The Best Tweezers in the World

This is a product review of Rubis tweezers. They're made in Switzerland, and are the finest, most precise tweezers available in the world today (for personal care use). Amazon sells the Rubis brand and offers free shipping to Prime members, or Rubis sells them directly through Amazon too and offer free shipping even if you don't have Amazon Prime. Free shipping helps to keep the cost down!

Rubis tweezers are about the same price as other precision made tweezers but there is no comparison in performance!

Rubis beats the competition hands down!!!

Rubis tweezers are resilient in almost every aspect, with one notable exception. The finely ground precision tip can be damaged upon direct impact with hard surfaces. Therefore they shouldn't ever be dropped, especially with the slant edged tip facing downwards. If a pair is dropped onto a hard surface (like a tile bathroom floor), and they happen to land on the working tip, this finely ground edge can be damaged and/or misaligned. This may significantly impact their future performance. My best advice? Don't drop them!

All finely-honed tweezers can be damaged by dropping

A great way to tell that Rubis really stands behind their product is by the lifetime guarantee that's included with every pair of tweezers bearing the Rubis name. They actually encourage customers to save their information and send them in for repair if anything should happen to them. This isn't unique just to Rubis though. Most of the finer European makers (especially Germans) who make precisions tools such as these stand behind their products with lifetime gaurantees. It's something you should expect when purchasing a good pair of tweezers.

Because I'm a klutz and I do drop things a lot, if I'm going to carry my tweezers around with me I always put the little rubber tip that they came with back on them first.

It took me longer that normal to update this page because we took a family vacation to Japan in August and I found some great Japanese tweezers, so I haven't needed any new pairs for a while.

I shouldn't be surprised about that because I LOVE Japanese fingernail clippers...and in fact have been meaning to write a post about that for quite some time.

But since I haven't yet, let me just mention that the best Japanese fingernail clippers I've used all have the words 'Green Bell' stamped onto them some place. The brands may vary, but if you see 'Green Bell' stamped or etched onto personal care tools like tweezers of fingernail clippers, you know you're getting a high end product!

Rubis Tweezers Come With a Lifetime Guarantee

Please remember too, that Rubis has a lifetime guarantee, therefore it's helpful to hold on to the warranty information they include with each pair.

Of course this only works if you haven't lost your tweezers...which I also did recently...thus my need for a new set!

I couldn't find anything really all that helpful...

...so I decided to write a comparison article myself.

I wrote my first version of this in article back in 2012. This was my motivation for writing it and my opening back then:

Why are there no good reviews of tweezers? Well, it turns out there actually were a few. But I had to sift through a lot of ads and very spammy sites before I zeroed in on those.

I discovered that anyone, including myself, who might be compelled to actually write an article about tweezers, does so because they feel passionate about their chosen favorite.

Generally, they've also spent quite a bit of money on tweezers and they've spent a lot of time looking for the best ones. Then more time actually making those purchases, and even more time testing and using them. Yet in the end, they feel very frustrated with most of the tweezers because most of them just plain don't work! In general, many tweezers are touted as the BEST yet few really deliver!

I Won't mention the year, but it was Quite a while ago When...

My husband and I were newlyweds, and we toured several countries in Europe for our honeymoon. One of us (and I really forgot who), failed to pack tweezers. We found a drugstore (in Paris I think) and picked up a pair of cheap ones. Sadly, they were pretty useless, just like the cheap ones sold in the US, but we really didn't know any better.

At some point during the trip, we visited a little kiosk that sold Swiss Army knives (this might have been in Copenhagen) and I wanted to get one because they used to be really handy to have for traveling. Recently I'do misplaced my original Swiss Army knife. (Following the 911 tragedy, traveling with a Swiss army knife is no longer really possible, unless you pack it in your checked bags which kind of defeats the purpose, but back then you could carry one inside your carry-on bag, which made it really handy.)

In addition to Swiss army knives and other types of jack knives, this kiosk sold tweezers. The tweezer line they sold was unlike any I'd ever seen before. They were simple in design yet a lot more expensive than those sold in the US. We spent a really long time looking at the alternatives and finally decided to take a chance and purchase one of the least expensive pairs. The cost was around $20, which even back then was a lot to pay for something we generally paid only a few dollars for back home.

The Mader pair shown below may have been the pair we found that day in Copenhagen...but probably not.

A little history about Rubis

Rubis is a Swiss company that has been making tweezers and other high-end precision instruments for over 60 years. On their website they briefly describe their history, which I 've paraphrased here:

Their first precision tweezers were developed for the Swiss watch industry and were used for placing rubies into watch movements, hence their name. Many of the luxury watch brands like Rolex and Cartier use Rubis instruments in their manufacturing. Rubis expanded into the high-end personal care industry following this success.

Their manufacturing process reflects traditional Swiss values. Values like craftsmanship combined with state-of-the-art technologies and meticulous quality control. Rubis tweezers are made of the highest grade stainless steel which is chemical resistant, acid resistant, and surgical grade. Furthermore their stainless steel is coated with an anti-germ coating. Quality control is stringent. Each pair goes through an extensive 40-step quality assurance process before leaving the factory. Each is carefully examined under a microscope for perfect alignment and each is hand finished. They've proudly earn the coveted Swiss Made logo.

Customers are assured that every pair of tweezers they purchase is balanced for weight, perfectly aligned, ergonomically optimized, and perfectly polished.

Rubis USA Website | RUBIS Europe & SWITZERLAND

Tweezers can be ordered direct through the Rubis USA and Canada website. This site was originally intended to make their products easily available to Americans, but since they also market directly through Amazon now, I'm providing the link for a different reason.

At the Rubis official site you gain entry to more information regarding their products, as well as links to current news and events.

For many years, this was my most popular hub on Hubpages, but in recent years Hubpages decided to remove my article from Google searches so it's rarely visited anymore. I'm not entirely certain why, but I think it's hard for them to believe I've purchased all these tweezers.

Clearly, the powers to be at Hubpages don't know me very well :-)

So despite the negative reception by editorial staff, I still update this at least once, if not twice a year because I'm always getting a few new pairs. Since my family knows me as their tweezer expert I feel an obligation to stay current with the market. I've noticed an eb and flow which seems to occur regarding the pricing.

Currently, in July 2017, Rubis Tweezer prices are at an all time high. This is NOT the best time to buy them. Rather you should wait for about 6 months if possible and I've no doubt many of these prices will go down again.

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2018 Update

Once more I've learned that HubPages doesn't like my most popular post...no accounting for taste I guess. It seems they are bothered by the links I've provided to many of my favorite pairs. I doubt that a real human has read this because if they had they would understand that tweezers are the kind of item most people like to compare types before they chose to purchase any one type. So, to address their concerns I'm being forced to remove many, if not most of the links I'd provided for comparison purposes.

But rest assured you can just Google the model name and attach the word Amazon to your search and you should be able to find most of these on your own.

Sorry I'm removing so many of the links : -(

The Painted or 'Epoxy' Collection On Amazon

these are what I used to always purchase because they cost the least

I'm including links below to some of the colors Rubis currently offers in 2015, just to give you an idea of what's available.

The colored epoxy type is what I used to purchase most often, because the precision engineering of the tip is the same as the more expensive all metal ones, but the painted-finish versions oftentimes cost substantially less. That's not always the case now. The prices seem to vary significantly even just on Amazon's site. Therefore, I recommend using my links only as a starting point, and doing some price checking on your own.

There is one caveat with the epoxy line. The paint can be scratched and chipped. This doesn't happen generally with normal use, but I am more clumsy than the average person, so I drop things a lot. This definitely isn't great when you own precision tweezers. So if these, or any precisely honed expensive tweezers are dropped on a hard floor, you run 2 risks instead of just the normal one. You risk chipping the paint, as well as the risk of ruining the tip or the grabbing edge of the tweezers.

While I was updating these links and prices, I discovered that there far fewer colors available than there used to be in the US. Also, the price range varies more significantly on Amazon than it had in the past. I suspect that the ones shown on the Rubis website are newer. But I doubt that there is really much difference in terms of functionality. Aesthetics may be the only difference. For example, I noticed that the black model now uses gold in the Rubis emblem (versus a silver color in older models).

The metal finishes Rubis offers generally cost a little more (at least they used to) but these tend to outlast the ones that are enameled. One of my hobbies is making jewelry and I'm currently learning metal-smithing. One primary skill a metal smith needs to learn is how to create or reproduce a huge variety of finishes. These are usually done by hand, and they require a fairly high degree of craftsmanship, as well as an extensive assortment of finishing tools. I suspect that the metal finishing on these tweezers is done by hand, and would require both more time and more skill, which explains why these items tended to run between $10-15 a pair more.

Tweezerman is a brand thought by many in the US to be a high-end brand, and they can be. The problem that I've run into with the Tweezerman brand is that there is absolutely no consistency to their quality. I learned recently that they' s moved most of their manufacturing to India...maybe that's why? The angle of the slant on their slant-edged tips, (slant-edged tips, in my opinion, are the only kind that should ever be used for personal grooming purposes), can vary so much that I find it impossible to buy this brand online.

Bed, Bath and Beyond often carries a wide selection of Tweezerman, and if I can see them in person, and can recall the correct angle that works for me, I might find a pair that works. I've not had much success using this method however. Fortunately Bed Bath and Beyond has an amazing return policy! So if you're not sure that a specific pair will work for you, and you need a pair quickly, this is a good alternative to ordering online. That's the primary reason why I can't personally recommend Tweezerman wholeheartedly. You might get a good pair, and you might not.

Why Is The Degree Of Angle Important?

Because, if the edge is angled too much, or not enough, you will end up having to twist your wrist too much when trying to pluck your eyebrows. Just try it sometime...you'll see that there's a certain 'sweet point' for the angle that just needs to be right!

In addition to the angle problem, I've also experienced a lot of inconsistency in the fineness or sharpness of their slant-edged ends. They can vary in thickness, even within the same style, which also makes it difficult to purchase these 'sight unseen'. This is where the expert hand-honed finishing really makes a difference. With Rubis, the only inconsistencies I've noticed in sharpness or fineness, is between actual styles. There can be some variation between different styles. The most notable difference is with what Rubis used to call their High Techno Slant line (the line is now called simply the High Tech line.)

Rubis High Techno Slant Line (aka High Tech Line)

This lower priced line is made of a polymer fiberglass tip that's applied to a stainless steel body. The fiberglass is slightly thicker overall (this is especially obvious in the tip or slant-edged region), but these are also 35% lighter in weight. They are more prone to chipping and cracking than their usual stainless steel counterparts. The thickness variation changes how well the tweezers grasp fine hairs, so I'm not linking to pairs for sale because I don't personally like them very much.

At first, I only intended to purchase a few new pairs of Rubis tweezers for myself. I have purchased way too many useless tweezers through the years to even think about any other brand. But, the results of my research surprised me. Who knew that Amazon actually carries quite a few German brands that could potentially be very good. So I decided to try out one or two pairs from those I found, because I know and respect German quality and craftsmanship. I suspect there are some hidden gems in those I've listed further below. One of the reasons I'm including this listing of non-Rubis alternatives, is because these didn't show up on my first 20 or so searches for good quality tweezers...either directly using Amazon's search utility or through Google.

I wish I could remember the exact search terms that I used, but I don't.

That one, serendipitous search, produced a list of over a hundred different pairs of German made tweezers, most from the Solingen area.

I culled through a lot of that information to create the smaller subset I show below. Since I was so surprised to find so many potentially great tweezers available to those of us living in the US, without having to deal with expensive international shipping charges, I felt I was somewhat duty-bound to order a few, and test them out for myself. I've done that now and will write about my impressions once I've received and tested a few.

There is a town in Germany called Solingen, which is know throughout the world for their precision made fine blades. In fact, Wikipedia says Solingen is called the "The City of Blades" by most of the world. Their reputation dates back to Medieval times when swords were popular. One reason so many skilled craftsmen are centered in this area is because of the vast stores of iron ore and abundant natural resources. This has led to higher volumes of locally produced steel which, in turn, has led to a higher degree of quality. Ultimately Solingen's steel has attained the coveted distinction of becoming the most highly sought after in the world. The master craftsmen in Solingen originally defined the standards set by the steel guilds, and they continue to maintain their excellent reputation today.

Some of the world's best knives, scissors and razors are produced in Solingen. Some brands that you may be familiar with include DOVO Solingen, Wusthot, J.A. Henckels and Erbe.

Many years ago I was given a gift consisting of a set of three different sized embroidery scissors. They came in a beautiful leather case and had gold handles. They were made by DOVO Solingen, and they are truly remarkable. The tiniest pair is a 3 1/2" embroidery scissors which is unparalleled to any I've ever seen or used! While writing this article, I searched on Google for them again (I'd searched previously in vain.) Imagine my shock and surprise when I actually found them this time! They are for sale through a small embroidery boutique in British Columbia.

The 2015 price for my coveted scissor set is $340! No wonder they are so amazing!!!

During my research I also discovered that the Solingen area produces many different types of tweezers. Because they are so obscure to Americans, I thought that it would be useful for me to investigate further for this article.

I did a Google search for Mader's German made Tweezers because I found my old pair when I was scouring our house for tweezers to photograph. I had completely forgotten about that brand. I was really surprised to find that Amazon carries quite a few German made tweezers. All from the Solingen Region, and they vary widely in price.

I suspect that the higher priced ones are more similar in quality to Rubis, and that the lower priced ones are probably more comparable to Tweezerman or of even lesser value.

As Amazon's presence grows, so too do the number of people who've written reviews. Below are some tweezers that I culled specifically from the Solinger Region that have earned high praise from Amazon reviewers.

Two additional thoughts come to mind as I'm writing this. The first is that I have never had an issue with the slant angle with a pair of Rubis tweezers. There still can be some slight variation between each pair, and I have noticed this at times, but the degree of variance is significantly less, therefore I've never found the angle to be so 'off' as to render them unusable to me.

Second, you may notice that I don't recommend any tweezers that don't have a slant edge. This is purely for personal reasons. I am a klutz (as I've pointed out before) and the only finely made sharp tweezers that I can safely handle using myself are those with a slant edge. The style that I can't personally use, with the long pointy tips, I do use for other purposes, like pulling out tiny threads in sewing, or handling tiny gemstones or beads in jewelry making, but not on me!!

I've learned that I can injure myself far too easily with the pointy style, so I never, ever, use them on myself...but especially not on my face. My husband does like them for things like ingrown hairs, and we have used them to remove splinters, although I have a method which is less dangerous that I prefer even for that. But because I don't generally use them, I can't knowledgeably recommend them! And over time they have become less popular for personal care use, so I suspect that others find them dangerous as well!

Last year when I was updating this article, I was dismayed to find that the large variety of colored tweezers once available on the US market, was shrinking readily. I was abe to determine that, while unavailable here, Rubis is still making many different sytles and colors that are only available in Europe. Since trading with the UK has become so prevalent, I explored availability there more than I did other countries in Europe.

I found that it is possible to purchase many of the more unique Rubis offerings through UK channels.

I'm not sure why sure why some of the prettier colors that Rubis manufactures are not available in the US anymore, but I was able to find them on eBay in the UK. They link below is to a seller who ships to the US. The price, including shipping, is comparable to the US price, so it's an interesting alternative for something different.

Around a year and a half ago Tweezerman began selling some very expensive 'Bling' tweezers for $100. It's unfortunate that even these still suffered from their very 'iffy' quality problems. They weren't on the market very long!

Another popular brand, Anastasia, is sold in high end cosmetics stores, and I was only a little surprised to discover that they are actually manufactured in Germany too. I once owned had a pair, and they were pretty nice...just slightly lower quality than the Rubis brand. Sephora sells both Anastaisia and the Tweezerman brands.

I wanted to include this information because it took me a long time to find it...and the lifetime guarantee is only useful if you can use it! So I wanted to give you something you could copy and paste in addition to the photo above.

RUBIS USA • Customer Support

Rubis Tweezers • US Online Distributor · PO Box 20100 · Long Beach, CA 90801 · USA
Phone 310-924-9911
Email shop@rubistweezers.com

OR

Link Customer Support

OR

2950 E. Vernon Ave. • Vernon, CA 90058 USA

Phone: 1 (800) 347-7456 • Fax: 1 (888) 347-7456


If you do I'd love for you to leave a comment telling me about them. Any serious contenders I promise to check out personally (assuming I can find them.) The comment section can be found by scrolling all the way to the bottom of the page.

If I love some of the tweezers my readers tell me about, I will add them to my content here. I'm also interested because I'm trying to keep this list really current (and as much I love Google, it can only do so much, right?)

Free Image Use Rights Granted By Pixabay Website Anna Polski Photographer