Made in Solingen – What the name legally means

“Solingen” appears on countless scissors, knives and nail instruments. Many people take it for a marketing word. In fact it is a legal term – and a surprisingly strict one.

A law of its own for the name of a city

The name is protected by the Ordinance on the Protection of the Name Solingen, known in short as the Solingen Ordinance. It dates from 16 December 1994, came into force on 1 January 1995 and is based on Section 137 of the German Trade Mark Act.

Its predecessor was the “Act on the Protection of the Name Solingen” of 1938 – the first rule anywhere to give the name legal protection for cutlery goods. Solingen is therefore considered the only city name in the world with a protective ordinance of this kind.

Two conditions – and both must be met

Section 1 of the ordinance is short and unambiguous. In business dealings, the name Solingen may only be used for cutlery goods that

• have been worked and completed at every essential stage of manufacture within the Solingen industrial district, and
• are suitable, in terms of material and workmanship, to fulfil the purpose they are made for.

The decisive word is “and”. If just one of the two conditions is not met, the name may not be used.

That has a consequence which surprises many people: a pair of scissors can be made in Solingen and still not be allowed to carry the name – namely if it does not meet the quality requirement. Solingen is therefore not only an indication of origin, but also of quality.

Where is the “Solingen industrial district”?

The ordinance defines the area clearly: the independent city of Solingen and the town of Haan in the district of Mettmann. Nothing else.

The most common misconception

A stubborn rumour says it is enough to regrind a blade made elsewhere in Solingen or to set a rivet there. That is wrong. The ordinance calls for every essential stage of manufacture – a single operation is not enough.

The ordinance deliberately does not spell out what exactly counts as an “essential stage of manufacture”. That question was left to the practice of the local companies; the relevant trade associations and the Chamber of Industry and Commerce have set out minimum requirements.

What counts as “cutlery goods”

The term is broader than most people assume, and the list in the ordinance is not exhaustive. It covers, among other things:

• scissors, knives, cutlery and blades
• table tools such as nutcrackers, corkscrews, letter openers or cigar cutters – even though they do not cut at all
• cutting kitchen tools such as tin openers and knife sharpeners
• straight razors, razor blades and safety razors
• hair clippers and other personal care devices
• bladed weapons

Nail scissors, nail nippers and cuticle scissors are therefore clearly covered by the protection.

What this means for you when buying

If an instrument lawfully carries the word “Solingen”, you know two things: it was made in Solingen or Haan – and it meets a quality standard that goes beyond origin alone.

What to look out for:

• “Solingen” on its own says more than “German Design” or “Solingen Steel”. Wordings like these get around the ordinance, because they do not refer directly to where the goods come from.
• The maker’s name belongs on the instrument. Reputable Solingen manufactories stamp their company mark into it.
• The price is an indicator. A genuine pair of Solingen scissors goes through around 80 working steps. At a bargain price you will not get one.

Conclusion

The name Solingen is not an advertising promise but a legally backed statement about origin and quality. That is exactly why it is misused so often – and exactly why a second look at the instrument pays off.

This article gives an overview and is not legal advice. The text of the ordinance is publicly available at gesetze-im-internet.de.

Genuine Solingen instruments at nagelzange.de:

• Nail scissors from Solingen
• Dreiturm Solingen – the complete range
• Cuticle scissors and cuticle nippers
• Nail nippers

Read also: How a pair of Solingen scissors is made and The anatomy of a pair of scissors.