I’m in a strange place with my fountain pen hobby and with this blog. Though I’ve certainly not reviewed everything thoroughly, I’ve had the opportunity to at least write with most of the major pen brands’ flagship models. If I’m honest with myself, this realization take a little bit of the fun out of the whole experience. Things don’t feel as new, and I have to work harder to get interested in new releases, and rarely get excited about yet another Sailor Pro Gear or Aurora 88 special edition. It takes something pretty special.
These days, many so-called limited editions are basically “skins” - the exact same pen with a different barrel color or material. Sure, changing up the acrylic and trim can drastically alter the look of the pen, but it rarely changes my overall opinion on the usability or functionality of the pen. That’s why it’s uncommon for me to re-review pens based solely on changes in appearance, unless I really didn’t like the look of the pen the first time around or the company makes a particularly drastic change. For example, I recently re-reviewed the Pelikan M101N because this year’s edition spoke to me while none of the prior releases did.
In addition to a couple of modern Aurora 88s, I have one vintage pen in the black/”Nikargenta” (nickel alloy) combination.
The Aurora 88 “Sigaro Blu” represents a similar situation. I’ve reviewed the Aurora 88 in two different formats: the limited edition “Minerali” demonstrator and the blacked out “Unica Nera.” The 88 is a great pen with a classic streamlined shape that’s comfortable to use. In its current form, the Aurora 88 has been around since the 1990s, but the pen’s heritage stretches all the way back to 1947 when Aurora introduced a hooded-nib pen to compete with the Parker 51. Today the Aurora 88 is available not only in standard black and silver/gold configurations, but in a wide array of limited editions and special releases. Currently, Dan Smith has at least a dozen different versions of the Aurora 88 available for purchase.
Prior to purchasing this pen, I already knew that I liked Aurora nibs and the overall form factor of the pen, but I hadn’t found a version of the Aurora 88 that was compelling enough to boost the pen into the “daily user” category. So what drove this purchase? The lacquer finish. With the Sigaro Blu, Aurora has layered light blue streaks in a webbed pattern over black lacquer, giving the pen a blue-black or navy appearance. It’s truly distinctive, and understated in a way that’s similar to Japanese Urushi lacquerwork while still maintaining its own identity. I first had the chance to see this release in person at the 2018 Atlanta Pen Show, and since this one was an expensive purchase, I had some saving to do. Fortunately I was able to snag one at a slight discount during a year-end clearance sale at The Nibsmith.
The “Sigaro” series of lacquer pens offers a different writing experience from the standard Aurora 88. The combination of lacquer and a metal section makes for a heavier, more front-weighted pen, and the balance feels somewhat akin to the Sailor 1911 Black Luster. It’s not a perfect comparison - the 88 is a is a piston filler, making this a more substantial, heavier pen overall, but I still have no issues using this pen all day. It will post, and since the cap has a plastic insert, I’ve not had any issues with the cap threads scratching the lacquer. (Lacquer in general is pretty durable, and I don’t worry about these things anyway. I use my pens how I want to use them, and if they start showing signs of wear that’s just part of the deal.)
The fine 18k gold nib wrote perfectly out of the box, and is paired with an ebonite feed that provides generous ink flow. Aurora nibs are made in-house, and the vast majority of my experience with the brand has been positive. These nibs aren’t glassy smooth, but they’re not scratchy either (at least to me). I enjoy the tactile feel, and by not over-smoothing Aurora tends to avoid the problems other brands have with skipping and hard-starting.
I would call this a true “Western Fine.” Ink shown here is Lamy Blue-Black, a favorite workhorse.
Takeaways and Where to Buy
I love this pen, to the point where I can say that the Aurora 88 Sigaro Blu is a “Top 5” pen for me. The pen has the perfect weight and balance for my hand, and I can comfortably use this pen posted or unposted for hours. This Aurora fine nib writes the perfect line for my daily needs in terms of width and wetness.
As I mentioned earlier, I acquired this pen from Dan Smith over at The Nibsmith, who still has Sigaro Blu pens in stock. Pricing on the Aurora 88 ranges from $495 to $905, and the Sigaro Blu sits at the highest price point. You’re paying an extra $200-300 for the lacquer work, so if the look does not appeal to you and your interest in the Aurora 88 lies elsewhere, there are plenty of lower-cost options to choose from.
Disclaimer: I purchased this pen with my own funds, for my own collection. The Nibsmith is a paid sponsor of this blog.