Monteverde Intima

[dot]

http://i1241.photobucket.com/albums/gg517/brooklynshere/Pens/IMG_0024_zps02405c69.jpg

A few weeks ago, I bought the Monteverde Intima in Neon Pink with a fine nib; I'm not a great reviewer (far too enamored far too easily) but I thought I'd share some thoughts.

http://i1241.photobucket.com/albums/gg517/brooklynshere/Pens/IMG_0029_zps13831d1c.jpg

 

If anything, the pen is a little bulkier than I like (I love me some small pens) but still well balanced and light, thanks to the

material.

http://i1241.photobucket.com/albums/gg517/brooklynshere/Pens/IMG_0038_zpsc6509b05.jpg

 

The juxtaposition of the color palette with the shape and heft continue to be pleasantly striking, for me. Here she is with a Pilot 78g and a Lamy Al-Star, both of which look so much more serious. I think the Intima will be a creative writing pen.

http://i1241.photobucket.com/albums/gg517/brooklynshere/Pens/IMG_0040_zpsbc3ebe9d.jpg

Edited July 9, 2013 by dot

[georges zaslavsky]

nice review and nice pen thanks for sharing

[dot]

Thanks! It's so deliciously showy! I think it'll astound muggles.

[Uncle Red]

Thanks Dot, very cute. Where does the step hit your hand?

[dot]

Where does the step hit your hand?

Please excuse my ignorance; what do you mean by step?

[watch_art]

The step down from the barrel to the threaded portion.

This pen has a step.

http://newtonpens.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/0101.jpg?w=1000&h=

[dot]

Thanks for the fountain pen anatomy! I figured that was probably it but didn't want to confuse things.

 

Uncle Red, when I'm holding the pen to write, the step is in line with the metacarpophalangeal joint on my thumb; it usually doesn't touch (although occasionally my thumb rests on the threads, which I think is bothersome to some.) I can see how the definite step might be a turnoff to those who don't use a tripod grip. The grip section really is quite short, actually.

[Uncle Red]

Thanks, you can never be sure where it'll hit your hand.

[Vipersdad]

My Volcano with a bottle of PR Orange Crush is on the way.

 

V.

[msmidwifery]

I have the bright green version of this pen with the stub italic. It's beautiful and the balance is lovely. Weighty enough to feel substantial. The step is very subtle and I do not notice it when I write. If I think about it, it lands on the pad of my thumb. I prefer pens whose sections have a bit of a "waist" such as this one.

 

The original review does not address or show the clip on the cap, so I'll comment on that here. It's black, like the rest of the trim, and a sweeping smooth curve that slides easily over thin or thick fabric or hems. I usually keep it in the pocket of a bulky knit cartigan I wear most days. It attaches to this fabric easily, without catching or threatening to tear the loosely spun wool and mohair fibers. It has no seams in it.

 

But here's a slightly sad point: I've had it less than three months and the paint at the nib end of the section has bubbled up and is peeling. The section is actually white plastic under this. I've got a note in to the seller about this and maybe they'll replace my section. Monteverde's customer service has also been very accommodating when I've had issues with other pens of theirs over the years, though I haven't contacted them yet.

Edited April 10, 2014 by msmidwifery

[Gloucesterman]

Have a Volcano version of this pen, also with a fine nib.

 

have several other Monteverde pens and have found them to be well made, dependable and supported by good customer service.

 

I would definitely buy more - actually considering a new Impressa from Goulet.

[Blue_Moon]

I've got two Monteverdes and both write dry. I'm considering getting the Goulet nibs. Anyone ever put a Goulet nib on an Intima or a Prima?

[Tas]

Bought a sort of white bluey swirly version yesterday at The London Pen Show.

 

It may well be the coffee talking but it is easily one of the best writers I now own.

Smooth, solid, nail like nib. Nice medium to wet line. No hard starts and perfectly balanced for me.

 

Why did I only buy one ? !!

[gwyneddd]

My Volcano with a bottle of PR Orange Crush is on the way.

 

V.

I have the Volcano. What a great pen! I got one with a stub 1.1mm nib, and replaced the nib with one of the Goulet nibs. It's one of my favorite pens. I think I have it filled right now with Fuyu-Syogen but I'd love to get some dark orange ink. I have some Noodler's Apache Sunset, but I'm not so fond of pale amber inks.

[Arkanabar]

Has anyone besides msmidwifery had the problem with the finish peeling or flaking off the section? There's a number of reviews on Goulet's site that mention this problem.

[Drone]

Has anyone besides msmidwifery had the problem with the finish peeling or flaking off the section? There's a number of reviews on Goulet's site that mention this problem.

 

Hello Arkanabar;

 

(TL;DR... See pics below. Don't buy this pen until you're sure you are getting a pen that has had this paint flaking issue fixed.)

 

Yes, I am sorry to report I have experienced the "paint" flaking off the Monteverde Intima section where it meets the nib unit. Also I am unable to unscrew the nib unit from the section. My Intima in Volcano Grey was purchased in mid August 2014 from Goulet Pens.

 

Note: I have no hard data on how prevalent this paint flaking problem is. Only the manufacturer or possibly a Distributor might be able to shed light on that. There may be Intima owners that have never had a problem with their pens. But I have seen others post about same/similar paint flaking problems before.

 

Yafa/Monteverde after seeing pictures of the paint problem with my Intima (low-res copies below), acknowledged a quality issue with the finish.

 

An ideal solution to the problem would have been to send me a new section without defective paint. But no matter what I did, I could not get the nib unit to unscrew from the pen without damaging it. At that point Yafa just decided to send me a replacement pen.

 

Yafa sent the pen by trackable USPS. I live in S.E. Asia. The pen left Los Angeles on 7 October 2014. Today at post time three weeks later, there have been no further tracking updates. My experience when this happens is that the item has been lost or stolen in transit. But I must wait at least another week or two before raising an alarm. There is a (very) small chance the pen has been shipped by ocean freight instead of by air. In that case I may not see the replacement pen for another four to six weeks.

 

* My feelings so-far...

 

1. Yafa/Monteverde should have recalled these defective pens. Researching the paint flaking problem I can see posts by others experiencing same/similar issues for some time. One can only hope you will not get get an older-stock pen with this problem.

 

2. To be fair, even though I'm concerned that my replacement pen may be lost in transit, that is not Monteverde's fault. But I would have preferred if Yafa/Monteverde used FedEx or DHL not USPS.

 

3. Overall I have been very pleased with the thoughtful and courteous customer service experience I have had with both Clara at Yafa/Monteverde, and Caitlin at Goulet Pens - both have been very professional.

 

4. Although it would be far better to have never had a problem with the Intima in the first place, In the end it looks to me like Yafa/Monteverde will stand by their product.

 

* My recommendations regarding the Intima as of mid-late October 2014...

 

If you live in the U.S. where it will be faster and cheaper to deal with Yafa/Monteverde directly, and you really-really want this pen, then I say go for it. But buy it directly from Yafa/Monteverde and demand they send you a pen that has the paint problem fixed from the outset. Do not buy a pen from a Distributor unless the Distributor can guarantee they are not sending you an older-stock pen with the paint problem.

 

If you live outside the U.S. where it is painful to deal with Yafa/Monteverde due to shipping, customs, taxes, etc., I would hold off until you feel confident you will not get a defective pen. Again, if you must have this pen, deal directly with Yafa/Monteverde and demand they ship you a known good pen.

 

* Here are a couple of low-res pics of the paint flaking off my Intima:

 

 

[thomdavies2053]

Bluemoon I put a Noodler flex on my Green Neon and am liking it. Mine did not like Monteverde cartridges so went to bottles. De Artementis was all right. Waterman Green may be a little better, have to rinse the nib and feed once. Nib seems to flex more on the neon than on the Ahab.