Today we are going to take a look at a really good safety razor blade that kind of quietly flies under the radar: Crystal double edge razor blades.
This isn’t the sharpest blade nor is it it the smoothest blade, but it does both things really well. Not too many other blades can make that claim.
Alright, let’s dig in to the details and see if this is a blade you might want to try out.
Brand | Sharpness | Smoothness | Best For... |
|---|---|---|---|
Crystal DE Razor Blades | 7 | 7 | Men that want an above average sharp blade that is still forgiving |
Pros
- Good mix of sharpness and smoothness
- Great option if you’re looking for a medium aggressive blade
- More forgiving for men with a sensitive face or inexperienced wet shavers learning proper technique
- Great utility: nice sweet spot of sharpness, durability and smoothness
Cons
- Have heard some complaints about quality control missing “bad” blades; never had this experience but something to watch for
Product Overview
The Crystal double edge razor blades are a standard stainless steel double edge razor blade. In some of their marketing, they claim that they are great in Parker, Merkur and Gillette safety razors, but that really doesn’t mean anything. These blades will fit and work the same in any industry standard safety razor that does not have a unique design that can’t handle the typical de blade.
Crystal blades are available in a few sample packs I’ve seen, but they are most commonly sold in either packs of 100 or 120. Also, be aware that there is 2 types of packaging used for these. Sometimes they will come in black and red packaging that says “Crystal Double Edge” on the front of the package but other times they will just come in a blue and white container that makes no reference to the brand being Crystal.
Regardless of the outside packaging though, all the individual blades should be individually wrapped in paper. Additionally, all of the blades should look the exact same. To confirm, when looking at the blade, it should have the words “Super + Platinum” written on the top and “Pat No. 3071856” written on the bottom.
Unfortunately, these do not come with any sort of blade bank for disposal like some some de razor blade packaging does. You will need to either make or buy some sort of blade bank to dispose your used Crystal blades. Personally, I don’t think this is a big deal because blade banks are ridiculously easy to make, but just be prepared when it comes time to dispose a used blade.
Lastly, before we get into the actual review of the product, I just wanted to point out that Crystal blades are also sometimes referred to as “Israeli Personna’s”. Why? Because they are manufactured by Personna in Israel. However, DO NOT confuse these with other Personna double edge razor blades because they have very different qualities. Both are great blades, but one is not a direct substitute for the other.
Key Features and Characteristics
Great Balance of Sharpness and Smoothness
The Crystal double edge razor blades are a great blade for any wet shaver looking for a nice mix of sharpness and smoothness. I would rate them as middle of the road when it comes to both sharpness (7/10) and smoothness (7/10). They are more than capable of providing a close and comfortable shave for certain wet shavers. I do think they work best for men with thin beards/little facial hair and/or facial hair that is fine to medium in texture.
If you have a coarse beard and/or just prefer a sharp blade, these probably aren’t the blades for you. Likewise, if you want an ultra-smooth blade that is incredibly mild, these probably aren’t for you. There are other blades out there more geared towards those features.
But if you need a blade that can give a close shave but do so without being aggressive, this is a great option. It may take a few passes to get as smooth a shave as you would like, but this blade can definitely provide a close shave for the right men.
Excellent Option for Beginners
I think this is a great option for beginner wet shavers. Why? Well most beginners are scared of cutting themselves so they go with an overly mild blade. And this ends up backfiring on them. How so?
Because when beginners use a blade that is too mild, they end up overcompensating for the mild blade by applying pressure with the razor. This is the exact technique you want to avoid.
Beginners need a blade sharp enough that will actually cut through their facial hair easy enough so they can learn proper form of not applying pressure but instead letting the razor do the work for them. And that’s why this blade is a great option -- it’s sharp enough without being aggressive and smooth enough to where it will be forgiving for any big mistakes.
Platinum Chrome Coating Helps Smoothness and Durability
One of the reasons the Crystals can provide such a smooth shave is because they are platinum chrome coated. This coating allows the blade to glide across the shaving surface more evenly and gently. Which all else equal should mean fewer nicks and cuts.
This is another great benefit for beginner wet shavers practicing and learning the technique of a safety razor. But experienced wet shavers shouldn’t dismiss this benefit too. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a blade that can be forgiving instead of one that punishes you for every little mistake? And no matter how good you are, we all have those mistakes every now and then when we’re in a hurry in the morning.
Personally, I think the main benefit from the platinum coating is the smoothness it provides the blade, but it should help to maintain the sharpness of the edges better too. I’m skeptical if it really (noticeably) adds much to the overall durability of the blade, but I guess every little bit helps.
Good Durability
Speaking of durability though… the Crystal double edge blades have good durability. I wouldn’t say it’s significantly better or worse than the average de razor blade though.
The durability of these blades, like all blades, is really dependent on a lot of factors. I’d say on average I can get about 5 or possibly 6 good shaves out of one of these blades. If you have really thick or coarse hair though, you may only be able to get 2 to 4 shaves out of these before you need to replace the blade though.
These blades are really more geared to men with fine to medium hair though. So if you have pretty light facial hair that’s not too coarse, I definitely think it’s possible that you could get 7 shaves out of one blade.
Great Results for Men With A Combination of Light Beard and Fine to Medium Hair
My skin is slightly sensitive and my beard is probably what most would classify as medium thick but my hair follicles are pretty thick and coarse. And this blade still worked really well.
That said, I do prefer a slightly sharper blade that will cut through my hair a little easier. However, I think the Crystal double edge blades are a great option for guys with fine to medium hair or men with sensitive skin that need a more forgiving blade. The balance of sharpness and smoothness is really nice and I think this is a very underrated and often overlooked blade.
What Are Some Other Good Options to Consider?
Personna Lab Blue
The Personna “Lab Blue” double edge razor blades are my personal favorite and go-to blade. They are a step up in sharpness when compared to the Crystal blades, but they still provide a very smooth and reliable shave every time. If you’re looking for something just a little more sharp and aggressive but smooth on your face, these are a great option.
Derby Extra
If you’re looking for something that is even less mild than the Crystal blades, the Derby Extra double- edge blades are a great option. They are known for being one of the smoothest and comfortable de blades on the market. Personally, these are too mild for me, but if you don’t need a sharp blade and need something much more smooth, these are a great option.
Gillette Silver Blue
Gillette’s Silver Blue de blades get overlooked a lot, but they are a top of the line safety razor blade. They are very similar and comparable in both sharpness and smoothness to the Crystal double edge blades.
Want some more options for safety razor blades? Then checkout my guide on what I think are the 10 best double-edge razor blades on the market today.
