platinum Chrome (reds) but not IP's.

The factory had not heard of Crystal, this is a brand owned by the retailer, so these must be packed in to blister packs in the US.

Are they marked differently now, there was a change in the last 2-3 years when they removed the made in Israel from the blade?

Blades are made in vast quantities & batches can vary so it is possible that you could buy a pack Crystal & Super + on the same day & have blades from different production years.

(03-01-2016, 04:16 AM)suffolksupplies Wrote:

(03-01-2016, 03:37 AM)chazt Wrote: Thanks, Paul. What you report makes sense. I figured the Crystal branded blades changed only in their marking, not in actual spec. I still am curious though; is there a definitive difference between Crystals and IPs, or is this like trying to understand the difference between Med Preps and Lab Blues? Not trying to put you on the spot...

I have not used them side by side & I do not care for them really. I like the Platinum Chrome (reds) but not IP's.

The factory had not heard of Crystal, this is a brand owned by the retailer, so these must be packed in to blister packs in the US.

Are they marked differently now, there was a change in the last 2-3 years when they removed the made in Israel from the blade?

Blades are made in vast quantities & batches can vary so it is possible that you could buy a pack Crystal & Super + on the same day & have blades from different production years.

Thanks again for the knowledgable reply. To answer your question, no the current Crystal brand blades don't feel any different now compared to two years ago.

I used plain jane blades from the old Dollar General stores for years as that was the only blades I could find back then local. These were Crystals and although they were not the best blade I ever used they worked fine for 10 years as I new no better. Always lasted about 3-5 shaves. The ones that the local dollar store handles now are beyond cheap and I would not recommend shaving a dogs behind with them. complete junk.
My first ten years of wet shaving was with Crystals exclusively, so they did work.
Sometimes if you know no better your better off in a way. lol

There is only one Personna factory in Israel, at Tzipori, near Nazareth in north. All the blades they make are sharpened to the same quality. What difference is the coating material which is the choice of the buyer. They make blades under numerous private labels, if you place a big enough command you can have a container of blades with your name on it. I have quite a big collection of them.

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(03-05-2016, 12:20 PM)Big Whiskey Wrote: I used plain jane blades from the old Dollar General stores for years as that was the only blades I could find back then local. These were Crystals and although they were not the best blade I ever used they worked fine for 10 years as I new no better. Always lasted about 3-5 shaves. The ones that the local dollar store handles now are beyond cheap and I would not recommend shaving a dogs behind with them. complete junk.
My first ten years of wet shaving was with Crystals exclusively, so they did work.
Sometimes if you know no better your better off in a way. lol

Wow, ten years with one brand. It's remarkable there was nothing else to try. Do you use something else now?

(03-06-2016, 12:45 PM)KLF Wrote: There is only one Personna factory in Israel, at Tzipori,  near Nazareth in north. All the blades they make are sharpened to the same quality. What difference is the coating material which is the choice of the buyer. They make blades under numerous private labels, if you place a big enough command you can have a container of blades with your name on it. I have quite a big collection of them.

Interesting post. I wonder how many labels/brands are made in that one factory...

(03-07-2016, 08:29 AM)chazt Wrote:

(03-05-2016, 12:20 PM)Big Whiskey Wrote: I used plain jane blades from the old Dollar General stores for years as that was the only blades I could find back then local. These were Crystals and although they were not the best blade I ever used they worked fine for 10 years as I new no better. Always lasted about 3-5 shaves. The ones that the local dollar store handles now are beyond cheap and I would not recommend shaving a dogs behind with them. complete junk.
My first ten years of wet shaving was with Crystals exclusively, so they did work.
Sometimes if you know no better your better off in a way. lol

Wow, ten years with one brand. It's remarkable there was nothing else to try. Do you use something else now?

OH Heck yes, I have about 7-800 blades in hundred boxes from about ten different brands. Its just when I first started there was not all this online stuff, the internet had yet to be invented. I lived real rural so the pickings were fairly slim on what was available. As a matter of fact, when I found them I usually bought all they had. Everything was going to new fangled carts and disposable that I could not stand. Wet shaving was not making a comeback in the eighties but just the opposite.

I had one 40s ss of my dads and one black beauty, a Made Rite boar brush, those Crystal blades and cakes of either Burma Shave or Williams and that was all I even knew existed in my small little world. I still have the 40ss, but the brush I wore down onto a nub until I finally found some new ones at an old drug store. And again I bought all they had of those brushes too. lol

I tell you what it did do for me though. It removed about 3/4s of all the variables with my meager kit and let me concentrate on refining and perfecting my technique.

(03-07-2016, 10:49 AM)Big Whiskey Wrote:

(03-07-2016, 08:29 AM)chazt Wrote:

(03-05-2016, 12:20 PM)Big Whiskey Wrote: I used plain jane blades from the old Dollar General stores for years as that was the only blades I could find back then local. These were Crystals and although they were not the best blade I ever used they worked fine for 10 years as I new no better. Always lasted about 3-5 shaves. The ones that the local dollar store handles now are beyond cheap and I would not recommend shaving a dogs behind with them. complete junk.
My first ten years of wet shaving was with Crystals exclusively, so they did work.
Sometimes if you know no better your better off in a way. lol

Wow, ten years with one brand. It's remarkable there was nothing else to try. Do you use something else now?

OH Heck yes, I have about 7-800 blades in hundred boxes from about ten different brands. Its just when I first started there was not all this online stuff, the internet had yet to be invented. I lived real rural so the pickings were fairly slim on what was available. As a matter of fact, when I found them I usually bought all they had. Everything was going to new fangled carts and disposable that I could not stand. Wet shaving was not making a comeback in the eighties but just the opposite.

I had one 40s ss of my dads and one black beauty, a Made Rite boar brush, those Crystal blades and cakes of either Burma Shave or Williams and that was all I even knew existed in my small little world. I still have the 40ss, but the brush I wore down onto a nub until I finally found some new ones at an old drug store. And again I bought all they had of those brushes too. lol

I tell you what it did do for me though. It removed about 3/4s of all the variables with my meager kit and let me concentrate on refining and perfecting my technique.

I so enjoy reading about other people's experiences. Your history as a shaver, as well as everyone else for that matter, helps to forge a our combined sociological and historical grooming lore! We're all fascinating little snippets of a bigger shaving picture. And it's bigger than all of us!!! We're a bunch of shave geeks is what we are. Speaking not only for myself of course. Wait. What?