Thread: Gold Wash: Nay or Yay

Hello All,
I was wondering what everyone thought about gold wash and other ornamentation on straight razors. Personally, I like the look of the gold wash on razor blades (Revisor's Razors look really nice), but I don't like gold wash overall. I just don't think something so fragile and delicate should be incorporated in a tool that could receive daily use. Unfortunately, it seems like gold wash is the norm for razors these days, especially Dovo. I am not even sure if you can buy a Dovo with out some type of ornamentation on the blade.

For my personal tastes, I like a nice, deep, fancy tang stamp and beautiful scales with a clean blade that is easy to maintain and capable of being polished when the need arises. Unfortunately, it seems like some manufacturers are using lighter tang stamps on their razors. The tang markings on my Dovo Special look like they were printed on, which was very disappointing for me. Also, I believe I can see a light brown spot between two of the "sun's rays" of the gold wash on that blade.

What do you think? All comments are greatly appreciated!

I addition, I must say that I am not a huge fan of spine decoration either. I guess it is fine with me so long as it would not interfere with honing.

Some of my razors have gold wash and spine work and some dont! I dont tend to think "I dont like a razor because it does/doesnt have X", I just go on whether it catches my eye or not.

I wasnt too keen on my TI (a 6/8" Spartacus dreadnought point with a worked spine, mirror finish, gold wash and bone scales) when I first saw pictures of it. I thought it was a little OTT in fact. But then through talking to one of my good friends here, Obie, who has this razor himself, I went back and looked at it again and again and started to think it looked Ok. Then I thought it looked good, then it looked awesome and then I just had to have it so I bought it and now its one of my favourites. In fact, I take it out just to look at it now..!

But I also have a 7/8" W&B wedge in black acrylic scales, very simple and straight forward, and I love the look of this razor as well. For me, its really just spotting that little something that makes it a work of art. Sometimes I dont see it right away, but when I do the RAD flares up..!

I think gold wash on the blade goes well with the faux tortoise shell scales of my Dovo "Special" but I would not like it with the Perlex scales of my stainless Dovo (which doesn't have it). YMMV

I wouldn't want goldwash on all of my blades but I've come to like it one some of them if it is tastefully done. OTOH, I have to accept the fact that it will gradually wear as the razor is used and cleaned. I happen to have a thing for worked spines as long as any sharp bits that might scuff the strop are polished down by the maker.

I recently put a gold wash on old Spike razor i have. I do not know if i like the looks of it now, but just wanted to know how it looked when it was new. I've never plated razors before.
Just like with the original gold wash i do not think the new gold wash will last if handled carelessly. I put some poor pictures in the Workshop forum.

If you have a Sunday shaver the Gold Wash and other ornamentation is fine however for a daily shaver workhorse blade I'll take a plain blade. Spine ornamentation is fine as long as its the type machined into the edge.

In my opinion all that gold wash just makes it one of those pretty boy razors. In the end it wears off so why pay for it to begin with?

The interesting thing is that most new straight razors have some sort of gold wash or ornamentation on the actual blade face. The only new Dovo that I have seen that doesn't have some sort of ornamentation on the blades face is the Ebony Spike. TI seems to not have as much blade ornamentation though. I definitely think a plain blade face is more my style.

I am not a fan of the gold wash. Just way to delicate. Spine work and nice deep etching on the face I like ( depending on the pattern of course). Razors are made to be used.

I don't really like how it looks, and I don't like how fragile it is. But in the right way on the right razor, it can look great.