2019 may very well go down as the year in which Platinum cemented its status as the premier maker of reliable, low-cost pens. The ultra low-cost Platinum Preppy and the new Prefounte allow you to purchase a reliable steel-nibbed workhorse for $10 or less, and if you want a pen that looks, well, a bit less disposable, you can upgrade to the Platinum Plaisir and still get the price under $20.
The Platinum Procyon, left, compared against a Platinum Plaisir, right.
But what about the middle tier between the Plasir and the Platinum 3776 all the way up at $160? There’s not much. The Platinum Cool and the Platinum Balance are available, but these pens don’t get significant attention. It’s fairly obvious that Platinum intends the Procyon to fill this gap in their lineup. Additionally, the Procyon offers a more substantial body for users that may find the other pens mentioned above too slender.
According to Platinum’s marketing materials, the Procyon features both Platinum’s patented “slip-n-seal” cap and a “newly-designed feed that allows for easier ink absorption.” I’ve personally never had an issue with the writing experience on a Platinum pen, so I’m not sure about the reason behind the feed design, but the slip-n-seal cap is nice to have. Platinum claims that you can leave ink in the pen for up to a year and the pen won’t dry out, making Platinum pens ideal for those who may want to keep a fountain pen inked up at their desk but won’t necessarily write with it every day.
The feed definitely looks different from Platinum’s other pens, but the performance is largely the same. (Not a bad thing!)
In terms of the overall writing experience, I can’t tell much of a difference between the Procyon and the Plaisir. While the nib on the Procyon is slightly larger, and features the redesigned feed, writing with the Procyon feels quite similar to writing with a Platinum Plaisir. If I had to come up with a distinction, I would say that the nib on the Procyon adds a touch of bounce, due to the longer tines. The Procyon is also a heavier pen. Also, if I had to pick one thing I don’t like about the Procyon, it would be the threaded cap. While the Preppy and Plaisir are both slip cap pens, for the Procyon Platinum went with metal threads that feel gritty. Though this hasn’t created any functional issues for me, the friction-fit closure on the cheaper pens actually feels higher-end than the more expensive Procyon.
The Platinum Procyon is a cartridge-converter pen that takes Platinum’s proprietary cartridges.
One bonus of purchasing the Procyon 100th Anniversary Edition: I discovered Platinum’s Mix-Free Inks. This set of nine basic colors can be mixed to create your own preferred shades of ink, and come in both 20ml and 60ml bottles. Platinum included three cartridges of Mix-Free “recipes” with my Procyon: Dark Violet, Aqua Emerald, and Gold Ochre. I’m working on a few of my own mixes, and will have a full review of the Mix-Free inks sometime soon. Patreon subscribers will get a preview of my “inksperiments.”
Takeaways and Where to Buy
Overall, I’ve enjoyed my time with the Platinum Procyon, which deserves to be mentioned alongside other fountain pens at the $50 price point such as the Pilot Prera. Personally, I prefer the size and heft of the Procyon over the Prera, which I’ve always found a bit too small for my personal taste. Platinum pens make reliable daily writers and this one is no exception.
Currently, you can purchase the Procyon from most Platinum retailers, including site sponsor Pen Chalet, which is where I acquired this pen. Early on, the Procyon was a bit difficult to find, but it appears that stocks have stabilized. I’m not sure how long the “100th Anniversary Edition” will last, but the advantage of purchasing this “special edition” remains unclear, beyond the “100th Anniversary” logo on the cap.
Disclaimer: I purchased the pen featured in this post from Pen Chalet using funds generated through the Pen Chalet affiliate program, which one way I support the blog. This post contains affiliate links.