SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSSION
                                WASHINGTON, D.C.


                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): April 7, 1999.


                              THE GILLETTE COMPANY
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)


                            DELAWARE 1-922 04-1366970
         (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) (Commission file
                 number) (I.R.S. employer identification number)

             Prudential Tower Building, Boston, Massachusetts 02199
                                   (Address of
                     principal executive offices) (Zip Code)


       Registrant's telephone number including area code: (617) 421-7000.

<PAGE>

Page 2


Item 5.         Other events.

     On April 5, 1999,  The Gillette  Company  announced that its expected first
quarter results would be about one cent below Wall Street's expectations.

Item 7.         Financial Statements and Exhibits.

99.1 Press release issued by The Gillette Company on April 5, 1999.



SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


THE GILLETTE COMPANY

By:     CHARLES W. CRAMB
        Charles W. Cramb
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "description": "CURRENT REPORT ON FORM 8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 1497}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "GILLETTE CO", "cik": "0000041499", "assigned-sic": "3420", "irs-number": "041366970", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-00922", "film-number": "99588574"}, "business-address": {"street1": "PRUDENTIAL TOWER BLDG", "street2": "SUITE 4800", "city": "BOSTON", "state": "MA", "zip": "02199", "phone": "6174217000"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "PRUDENTIAL TOWER BLDG", "street2": "SUITE 4800", "city": "BOSTON", "state": "MA", "zip": "02199"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "GILLETTE SAFETY RAZOR CO", "date-changed": "19660911"}}
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSSION
                                WASHINGTON, D.C.

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): April 7, 1999.

                              THE GILLETTE COMPANY
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

                            DELAWARE 1-922 04-1366970
         (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) (Commission file
                 number) (I.R.S. employer identification number)

             Prudential Tower Building, Boston, Massachusetts 02199
                                   (Address of
                     principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

       Registrant's telephone number including area code: (617) 421-7000.
Page 2

Item 5.         Other events.

     On April 5, 1999,  The Gillette  Company  announced that its expected first
quarter results would be about one cent below Wall Street's expectations.

Item 7.         Financial Statements and Exhibits.

99.1 Press release issued by The Gillette Company on April 5, 1999.

SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

THE GILLETTE COMPANY

By:     CHARLES W. CRAMB
        Charles W. Cramb