I don't know if it's entirely evident from these photos, but here are two comparable knives (Grand Prix versus Four Star) from Wusthof (top) and Henckels (bottom). I'm pretty sure these are both 8" chef's knives being depicted, though unfortunately the images are not scaled identically. Quality of construction aside, I just think the Wusthof blade has a superior shape. Do you see how triangular the Henckels is by comparison? It really screws up the rocking motion you need to get going to be efficient at repetitive chopping tasks. It's also a much less substantial knife, though that's harder to see. Wusthof: Henckels: