An expensive but wonderful set
Let me say first, I did not buy the razor or brush through Amazon, only the stand and only a year+ after getting the razor and brush from a UK vendor. While I generally prefer shaving with vintage Gillette razors, over the last few years, I'd wanted to try a couple of the newer all stainless razors that were available. The R95 birch bark razor is simply stunning looking and I bought it first. Some say the Rocca line is aggressive. I have a fairly light beard and fair skin and do not find the Rocca razors particularly aggressive but they are more so than a vintage Gillette Tech. It's an unusual design with a solid bottom. When you rinse it under the faucet as your shave, the water jets out both sides, like the Greek Lambda razors. Very cool feature and works just fine. After getting the razor, I liked it so well, I decided to add the brush with the synthetic bristles. I've been used to boar and silvertip badger brushes for many years so the synthetic brushes are a different experience. They don't absorb water so you really have to build up the lather first else you tend to fling water around, especially if you prefer face lathering. However, once you learn how they work differently than natural hair brushes, they are ready to go instantly, no soaking required or needed. I'd avoided the stand as a separate item and because it's really designed just for this line but, after receiving, it, I found it can hold a number of my razors and brushes even with the short stature and way it holds the razor. I just felt like it completed what was an incomplete set. One can get an equally good shave with a brush razor and stand for under $100, perhaps, under $50 but there is something special about this particular birch bark, satin stainless steel razor and brush design that makes it special in my view. Having it with the stand completes the outfit. One can spend more just for a small shop stainless razor but this set is unique and worth it (to me) whether acquired piece by piece like I did or all at once as a set as offered here. Read more
