The symbol of the Gemini Twins marks the knives of Zwilling J.A. Henckels as the latest work of one of Solingen, Germany’s oldest cutlery companies. You’ll find the Twin symbol on classic knife patterns which haven’t changed in decades, but Henckels constantly releases new technologies and new designs, as much concerned with art as with function.
Peter Henckels registered the company’s Twin trademark on June 13th, 1731, at the Cutlers’ Guild in Solingen. Henckels took inspiration from the astrological sign Gemini which ruled the company’s birth. By 1818 the company opened its first office in Berlin, and earned international honors in 1851 by winning a medal at the World Exhibition in London. Worldwide expansion was underway in 1883 when Henckels opened its first venture in New York.
Ice-hardened stain-free steel became the company’s standard blade in 1939. Artistic improvements in 1971 yielded the first Henckels Decorator series. Winning medals and awards throughout its modern history, Henckels passed its 275th year in business in 2006. Two brand new product lines quickly followed: Miyabi in 2007 and the 1731 series in 2008.
Zwilling J.A. Henckels manufactures 14 different series of kitchen and serving knives, including full assortments of prep knives, special cheese knives, and steak knife sets. You’ll find a series for every need from professional chef’s cutlery to knives made for designer kitchens. Recent improvements include new steel and Japanese influence on blade design.
The Cermax M66 uses a core layer of micro-carbide powdered steel hardened to 66HRC, well above the usual stainfree steel rating of 57HRC. For those equally interested in appearance, architect Matteo Thun created the Henckels 1731 series with grips sculpted from Macassar ebony. Henckels International offers knives of high quality but in a more economical type of construction.
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