Pen Review: Opus 88 Minty Fountain Pen

November 5, 2022

I’m not sure if you could call Opus 88 fountain pens a “guilty pleasure” of mine, but they’ve certainly taken on a much larger role in my personal pen rotation over the past few years. From the time I first discovered the ebonite + acrylic Koloro demonstrators, to recently when I’ve been partial to the larger Omar and Jazz pens, I’ve been enamored with the high-capacity Japanese-style eyedropper filling system, which previously was only widely available in extremely high-end urushi and maki-e pens from companies such as Danitrio. Recently, Opus 88 has been expanding their lineup to include pens with more of a focus on design, incorporating different materials and color combinations that has enhanced the brand’s appeal and turned Opus 88 into a major player in the $90-200 price segment. The pen I’m reviewing today, the Opus 88 “Minty” fountain pen, is one of those recent releases.

Design and Build

Last week I posted some photos of the Opus 88 Minty in my post revisiting the Aurora Optima, since these pens share a common design profile, which I would characterize as a “streamlined flat-top.” It’s a classic, vintage-inspired design that, at least to me, never gets old, especially when paired with materials such as the “cracked ice”-style acrylics that Opus 88 chose for this pen.

The Opus 88 Minty comes in two colors: “Light Green” and “Orange”, which despite their names I would characterize as more of a teal blue and a coral/salmon, respectively. They’re beautiful colors, especially the orange. I also like the double band of color on the finials.

As an acrylic pen, the Minty is lightweight despite its relatively large size. Surprisingly, when placed next to the clear Opus 88 Demonstrator (pictured below), the Minty is only ever-so-slightly shorter, yet due to the streamlined design it feels much more compact in the hand. It also features a longer concave grip section, with shorter, more compressed threads that don’t interfere with my grip when writing. In fact, I hardly ever feel them.

While most of the Opus 88 fountain pens that have been transparent demonstrators, the Minty has an ink window to offer visibility into your ink supply.

What is a Japanese-style eyedropper? You fill the pen with ink directly into the barrel, and operate the end cap like a piston to open/close a valve that allows ink to flow to the nib. This system prevents leaking and ink burping that sometimes plagues eyedropper pens, especially during travel.

Writing Experience

Opus 88 offers an exceptionally good writing experience across the board, and I don’t think I’ve actually had a poor experience with any of their pens (though some of their designs work better for my hand size and shape than others, from a comfort perspective). This particular model is a great workhorse, suitable for longer writing sessions, not just due to the large ink capacity but the rounded shape. The tapered barrel allows you to post the pen, and even though it’s longer, it’s so light you don’t notice the extra weight.

While some might consider the Opus 88’s stainless steel JoWo nib unremarkable, in my opinion it’s a fine selection for a pen at this price point, and as discussed below, it adds versatility to the pen that leaves it open to modification, if you so desire. JoWo nibs themselves are rock-solid writers, and if you’ve been in the pen hobby for any length of time you’ve probably started to accumulate at least a handful of different JoWo-threaded units that you can swap between pens.

Overall Versatility and a Note on Modifications

Though I don’t recommend pen modifications to anyone unless you’re willing to accept responsibility if something goes wrong, one of my favorite aspects of the “Opus 88 experience” is the versatility. Like the Opus 88 Omar and Jazz fountain pens, you can swap out the stock Opus 88 JoWo nib with any other JoWo nib unit, or one of the JoWo compatible housings from Flexible Nib Factory, which allow you to use nibs from other brands such as Platinum, Pilot, Sailor, and more. (The green Minty pictured here features a Pilot PO (”Posting”) nib that I appropriated from a stock Custom Heritage 912 purchased years ago.) Another modification I’ve played around with is removing the clip, which gives you the option of creating a more streamlined pen. Again, proceed with any modifications at your own risk, as it definitely (and justifiably) voids your pen warranty.

On my orange Minty, I left the extra-fine JoWo stainless steel nib in place. The green one I outfitted with a Pilot PO nib using a replacement nib housing purchased from Flexible Nib Factory.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

The Minty is a welcome addition to the Opus 88 lineup, and I hope Opus 88 does more with this shape/model going forward, perhaps in other materials and with a clipless option. I liked this particular pen so much that after Opus 88 sent me two samples for review, I inquired about adding this model to the Curated Shop, and I’m happy to have a handful of these pens available for sale. They fit the profile of exactly what I’m looking to carry going forward: well-built, versatile workhorse fountain pens that won’t break the bank.

Please note that we are continuing our Fountain Pen Day sale and promotions/giveaway through the weekend! Until tomorrow (November 6, 2022), take an additional 10% off your order using the coupon code “FOUNTAINPEN” at checkout, and receive a complimentary ink sample with all fountain pen purchases, including the purchase of any Opus 88 fountain pen.

Several new Opus 88 eyedropper fountain pens that I have in for review. Please stay tuned!

New in the Shop: Welcome Opus 88!

October 25, 2022

When you’re looking for a quality pen with a large ink capacity, workhorse durability, and comfortable, vintage-inspired design, it’s hard to go wrong with Opus 88. Made in Taiwan, Opus 88 first become known for their colorful demonstrator fountain pens, and have in recent years expanded into a broader range of materials and designs. What has remained consistent is the brand’s excellent Japanese-style eyedropper filling system. Each fountain pen ships with a glass dropper to allow you to fill the barrel directly with ink, yet the pen itself also features a valve system that you can open and close to manage ink flow - open it for longer writing sessions where you want ink to flow freely; close it when traveling with the pen (especially on an airplane) to prevent leaks. I’ve written a lot about Opus 88 fountain pens over the years, and you can read the “Workhorse Pen” overview here.

We currently offer two different models of Opus 88 fountain pens: the “Minty”, which is a streamlined flat top fountain pen in vintage-style flecked acrylic, and the translucent cigar-shaped “Jazz” demonstrator, a personal favorite of mine. Both pens are priced at $125 and $120, respectively, and feature reliable No. 6 JoWo nibs. As a preview of our upcoming Fountain Pen Day promotions, starting today all purchases of any fountain pen from the T.G.S. Curated Shop will ship with a free ink sample, so you can get your Opus 88 eyedropper writing immediately!

The Gentleman Stationer is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. All domestic U.S. orders over $75 ship free. Many thanks for your support!

Workhorse Pens: Opus 88 Fountain Pens Offer Maximum Versatility

October 16, 2021

From the time Taiwanese brand Opus 88 hit the shelves in the U.S., I’ve been a fan. Combining classic pen design, the still somewhat uncommon Japanese-style eyedropper filling system, and widely available, interchangeable JoWo nibs, Opus 88 has jumped to the top of the list for many of us with writing-intensive occupations who appreciate demonstrator pens that hold a large volume of ink.

The Opus 88 Omar, left, next to the Jazz in “Holiday” finish that features dark trim.

Comfortable Streamlined Cigar or Vintage-Style Flat-Top Shapes

While Opus 88 does experiment with their design profiles (i.e., see the “Flora” which is shaped like a flower vase), their most successful designs have followed traditional streamlined (i.e., cigar-shaped) and flat-top styles. For me, these comfortable, well-balanced silhouettes are what has allowed me to evolve into a fan of more oversized pens like the Omar and the Jazz (both of which are pictured here). Originally, I had limited my dabbling in Opus 88 to the smaller “Koloro” lineup, the ebonite and acrylic demonstrators that were the first models to be released stateside. Later, after overcoming my initial hesitancy toward the modern trend of oversized pens, I had the opportunity to review the Opus 88 Omar, and later picked up the Jazz, which all things considered is probably the perfect size for me personally. The Opus 88 Jazz is slightly smaller than the Omar, with proportions approximating a Montblanc Meisterstuck 146.

The Opus 88 Jazz (right) compared against a Montblanc 149 (left).

Other Key Factors That Combine to Make Opus 88 Fountain Pens Great “Workhorse Pens”

There are many brands that make excellent fountain pens in the $100-200 range, so what kicks Opus 88 into “workhorse” territory for me personally? In addition to the comfortable shape and balance discussed above, I appreciate:

Large Ink Capacity. Pretty much any Opus 88 fountain pen is the definition of an “ink tank.” For example, in the Jazz fountain pen that’s been a daily companion for the past couple of weeks, I was able to pour in a full Vanness Pens 4ml ink sample. That should last me a while. If you have a favorite ink for your daily writing that you always like to keep on hand without worrying about refilling, the Opus 88 Japanese-style eyedropper filling system is an excellent no-frills option.
Nib Versatility. Earlier this week I wrote a piece on how you can take advantage of the interchangeability of nib units to customize your pens to suit your writing preferences, and I even used Opus 88 as an example. Both the Omar and Jazz models shown here use standard JoWo No. 6 nibs, which allows you to swap out the nib on these pens with any other JoWo-compatible nib unit, including Franklin-Christoph nibs and customized third-party options from Flexible Nib Factory. Keep in mind that certain Opus 88 models do not use JoWo No. 6 nibs, including the smaller Koloro line (which uses a JoWo No. 5), and the Bela, Flora, Flow, and Opera models, which use a Bock No. 6.
Price Point. Ok, with prices on steel nib pens featuring standard JoWo and Bock nibs pushing the $200 price point in some instances, it’s refreshing to see Opus 88 at the $125 level. While inflation, import costs, and other factors outside of anyone’s control might change that in the future, it would take a big price hike to ruin the value proposition on these pens.

For further reading on what I look for in a “Workhorse Pen,” and other examples of pens that I consider recommended daily users on that level, check out my prior post titled “Picking a Workhorse: How to Choose a Fountain Pen for an Everyday Writer.”

The ability to swap nibs in Opus 88 fountain pens is a huge part of why I’ve enjoyed them so much.

Final Thoughts and Where to Buy

As I’ve become more comfortable with customizing my pens, I’ve leaned more heavily on Opus 88 in my day-to-day writing. I currently have two models inked: the Opus 88 Omar, which is paired with a broad Franklin-Christoph S.I.G. (Stub Italic Gradient) nib, and the Opus 88 Jazz (“Holiday Finish”), paired with a Platinum 3776 14k medium nib (using a custom housing from flexible nib factory). Both of the base models cost around $120, which in today’s market of ever-escalating fountain pen prices represents exceptional value.

You can find Opus 88 at most major pen retailers, though the T.G.S. Curated Shop has begun carrying certain models directly. Please stay tuned as we expand our offerings!

Pen Review: Opus 88 Omar Demonstrator

October 17, 2020

Those of us with occupations that involve significant amounts of writing are constantly on the lookout for comfortable pens with a reliable nib and a large ink capacity. Time and again, whenever I’m asked for such a recommendation, I keep returning to Taiwanese brand Opus 88. If you aren’t looking for flash or luxury, and you simply want a large, lightweight fountain pen that you’ll have to refill infrequently, the brand should be at the top of your list.

Each Opus 88 Fountain pen comes with a glass eyedropper in the box. Montblanc Hitchcock not included.

While Opus 88 has been at the vanguard of the recent trend towards ever-larger pens, they take a different approach in that their larger writing instruments are actually designed to maximize comfort and ink capacity, not to showcase rare materials or to drive up the price point. The “Omar” fountain pen, the model I’m looking at today, might be one of the largest fountain pens I’ve used recently, but it’s also one of the most comfortable, and it holds roughly 3.5ml of ink!

Ok, but there are tons of humongous acrylic pens on the market these days that you can turn into an eyedropper relatively easily. What makes Opus 88 unique? Opus 88 uses what’s known as a “Japanese Eyedropper” filling system, which incorporates a “piston” that, when closed, activates a system of stoppers and gaskets (o-rings) to minimize the chance of leakage. One drawback to “hacked” eyedropper fountain pens is that they tend to burp ink into the cap when the pen gets jostled in a bag, or when the pen is exposed to fluctuations in temperature and air pressure, such as in the car or on an airplane. Before Opus 88 brought this filling system into the mainstream, Japanese-style eyedroppers were typically found on much more expensive urushi pens from brands such as Danitrio.

If you plan on writing for longer sessions with a Japanese-style eyedropper, open the valve to allow a continuous flow of ink to the nib, similar to how you would write with a Pilot Custom 823 or TWSBI Vac 700.

As I mentioned above, the Opus 88 Omar is large, but also quite comfortable. While you may see stock photographs of this pen posted, it’s way too big for me to use in this manner. Since the Omar will likely serve as a desk pen, as opposed to an “on the go” writing instrument, I’m perfectly happy using this pen unposted. The JoWo No. 6 medium nib writes a predictably smooth line, and the eyedropper filling system ensures a steady flow of ink to the nib. The Omar makes a great workhorse.

The Opus 88 Omar does technically post, but not deeply and the pen is so large that it ends up looking a almost clownish.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Though I was initially skeptical about the size of the Omar, it turned out to be one of my favorite pens in the Opus 88 lineup. If you’re not a serial ink-changer, and don’t mind the relative complexity of filling a pen using an eyedropper, the Omar might just be the perfect choice for your upcoming NaNoWriMo marathon. You can purchase the Opus 88 Omar in a variety of colors and materials from site sponsor Goldspot. The pen pictured here is the clear demonstrator, currently priced at $123.

Pen Review: Opus 88 Picnic and Fantasia Fountain Pens

September 1, 2018

Last month, I had the pleasure of spending the 2018 D.C. Pen Show working behind the Vanness Pens table. One of the surprising things that I learned from helping people try (and buy!) pens is the appeal of Taiwanese brand Opus 88 - I think we sold more Opus 88 pens than any other brand during the show, and the Picnic and Fantasia models were probably the two most popular.

The current Opus 88 model lineup, from left: Transparent Demonstrator, Koloro, Picnic, and Fantasia.

I've previously reviewed the Opus 88 Koloro and larger transparent demonstrator. While those are excellent pens, some people are turned off by the half-ebonite/half-acrylic body on the Koloro, and the larger demonstrator is, well, friggin' huge. The Picnic offers a more traditional cigar shape and is made entirely of acrylic, while the Fantasia sticks to the acrylic and ebonite combination but presents a smaller package. In terms of "technical specs," the Picnic and Fantasia are more or less identical to the rest of the Opus 88 lineup. Both pens feature stainless steel JoWo nibs paired with Opus 88's excellent Japanese-style eyedropper system, which I discussed at length in my prior review. The short version is that you fill the pen as you would a regular eyedropper, but the Japanese-style system incorporates a stopper that closes off the ink reservoir from the nib and feed, which prevents ink "burping" and excessive flow due to temperature and air pressure fluctuations. To open the stopper to write, you turn the blind cap as you would with a piston filler, allowing the ink to flow and saturate the feed. You can then either close it up again - I can get 2 pages or so of writing with a fine nib with the stopper closed - or leave it open for longer writing sessions.

The Fantasia features a different clip than the Picnic and Koloro. I like it - it definitely matches the pen better and seems a bit more refined.

Some additional thoughts and observations on the Opus 88 Picnic:

The pen comes in bright colors, including green, turquoise, and purple, in addition to the more staid brown. The acrylic is thick and high-quality, and I've been pleased with the durability and scratch-resistance.
The Picnic is a good size, and the cigar-shaped body is comfortable in the hand either posted or unposted. While I'd prefer to see a No. 6 nib on a pen of this size, the No. 5 JoWo steel nib writes very well.
Colorverse manufactures a line of ink in partnership with Opus 88, with the ink colors tailored to match various pens in the Opus 88 lineup. For example, Colorverse Supernatural matches the green Picnic, and Colorverse Horizon matches the blue Picnic.

Some people prefer the engraved "Opus 88" logo on the Koloro (right) to the applied logo on the Picnic (left).

Thoughts and Observations on the Opus 88 Fantasia:

Some have described the Fantasia as a pocket pen, but I consider it a bit too large for that designation. While it's shorter than the other Opus 88 models, once you post the cap the Fantasia becomes a full-size pen, and even unposted the barrel has enough girth to be comfortable for short periods of time.
The ebonite blind cap on the Fantasia has a lower profile, and the pen is designed so that you can use the cap to turn it to open and close the eyedropper valve. (It's difficult to explain, see the photos below.) I've never used this trick, and have found that it's easy enough to screw/unscrew the blind cap with my fingers.
The cap and blind cap on the Fantasia are both ebonite, and the body is acrylic. I founded the multicolor banded cap design to be much more understated in person than it can appear in photos online.

The blind cap has a Phillips-head pattern carved into the bottom, and you can use the raised metal ridge in the top of the cap to turn it, if you can't make it comfortably work with your fingers. I've not found it necessary.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Opus 88 pens offer a great combination of unique design, value, and overall quality that has started to differentiate the company from its competitors in the $90-$125 price bracket. While eyedropper fountain pens certainly aren't for everyone, Opus 88's twin o-ring system and included glass eyedropper makes the filling process as clean and easy as it can be.

You can purchase both pens featured here from our sponsor Vanness Pens. The Opus 88 Picnic is priced at $99, while the Fantasia runs slightly higher at $125. As noted above, both pens come packaged with a quality glass eyedropper and instructions.

Disclaimer: Site sponsor Vanness Pens loaned me these pens for review purposes, free of charge.

Design and Build

Writing Experience

Overall Versatility and a Note on Modifications

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Further Reading on Opus 88

Comfortable Streamlined Cigar or Vintage-Style Flat-Top Shapes

Other Key Factors That Combine to Make Opus 88 Fountain Pens Great “Workhorse Pens”

Final Thoughts and Where to Buy

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Further Reading

Takeaways and Where to Buy

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