The Big Question: Does Slip & Seal Add Value?
Who should care about Slip & Seal? Obviously, if you have a pen that you only use infrequently, such as a music nib used for signatures on documents, or a ultra-extra-fine (UEF) nib that you use to make very small annotations and takes forever to go through ink, something like this could be quite helpful. Also, if you use iron gall and pigmented inks, which can clog and even corrode nibs and feeds if left in pens for long periods of time, you want to minimize the potential for evaporation that would cause these inks to become overly concentrated. (Note: Platinum sells both iron gall and pigmented inks in their lineup. I have no idea whether this had anything to do with the development of Slip & Seal, but it’s a fair question.) One thing I don’t know is whether the Slip & Seal technology is equally as effective with converters as it is with Platinum’s cartridges. While the cartridge is a solid piece of plastic, the converter is not, and creates multiple opportunities for air to enter and accelerate evaporation.
Overall, I’m not sure whether Slip & Seal adds value to the pen for the majority of people, but given how it performed in my Procyon, I’m glad it’s there. While Platinum has long marketed the Slip & Seal technology with their flagship 3776 line, I personally find it most useful in a less expensive pen like the Procyon, which I would be more inclined to ink with a cartridge and leave at the office or in a place where I might need to make quick notes from time to time and not use on a daily basis. At the end of the day, Slip-and-Seal may not be a feature that would specifically draw me to Platinum and cause me to purchase a 3776 or Procyon over a pen from another brand, but I do like having the feature and would characterize it as a “plus.”
All Platinum Pens pictured in this review can be purchased at most Platinum retailers, including site sponsors Pen Chalet, Vanness Pens, and Goldspot.