The Bijou razor is one of Darwin’s two women’s razors. It should not be confused with the Darlette. The Bijou shares many similarities with the DeLuxe razor. It uses special blades that are smaller than standard blades. Discover this unique razor with our photos and archive images.
Darwin "Bijou" razor nomenclature
The Darwin “Bijou” razor was made of stainless steel, like the standard-sized double-edged razors for which the brand was famous. As with other Darwin razors, there are too few sources to establish exact production dates with certainty. This razor was sold for Ladies, and some people sometimes present it as a moustache razor, but there are no documents to support this claim. The catalogue clearly states that this razor is designed for women’s shaving (“ladies razor”).
It has all the features of the Darwin DeLuxe razor (although not in cobalt), but in miniature. A faceted handle, a two-piece head, and studs on the guard plate that extend upwards through the cap. The Darwin logo is engraved on the cap. The cap can be smooth or faceted. The handle can be more or less hollowed out depending on the model, as with double-edged razors. In the photos below, on the left is a model with a thin handle, smooth domed cap and domed handle end. On the right is a model with a faceted cap, a thicker handle and a faceted handle end. These differences are due to minor changes and do not create truly distinguishable models in the catalogue.
Features:
- Length: 6 cm
- Head: 23 x 24 mm
- Weight: 32–34 grams.
The name “Bijou” is borrowed from French, and of course refers to jewellery (the jewel-like, precious nature of the razor is clear to see), but it also refers to something small, miniature. Interestingly, the French word bijou itself comes from the Breton word bizou (ring for the finger), derived from biz (finger). And Darwin is now a Breton brand. We’ve come full circle!
Differentiating between the Bijou and Darlette razors
The Bijou razor is often confused with the Darlette, which is made of chrome-plated brass. The name “Bijou” refers only to the steel razor for women, which has a faceted handle. The Darwin Bijou and Darlette razors are both women’s razors. Both use the same specific blade, called the “Bijou type” (see below). Both have broadly the same structure, with pins on the guard plate that extend into the cap, and a male screw handle that screws into the head.
Below is a comparison of the two models. The Bijou razor is on the left, and the Darlette is on the right. The Bijou razor is made of stainless steel and resembles a miniature DeLuxe. The Darlette is made of chrome-plated brass and resembles the Popular. In these photos, you can see the difference in colour between the two types of steel. Stainless steel has golden reflections, while chrome has white, almost blue reflections.
Extract from Waits' Safety Razor Compendium
Robert K. Waits, in his book Safety Razor Compendium, describes it as follows (excerpt opposite): Darwins Ltd, Sheffield, England. Double-edged, narrow head, ribbed bar guard, stainless steel, “art deco” handle, “for ladies”. Takes short 3-hole blade. In leather case or leather purse. Similar to Darwin mustache razor. L-W, p. 10.
He mentions a moustache razor, but it is actually the Darlette, our other women’s razor (shown on the far right of the image opposite).
Presentations of the Darwin "Bijou" razor
We are aware of two types of case for this razor: a “coffin” case, like the DeLuxe, and a leather case, like the Standard.
Darwin Bijou in coffin case
The leather coffin case version is the most common, although it is still a rare and sought-after model. This presentation uses the same design as the box for the double-edged DeLuxe razor. It has the same coffin shape, leather exterior and tortoiseshell-style cellulose blade holder. Here they are side by side:
Darwin Bijou in leather pouch
The leather purse version is the rarest, as we see very few of them. This version has the same design as the pouch for the double-edged Standard razor, but in miniature. It has the same rectangular shape, different colours were available and there was a leather blade holder pouch as well. We know of blue and brown versions, but there may have been others. The Darwin logo is stamped on the upper inner flap.
Baldes compatible with the Bijou razor
The Bijou razor uses small three-hole blades developed by Darwin in the 1930s. At the time, they were made from a cobalt steel developed and patented by Darwin. These exact blades have not been manufactured for a long time. However, some modern blades are very similar, although they are not perfectly compatible. These are blades for corn shavers. We show an example below, from the Pedi brand, Solingen.
In the photos above, we can see that although the blades are the same size, the holes for the pins are not exactly the same, and a modern blade does not fit properly into the razor. You will either have to force it in or re-drill the holes, taking care to remain symmetrical.
Handle compatibility
In this image, the handles of a Darwin DeLuxe razor and a Bijou razor have been swapped. The screw thread is the same! This means you can shave with a small or large handle, depending on your preference. It’s not particularly useful, but it’s always fun to see.
Do you own a Darwin razor but are unsure of its name? Feel free to browse our article on “How to identify your Darwin razor“.
Do you have more information about the Darwin Popular razor? Please feel free to contact us so that we can add it to our online museum!
