I'm looking into purchasing my first straightedge razor, but to be honest, feeling a bit lost and overwhelmed.

Based on the research I have done so far (and a bias towards German quality), the brand I will likely go with is a Dovo Solingen. The problem is there seems to be a wide range of products and costs, and I'm not experienced enough to know the difference.

(1) What is the main reason one razor by Dovo costs $140, and another $700? Does it all have to do with handle types, gold trim, and other superficial details, or are there other differences I should look out for?

(2) Are there differences in the metal type, or does Dovo use the same type of steel for all their blades?



Some background info if it helps:

I want to start shaving with a straightedge for practical reasons. I have really sensitive skin, so I go between one to three weeks between each shave. If I were to shave daily like "ordinary" people, my face would be constantly torn up, red, and itchy. Standard razors are not practical for shaving two-weeks worth of facial hair. I'm hoping a straightedge razor will either reduce the problems my sensitive skin, or allow me to still go weeks between shaves as the longer hair won't get stuck in the razor. I am a pragmatist; the feel of a cleaner shave, the manliness of using a razor, or the zen feeling you get from honing your blade, are nice, but not relevant to me.

For this same reason, unnecessary features such as gold trim or mammoth ivory handle. All I care about is the quality of the blade and how comfortable it is to hold the razor while shaving.

So long as I'm not overpaying, I have no problems spending more for a quality razor that lasts for many years; my budget is at the most $300 USD that I can spend comfortably without it becoming a financial burden.