Pilot Lucina - An Overlooked Little Gem

[Maurizio]

Hi fellow enthusiasts - Just thought I'd inform those here that the Pilot Lucina is available direct from Japanese sellers via Amazon for reasonable prices of between $45 - $49. This is almost half the price that Jetpens is charging.

 

The Lucina is available in several colors and with fine, medium and broad nibs. It's a nice little pen. I just ordered a fine point with a black body.

 

I have an Ecrino I bought some 20 years ago, with a medium nib. This pen is still writing beautifully and shows no signs of wear. I use it with both Pilot cartridges and a Pilot con50 converter to drink bottle ink. I ink it at home, but always carry a pack of cartridges in my briefcase. If I run out during the day, I just pop in a cartridge and store the converter in the box of cartridges. See the linked post below from 2010 comparing the Ecrino & Lucina as almost twins.

 

The Lucina is an overlooked gem because it's a step up from a Prera, at least to my view, in both looks and nib performance. The nib on my Ecrino performs better than nibs at three and four times the price. It has always written consistently & smoothly. It's only slightly toothy on cheap paper like the legal pads I write on for work but it writes like butter on good paper such as Rhodia. In fact, I'm taking a Rhodia pad to work tommorow just to have that "buttery" experience while I'm working even though price of the Rhodia is at least triple the price of a legal pad. To paraphrase: "life's too short for cheap paper".

 

It's really unfortunate that Pilot hasn't made more effort to introduce this low to midpriced pen to the American market (I don't know if it's widely available in Europe and would love some EU folks to weigh in). I think it would be a big seller because it would allow a wide group of users to experience a really nicely writing nib, which is usually only available at prices triple or quadruple the price of a Lucina.

 

Anyone else out there love their Lucina or Ecrino?

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/174905-overlooked-pilot-lucina-vs-ecrino/

Edited March 4, 2015 by Maurizio

[O'Hare]

Yep - I bought an Ecrino from the Classifieds a few years ago, and it's a great pen.

[NedC]

I have the red/coral/orange one with a fine nib. Great pen, looks a bit like a vintage Duofold;) I also have several Cross Solos which use the same nibs, and other than being a little too long for some shirt pockets they're great too.

[FountainPages]

I had a Lucina a while back. I was touched by this pen and your reference to a little gem. I just went to Amazon and just another.

[Maurizio]

I had a Lucina a while back. I was touched by this pen and your reference to a little gem. I just went to Amazon and just another.

I'm pleased that I reminded you.

[FountainPages]

This one is the red/orange with a fine nib. Can't wait to take delivery.

[Bill P]

Where are you finding the multi-color Lucina's? I went to Amazon and all they had listed were the single colored Lucina's...same result when I did a google search..

 

red/coral/orange

red/orange with a fine nib

 

I'd be interested in seeing and purchasing...

 

Thanks in advance.

[Maurizio]

Hi Bill - on Amazon a single color may pop up, but on that page look to see if there are thumbnail images under the image displayed; these should show the other colors.

 

If not, try the search again for "Pilot Lucina" and see if the color models come up. I had no trouble finding them.

 

Hope this helps.

[StrawberryJam]

I have a blue one with a black cap that has always been a consistent writer. The nib is very stiff, but mine (an F) is a little toothy as well.

[Bill P]

Well I did both of your suggestions...

 

http://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Fountain-Lucina-Yellow-FL-5SR-Y-F/dp/B001AX3T1I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1426263671&sr=8-1&keywords=pilot+lucina

 

I did look at the thumb nails but it only shows the Lucina in single colors. Additionally, the images reflected in the thumb nails show for instance 2 yelows, one with a fine nib label and one with a medium nib label, BUT it is my understanding that the medium is available in the black, and the colored ones are only available in Fine.

 

But there were no multicolored Lucinas anywhere that I searched.

 

Can you provide a link

[Bill P]

Maybe I am misinterpreting what you have written...

 

"I have the red/coral/orange one with a fine nib." I interpret that to mean the Lucina that you purchased is multi colored...like a mix or blend of colors in one pen.

[Maurizio]

Yes I believe that's what happened. I didn't write I had the orange one, but yes. They come in single colors not different colors except - I think - the orange and yellow have black ends. But none come in a different color for the barrel and the cap.

[Nyanzilla]

That pen really looks nice. But I won't buy it because I already own a custom 91, which I like very much.

[Maurizio]

Glad you like the way it looks. I think it looks like the a miniaturized version of a Pilot Custom 845, a pen I aspire to own. Obviously at its modest price it has neither ebonite, a big gold nib, nor urushi lacquer. But it's still a handsome pen nonetheless.

[NavyDr]

I agree, I just bought an orange Lucina. It's a little smaller than I expected, but still a good fit for my hand and it writes incredibly well for a $40ish pen (from amazon). I don't regret the purchase!

[Maurizio]

 

 

NavyDr - I'm glad I inspired a purchase. Yes it is smallish; I don't own a Prera or I'd post a comparison, I think it's about the same length as that pen.. I'm going to surf to see if I can find a comparison photo.

[Maurizio]

Here's a blue Lucina, the third pen from the left, next to some Sailors, a Pelikan, a Platnum, a Pilot Vanishing Point, and a Safari. Hope this helps. I should have attached some photos in my OP.

 

 

 

NB - not my pens just an image I found on the net.

Edited June 2, 2015 by Maurizio

[Mongoosey]

How many turns does it take to uncap/cap the Pilot Lucina?