Pen Review: Visconti Mirage Fountain Pen

November 13, 2019

Last year, Visconti introduced several lower-priced products into their lineup, in an attempt to diversify away from the ultra-high end pens for which the brand has become known. Until now, even Visconti pens with steel nibs approached $200, but the new Visconti Breeze and Visconti Mirage are both consistently priced at a much lower, and, dare I say it, almost entry level price point? The Breeze can be found at sub-$100, depending on your retailer, and Visconti has emerged as a player in a segment of the pen market that is becoming increasingly competitive.

I love the resin on this pen. Previously, to get pens in similar patterns you would have to shell out for a Visconti Van Gogh or a Visconti Rembrandt.

The pen featured in this review is the Mirage - priced slightly higher than the Breeze - and it presents quite a bit of value. Here, Visconti has managed to offer a quality writer at a reasonable price, while still incorporating the luxury spirit of the brand and retaining the brand’s hallmarks, such as the iconic Visconti clip. My favorite aspects of this pen include:

Material. Appelboom sent me the “Amber” Mirage to review, and it’s made from a beautiful vegetal resin reminiscent of some of the Visconti Van Gogh pens, specifically my “Vincent’s Chair” edition, though this material has a touch more orange/brown to it. The body of the pen features a soft hexagonal design that is comfortable to hold, and the rounded facets, combined with the clip, make this a great pen for work because it’s not going to roll off a desk.

Cap Design. I love how Visconti still includes its signature “Arc” clip on these lower-priced pens. Though some people react strongly to the shape, I’m a fan, and I think the clip adds a lot of sophistication to what would otherwise be a relatively ordinary pen design. The cap also features a magnetic twist closure, which feels quite secure with no wiggle when capped. The one feature of the Mirage I could do without is the oversized cap band, which I found a bit much, especially the word “MIRAGE” written across the front.
Nib. In terms of an out-of-the-box writing experience, I’ve found that Visconti’s steel nibs write better than their much more expensive palladium offerings. Though the steel nibs sometimes need a bit of smoothing, they aren’t so wet as to be unusable on anything but the most fountain-pen friendly paper, which is the issue I’ve had with more expensive Visconti pens. The steel nib on this Mirage is an excellent writer, but I do wish Visconti had opted for a larger No. 6 nib instead of this No. 5. It always strikes me as a bit awkward to have a smaller nib on a full-size pen.

If Visconti is going to go with this oversized cap band, why not continue the etching all the way around and omit the “Mirage” engraving? I don’t mind subtle branding, and “Visconti” etched on the clip doesn’t set me off, but there’s no need to go f… — If Visconti is going to go with this oversized cap band, why not continue the etching all the way around and omit the “Mirage” engraving? I don’t mind subtle branding, and “Visconti” etched on the clip doesn’t set me off, but there’s no need to go further than that.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I only had a brief time with the Mirage, since it was sent to me on loan from Appelboom and needs to go home to the Netherlands, but I came away impressed. I’m glad to see Visconti expand their lineup to include a wider variety of pens at different price points, and I hope this trend continues, especially if they can maintain consistent quality control. Visconti’s signature “Arc” clip immediately makes the Mirage look like a much more expensive pen, and if you’re a fan of Visconti’s designs, this pen would be a great introduction to the brand. Personally, the biggest thing holding me back from acquiring a Mirage for my own personal collection is the nib, which writes quite well but in my opinion looks disproportionately small on the pen.

You can purchase the Visconti Mirage from our sponsor Appelboom, currently priced at around $130, depending on the exchange rate. The Mirage comes in six different colors: Amber, Azure Blue, Coral, Emerald Green, Horn Grey, and Night Blue. Appelboom also carries the full range of Visconti pens, including the Breeze, the flagship Homo Sapiens, and a wide array of limited and special editions.

Disclaimer: Our sponsor Appelboom loaned me this pen for review purposes, free of charge. This post may contain affiliate links. Many thanks to Appelboom for making this review possible.

Pen Review: Yookers Refillable Felt-Tip Pens

November 6, 2019

One of the more intriguing products to catch my eye over the past few months is a series of “refillable felt-tip pens” from Yookers, a brand that seemingly came out of nowhere but apparently ran two highly successful Kickstarters. (I don’t follow Kickstarter all that closely, so the fact that I missed out doesn’t mean much.) After fountain pens, felt-tip or fiber-tip pens have a special spot in my pen case, dating all the way back to the red Papermate Flair pens I used in school. Picking up one of the Yookers pens was a no-brainer.

I opted for the “Matte Black Lacquer” version of the Yookers Metis, of course!

Before I get started on the pen: what about the Company? I could locate very little information about Yookers or the individuals behind it, even on the Yookers website. The “About” section describes Yookers as “a union between passionate people from different universes who decided to innovate together,” along with a paragraph of additional marketing-speak. Their Kickstarter page is even more vague, describing Yookers as “the blending studio.” (???) There’s nothing wrong with owners of companies wanting to maintain privacy and discretion - hey, I value my own privacy and take steps to protect it - but I’d like a bit more information here. Both Kickstarters indicate that Yookers is based in Hong Kong, and I would venture that they have some relationship with Yafa, the owner/distributor of Monteverde pens and inks. Personally, I think the design of the Yookers pens bears a strong resemblance to Monteverde pens, as do their ink bottles, so it could be some sort of joint venture.

Yookers already has a fairly extensive lineup of pens, and seems to have ramped up production quickly. The original “Refillable Felt-Tip Pen” first appeared on Kickstarter last year, and Yookers has since launched a second Kickstarter project for a different pen design called the “Eros". The Yookers website features additional pens, priced anywhere from $12-$55.

So what about the pens themselves? Well, they’re mostly as advertised. The refillable felt-tip mechanism works well, and I’ve had no difficulty cleaning out the tip to change colors, no leaks, or anything else of that sort. The Yookers pen writes like your typical felt-tip pen. However, before you run out and drop up to $50 on one, here are a few considerations:

Filling the Pen. The Yookers pens use a cartridge/converter filling system, but you cannot fill the pen through the tip - you have to fill the converter directly either by dipping the end of the converter into an ink bottle or using a syringe. If you want to use your collection of bottled ink, the process of filling will be messier than your typical fountain pen. Of course, you can also use cartridges.
Writing Experience. The Yookers felt-tip writes very well, and feels like a Pilot Razor Point, Papermate Flair Marker, or one of your other standard office-supply store pens in an upgraded body. That said, fountain pen ink is water based, whereas your standard disposable felt-tip pens use pigmented ink or something more permanent. You’ll probably notice that the Yookers felt-tip doesn’t write a particularly dark line, probably because the smaller tip doesn’t allow for a large volume of ink to pass through onto the paper, unlike a fountain pen. I’m going to experiment with more saturated or permanent inks to see what works best.
Replacement Tips. Eventually, all felt-tips wear out and need to be replaced. Yookers sells replacement tips for $6 each. However, you don’t replace just the tip - you replace the entire front section of the pen. While they may have decided to do this for convenience sake, and figured that replacing just the smaller tip would be too difficult for most people to do without increasing the risk of the pen leaking, etc., it strikes me as a lot of wasted metal and plastic to throw out the entire section. Moreover, as other have observed, if you decide to invest in a Yookers pen as a key part of your writing/drawing kit, you are betting that Yookers will be around to manufacture the replacements for the foreseeable future. If you really like this pen, I would go ahead and stock up on replacement tips, which Yookers says will last about a year, depending on use, writing pressure, etc.

The Yookers pen probably works best unposted. As shown in the next picture, the cap doesn’t post deeply and sits awkwardly on the back.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I enjoy my Yookers Metis refillable fiber-tip pen, and it’s one of the more unique stationery products to have been released in the past year. The pen functions as intended, seems very well-made, and the price point is more than fair. I do, however, wish that I knew more about the company, especially since you will be investing in a proprietary system should you decide to make the Yookers pen a central part of your writing kit.

You can purchase the Yookers Metis refillable fiber-tip pen from our sponsors at Pen Chalet. The “Metis,” which is the pen with a metal body, currently retails for $42, but if you prefer to test out the refillable fiber-tip technology at a lower price point, the Yookers “Yooth” pen features a plastic barrel and comes in at less than $10. Replacement tips/sections cost around $6.

Disclaimer: I purchased this pen from site Sponsor Pen Chalet using store credit generated through the Pen Chalet affiliate program. This post contains affiliate links. Many thanks to Pen Chalet for making this review possible.

Pen Review: Lamy LX Marron Special Edition

October 30, 2019

I’ve written much this year about Lamy’s newfound fondness for special and limited editions. In addition to the blue Macrolon Lamy 2000 they released to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Bauhaus, Lamy has also issued three different Safaris in various pastel colors, two different Studios, an AL-Star in “Bronze,” and now a Lamy LX in “Marron.”

I’ll give Lamy this: their clip game is killing it. I couldn’t choose between the burnished clip on the LX Marron and the red clip on the “Independence Day” Safari, so I picked up both.

I reviewed the standard version of the Lamy LX last summer, and my overall reaction was “meh.” Though far from a bad pen, I questioned whether Lamy did enough to justify the markup over a standard AL-Star by adding new “iPhone colors” and a fancier nib. I’m still leaning towards “no” on the regular versions of the LX, but this new “Marron” (French for chestnut) model might be a different story.

I don’t typically go for brown pens, but I have to hand it to Lamy here: the combination of brown anodizing and the burnished copper/bronze clip look better than any special edition AL-Star in recent memory. I think I’ve said it before, but it would serve Lamy well to rein in the volume of special edition releases - especially the more generic ones - in favor of cranking out real beauties like this pen.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Unless you don’t already have another Lamy AL-Star or Lamy LX, the Marron special edition is basically a vanity purchase for the new color scheme. Those who aren’t really drawn to this particular color will - and should - question whether it’s worth it to pay the markup for the LX instead of the perfectly functional AL-Star. Personally, I think the dark chestnut brown looks excellent, and the combination of this particular anodization with the metallic bronze clip makes me wonder if Lamy should have gone all-in on the Marron instead of this year’s somewhat uninspiring special edition AL-Star release in “Bronze”.

Apart from the special colors, the only real difference in terms of hardware between the Lamy AL-Star and the Lamy LX is the nib.

You can purchase the Lamy LX Marron special edition fountain pen from our sponsor Pen Chalet, currently priced at $56. Pen Chalet also carries the full line of standard Lamy AL-Stars, and if the Bronze special edition interests you, it’s currently on sale at a reduced price.

For those of you located outside the U.S., our sponsor Appelboom also carries the Lamy LX fountain pen, in both the standard colors as well as the Marron Special Edition.

Disclaimer: This post contains links to paid sponsors and affiliates. I purchased the Lamy LX featured in this review using affiliate credit generated through Pen Chalet’s affiliate program. Many thanks to Pen Chalet for making this review possible.

Pen Review: Jacques Herbin "Sloop" Fountain Pen

October 24, 2019

Last year, Herbin, one of the oldest ink manufacturers in the world, announced that it would launch a set of high-end fountain pens under the new moniker “Jacques Herbin.” When the designs were revealed, it’s safe to say that people were … underwhelmed. I’ve yet to read a review of these pens, and I’ve not seen them sold at retail in the U.S. Our sponsor Appelboom, which is located in the Netherlands, kindly agreed to lend me one of the dark blue “Sloop” fountain pens with brushed steel trim. My conclusions? The Jacques Herbin Sloop would make a nice everyday writer, similar to some of the more basic models by Waterman or Montegrappa. The problem here, as is common with companies trying to break into the fountain pen market at the “luxury” level, is the high price point.

I truly enjoyed several aspects of the Jacques Herbin Sloop. While I didn’t subject this pen to the true rigors of my daily carry, since I received this pen on loan, I spent enough time with it to offer some general observations.

A comfortable section, with the threads placed high so as not to interfere with your grip. Perfect for longer writing sessions!

Pros:

Overall Design. The Sloop features a classic, understated, vintage-style design (which you would expect from Herbin). I would characterize this pen as a streamlined flat-top, accented by brushed metal trim on the cap band, clip, and two finials. The acrylic section is on the longer side, and despite the fact that the pen has metal threads, they sit high up and shouldn’t interfere with most people’s grip.
Brushed Metal Trim. More companies should offer brushed metal trim. It adds interesting detail to an otherwise basic acrylic design. I could have done without the “Jacques Herbin Paris 1670” engraving around the cap finial, since something about it looks slightly “off” when set against the brushed metal. It may be that Herbin simply tried to include too much text in a small area, and the brushed metal leaves the edges looking fuzzy.
Well-tuned Bock Nib. The stainless steel Bock nib on the Sloop was a good one: well-tuned and moderately wet. I also liked the fact that Herbin went with a custom engraving and didn’t offer just a stock nib. If a company plans to ask for more than $200 for the pen, customized nibs are really the only option.

The Bock nib on this Jacques Herbin Sloop wrote extremely well.

Cons:

Price. The single biggest issue with this pen is the price point Herbin has chosen to pursue. The Sloop is currently priced at around $240, placing this pen at a more expensive price point than brands such as Franklin-Christoph, Leonardo Officina Italiana, and introductory level Montegrappas like the Elmo and Fortuna.
Insubstantial Feel in the Hand. The material feels thin, and different from the resin or acrylic used by Montblanc, Franklin-Christoph, or even PenBBS. That’s not to say the pen is poorly made or fragile - I’m sure it will hold up fine - it just doesn’t feel as you would expect from a pen at this price point.
Postability. Since the Sloop is a relatively slender pen, I found myself wanting to post it, but the cap doesn’t post deeply enough for a comfortable writing experience. The feel of this pen is very much like the Karas Kustoms Decograph: as noted above, I enjoy the vintage-style design, and the section is quite comfortable, but like the Decograph, it’s a bit long and awkward posted.

While I like the brushed trim on this fountain pen, I’m not sure that this particular engraving design/technique works….

Takeaways and Where to Buy

It’s always interesting to see companies branch out from their traditional product lines in an effort to expand their brand’s reach. Previously, Herbin has confined it’s pen offerings to lower-cost dip pens, inexpensive fountain pens, and refillable rollerballs. While my overall impression of Herbin’s first foray into the high-end pen market is generally positive, and I certainly like the look they are going for, I think Herbin will have a hard time being successful unless they move these pens into the $150-200 price range. While nice, the overall design isn’t particularly distinctive or inspired enough to warrant charging more than, say, a Montegrappa Fortuna - a pen that is already pushing the upper limits of what consumers would be willing to pay for a cartridge-converter fountain pen with a stainless steel nib.

The pen featured in this review was generously loaned to me by Appelboom, a sponsor of this blog. The Jacques Herbin Sloop is currently priced at $240 US (subject to change along with the exchange rate), and comes available in Black, Amber, and Taupe, in addition to the Dark Blue model pictured here. Appelboom carries the full range of Jacques Herbin fountain pens, Herbin inks, and dozens of other brands.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. Should you elect to purchase a pen from Appelboom, I will receive a small commission which I use to keep this blog running. Many thanks to Appelboom and all my readers for your support!

Pen Review: Montegrappa Extra 1930

October 19, 2019

Montegrappa has changed its lineup over the years fairly frequently, but the Extra 1930 - which one could comfortably describe as the brand’s “flagship” offering - has remained a constant. The current Extra 1930 is “inspired by a model born over 80 years ago,” and “designed for people who love classic design, original colors and decorations” in line with Montegrappa’s traditional “aesthetic approach.” If you’re a fan of vintage-inspired pen design, like me, then you’ve probably had your eye on one, even if the price point gives you some initial pause.

The Montegrappa Extra 1930 is one of those pens that I always thought would be forever out of my grasp. (Then again, when I first got into fountain pens I also thought a $300 Sailor would remain well out of my comfort zone, but we all know how that … — The Montegrappa Extra 1930 is one of those pens that I always thought would be forever out of my grasp. (Then again, when I first got into fountain pens I also thought a $300 Sailor would remain well out of my comfort zone, but we all know how that story ends up.)

The sterling silver medallion on top of the cap will develop a patina as it ages. You could polish it, and I might eventually, but I like the “antiqued” look.

The Extra 1930 traditionally comes in three different materials, all celluloid: Turtle Brown (shown here); Bamboo Black, and Black & White. Montegrappa also recently added Red and Mediterranean Blue to the lineup, though it’s unclear whether these are temporary or permanent additions. Of the available options, the traditional three are my favorites. Montegrappa accents the celluloid with sterling silver, engraved with what they describe as a “Greek Fret” design on the cap band. A similar pattern adorns the large (No. 8) 18k gold nib, which is paired with an ebonite feed that provides plenty of ink flow. (Note: if you write small, opt for an EF nib, and even then you may have to grind it down. It’s a wet writer.)

That 18k No. 8 nib is gorgeous to look at and a pleasure to write with. It’s not springy, like some larger nibs, and actually quite stiff, but at the same time extremely smooth and an excellent daily writer. The sterling silver section is NOT slippe… — That 18k No. 8 nib is gorgeous to look at and a pleasure to write with. It’s not springy, like some larger nibs, and actually quite stiff, but at the same time extremely smooth and an excellent daily writer. The sterling silver section is NOT slippery, and the threads are soft, not sharp. I can write for hours with this pen.

In my opinion, the Montegrappa Extra 1930 offers one of the best high-end writing experiences on the market. What do I mean by that? Sometimes, super-expensive pens are more “art” than “writing instrument.” I don’t purchase pens that I don’t use, so a key point for me in evaluating a specific pen is how comfortable and functional it is to use every day. I go back and forth on whether the Montegrappa Extra 1930 or the Montblanc 146 is my favorite “luxury” fountain pen sold today - they’re both pleasant to write with and superb daily writers. On the Extra 1930, the sterling silver section front-weights the pen and counteracts the weight of the piston, balancing the pen nicely for longer sessions. It’s one of the few pens that I don’t post.

I have no regrets about splurging on the Extra 1930. My own personal “collection” focuses heavily on vintage-inspired modern pens, with a particular emphasis on Italian celluloid. Celluloid pens cannot be acquired inexpensively, since making celluloid is a difficult and time-intensive process, and the material itself has become scarce. Since pen companies OMAS and Delta folded a few years ago, the number of new celluloid pens on the market has dwindled, and even those being released by companies such as Leonardo Officina Italiana and ASC Pens (the “successor” company to OMAS) are using residual celluloid rod stock, which eventually will be gone. Montegrappa appears to be one of the only companies still releasing celluloid pens in proprietary patterns that they developed themselves.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I love my Extra 1930 - it’s beautiful, and sure it’s expensive, but it’s a writer’s pen with exceptional balance. My one quibble is with the ink capacity. A pen of this size should hold more than .8mm or so of ink, especially one with an ebonite feed. If you opt for a wider nib, you’ll be refilling often.

Despite what I consider to be the generally high quality of their pens, Montegrappa has become known more than anything for their high prices. Unfortunately, the Extra 1930 is no exception, clocking in at a whopping $1,495 MSRP, with the pens actually selling for around $1,100. Is it worth spending this much on a pen? It depends on what you value. In addition to the design, much of the cost here lies in the premium materials used (celluloid, all that sterling silver, and that massive 18kt nib). Looking at comparable pens on the market (ASC Pens Bologna Extra, a Sailor Bespoke King of Pen, Aurora Internazionale), it’s hard to say that Montegrappa’s ask here is out of line with what other companies are charging, but it’s still at or near the top of the market. Because Montegrappa sells a ton of pens at this price point, I don’t expect prices to come down anytime soon.

I purchased my Montegrappa Extra 1930 from Dan Smith at The Nibsmith. One of the great things about purchasing pens from Dan is that, in addition to carrying the full range of Montegrappa pens, he offers nib work on any pens he sells, and on a pen at this price point, any tuning or grind is complimentary. That’s right - you will be paying a LOT for an Extra 1930, but if you purchase from Dan that includes any planned nibwork. Note that Dan is currently running a special on the Black & White Extra 1930, at a price you won’t see very often! .

Disclaimer: I purchased the pen featured in this review with my own funds, at full retail, for my own use. The Nibsmith is a paid sponsor of this blog.