Any update on this or was it just a clever sales ploy?
The Russian Gillette factory is not closed and is still making blades, but the selection of blades you can buy now in 2024 (post Ukraine war) is much reduced.
Ok here is where it gets a bit confusing. They have 3 broad categories.
1) blades like Astra SP, SS, Gillette Platinum (both varieties) to name a few, they are brands that are made by Gillette for markets that include a number of ones but are mainly for Eastern Europe, and these markets have embargoes with Russia. Gillette has moved production of these brands elsewhere, China and India so far.
2) blades like Gillette Rubie, Sputnik, Minora Stainless, 7 Yellow/Green etc, these are made for Russia, and non embargo nations (eg Pakistan), these blades are still being made in Russia.
3) blades like Silver Blue, this has no intended market but suppliers can order a batch here and there. This one is a bit of a grey area so far, but I think these ones are still being made.
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Ok for a blade dealer like Razor Blades Club (RBC), they would buy their blades from distributors around the world eg Gillette London Bridge blades which are made in China but are sold in Indonesia, RBC would buy them from a distributor there. Even though Gillette Rubie blades are still made in Russia but are only sold in Russia, due to trade embargoes with Russia, RBC cannot buy them from a Russian distributor. However, blades like Minora they are sold in South Africa, who have no embargo with Russia so it can be imported by European dealers with no issues.
The Silver Blue seems to be an exception, from what I gathered it can be ordered by distributors but it was never intended for one particular market like others, and consequently I'm not sure whether it will be discontinued or not. What gets confusing is there are a few brands still being made that looked like they had been discontinued. Someone on B&B posted up a picture of a Russian made 2024 batch of dark blue Gillette Platinums, that has been assumed to have been discontinued before that.
So in short, Russian Gillettes are still being made but there are less choice than before, but there are a few replacements but there are occasional surprises thrown up.
The new replacements have been out for a while and I think the general consensus is the new Indian made Astra SP is a little different to the old Russian one (IMO the most over rated blade of all time!), some think the new Indian is better, some think it is worse. The MIC Platinums are supposed to be very similar to the old Russian ones, but as ever YMMV. Try a few of the new ones if you can, it should be possible to get a few of the old Russian ones before they disappear, otherwise I presume for most they won't be too bothered by the replacements.
