Atelier DURDAN news

Partly it's the visual appeal of the razor if I'm honest. I can understand the reluctance to follow the Blackland solution and the reliance on a flat thread. Yes, the head is smaller but only without a blade in your razor concept. It seems to me the issue is the threading for the handle for modern GEM designs. I can't tell exactly how your design fits together but I'd like to see a new GEM with the handle attached below the baseplate like a vintage razor.

The ER streamline threads the handle under the baseplate for example. This would save space and allow you to have a small head size and still enclose the blade. The baseplate is barely wider than the blade itself on the streamline. The threading on the cap/hole in the baseplate is what makes the Wolfman head so large. Maybe a 2 piece design could help? Either spring loaded or the cap could slide across to lock in place. I get that both the Sabre and Wolfman tighten down the threaded handle to hold the head and blade together but I don't buy that as the only solution.

It has nothing to do with safety - of course the back of the blade is perfectly safe.

Or maybe I just need to design my own modern GEM razor...

I've never used a Gem style razor and this version will instill that I won't in the near future but the overall appearance of the head is just unappealing and while I think there was some thinking outside the box in the design of the head, the handle looks an awful lot like the Sabre handle!!

Atelier DURDAN Augustin, I wonder if you could share more on the inspiration for the head design and what related performance or handling benefits you might be experiencing in testing? 

My GEM blade experience has only been with the Blackland Sabre. I ultimately sold the Sabre, in part, because I never quite connected with its weight distribution and overall handling. I don't have a strong opinion on the aesthetics of a fully enclosed head versus not. I think both approaches can be visually appealing, as long as the blade is well supported and there are no additional safety or handling issues with an exposed blade spine. 

I look forward to learning more about this upcoming razor.

We appreciate your interest in our GEM razors and take into account your preference for a design where the blade is completely hidden. It's true that Blackland offers an elegant solution for a compact head and that some people prefer razors with the back of the blade hidden, like the Wolfman.

However, we'd like to hear more about why you think a design with the blade fully hidden would be preferable, given that the back of the blade is neither sharp nor aggressive ?

Aesthetics. We men like to post sotd pics and prefer sleek and compact designs.

Sent from my V2040 using Tapatalk

The blade protruding out the back doesn’t bother me at all. I don’t mind the look of it, and you can’t get any more compact or minimalist than that! I am a recent convert to Gem razors and this would be one that I would like to have.

With the blunt side of the blade sticking out the back, I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night searching for a solution to cut the back of the blade off

I LOVE the concept of a matte middle handle, polished on the ends, with a mirror polished head and mirror polished stand!

Your work is brilliant and I can’t wait to finalise my DE razor selection/order!

Vestige
We are proud to introduce our latest razor, the Vestige, which perfectly embodies the spirit of innovation and quality of Atelier DURDAN. Designed to offer an unparalleled shaving experience, Vestige combines smoothness, efficiency and lightness without compromise.

With a featherweight of only 40g, blade mounted, the Vestige is an ultra-light shaver that respects the guiding principles of our workshop. Several technical innovations have been made to push the limits of performance and comfort when shaving. Inspired by our La Faulx razor, the Vestige takes the concept a step further by offering a near-zero GAP. The cut is generated by gaps across the width of the base plate, while 0.3mm islands ensure optimal cut control in all conditions.



The Vestige will be available in a variety of aggressiveness levels to meet individual preferences. Its sleek, highly maneuverable handle features an additional innovation: a tapered base that makes it easier to fit the razor while reducing mounting clearance to zero.

While the Vestige's lightweight design seems ideal for a titanium version, we will also be testing a stainless steel version to give our customers additional choice.

Today, I'd like to tell you about the technical advances underway in our workshop. First of all, I'm delighted to inform you that we recently received a new 3-axis machining center from Tsugami. After the usual ups and downs of getting a new machine up and running, I was really looking forward to getting started on the razor heads. It's been done for a few days now, and everything's working perfectly. In fact, the first tests have been very conclusive!
But in concrete terms, what does it change? First of all, thanks to its linear axes and guides, this machine is exceptionally precise. This means that there is no longer any play in the axes, which translates into far fewer deep machining marks. Parts are now manufactured with very few defects to be reworked. So we're going to save time in this process and reduce production lead times, which were getting longer and longer until now.
The second aspect I'd like to discuss with you is the new possibility of offering shavers with a machined finish, enabling us to sell them at lower cost. If you are interested, please let me know.
I'd be delighted to answer any questions you may have, or to provide you with more information on these new technical advances. Thank you all for your attention!

I'd much prefer a machined/brushed finish to the sandblasted - something inbetween high polish and matte. It would be a good option to have and one I would order.

Speeding up production is always good news.

Suggest one of the primary attractions of your products is the quality of the production process most obviously demonstrated in the perfectly executed high polish. Without that extraordinary polish there is really no reason to purchase your razors. Your company,, like exotic sports GT manufacturers, shouldn't compete on price and volume as it not your competitive strength. Racing to the bottom in price and quality is ill advised just as moving manufacturing to China would speed production, lower costs and increase profit. Also, once one cheapens a product within the line to achieve volume, one can never recover the brand exclusivity, perception and reputation sacrificed.