The Gillette Company
 

(GILLETTE LOGO)

     
$500,000,000
Gillette CoreNotessm
  Filed under Rule 424(b)(2), Registration Statement No. 333-86336
Pricing Supplement No. 012 - dated December 6, 2002
(To Prospectus dated July 10, 2002, and Prospectus Supplement dated August 23, 2002)
                                             

Purchasing Proceeds, Interest Interest Stated Survivor’s
CUSIP Aggregate Principal Price to Agent’s Before Expenses, Rate Payment Maturity Option
Number Amount Public(1) Discount/ to  Per Annum Frequency Date
Commission(1) Gillette(1) (begin date)

        37576GAM2   $6,106,000   100%   1.50%   98.50%   5.00%   quarterly   12/17/2012   Yes    
                                3/15/2003            
    Redemption Information: Redeemable at the option of The Gillette Company on 12/15/2003 and each Interest Payment Date thereafter at a price equal to 100%.  
    Other/Additional Provisions:            

                     
        The Gillette Company
Prudential Tower Building
Boston, MA 02199
  Trade Date: December 6, 2002
Original Issue Date: December 11, 2002
Minimum Denominations/Increments: $1,000/$1,000
Original Issue Discount Note: No
All trades settle without accrued interest and clear SDFS: DTC Book-Entry only
Merrill Lynch DTC Participant Number: 5132
  Merrill Lynch & Co.
Purchasing Agent

Acting as Principal
   
 
            (1) Expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount.
“CoreNotessm” is a service mark of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.