S.t. Dupont Elysée

[olivier78860]

http://i.imgur.com/OX9Tf.jpg

The classic S.T. Dupont box, in its 2012 version

http://i.imgur.com/C0wBb.jpg

When opening it, I knew pictures wouldn't be easily taken. Let's go outside with natural lights.

http://i.imgur.com/dh8Oy.jpg

A straight body, with a barrel-shaped cap and "diamond" effects on the clip

http://i.imgur.com/WFnzS.jpg

Your classic classy pen, with very nice proportions.

http://i.imgur.com/0xfIM.jpg

The nib. A 14k "swiss knife", sized like the Olympio XL's. Stub on both sides, semiflex on one side. Notice the absence of cap at the section's end (compared to the Olympio and the Néoclassique)

http://i.imgur.com/2Lxje.jpg

The usual Dupont feed, for a few years now.

http://i.imgur.com/LxNDk.jpg

The finely shaped nib and feed give impressions of sharpness and fluidity, that are not demented by the writing performances.

http://i.imgur.com/Igya5.jpg

An o-ring is here, the thread are such that the nib is always centered on the "S.T. Dupont" logo on the barrel.

http://i.imgur.com/s5O4x.jpg http://i.imgur.com/Mp0N1.jpg

Fine barrel engravings.

http://i.imgur.com/Foeo1.jpg

The barrel shaped cap. (The mesh you see on the logo are reflections.)

http://i.imgur.com/IG7qo.jpg

The belly of the beast cap. It's sealed, not screwed. Shouldn't move.

http://i.imgur.com/UuBQf.jpg

Very convenient maximum gap. Tiny engravings on the side of the clip, as usual. "Made in France" followed by the serial number.

 

Dimensions :

Capped : 14.5 cm

Uncapped : 13.3 cm

Cap posted : 16.5 cm

Section's diameters : 0.8 - 1.2 cm

Barrel's diameters : 1.0 - 1.3 cm

Cap's length : 5.6 cm

Cap's diameters : 1.2 - 1.5 cm

 

This pen is very shiny. It wasn't easy to take pictures. You might want to recommend the use of sunglasses when showing it to your friends. Now for some writing samples :

http://i.imgur.com/njFjf.jpg

 

This is an incredible pen, I surely wasn't expecting such a fine result. You have no excuse not to try one !

Edited August 9, 2012 by olivier78860

[jar]

Nice review and a lovely pen. I hope you enjoy it for many years.

[Montblanc owner and lover]

very nice pen,i love the shape of the nib

[pavoni]

I would normally pass on pens with a metal section but it's a '10' in terms of the Dupont's looks and your excellent review. As you say, the pen is "classy". I really enjoyed your photos, particularly the nib shot and that incredible clip shot.

 

I have yet to do a single-pen review myself but when I do, I will look to follow your super example. :clap1:

 

Thank you for taking the time to share with us.

 

Pavoni.

[jar]

I would normally pass on pens with a metal section but it's a '10' in terms of the Dupont's looks and your excellent review.

 

Pavoni.

 

Not all metal sections are created equal. The metal sections on ST Duponts, Yard-O-Leds, Ferrari da Vareses and Montegrappas are exceptional, comfortable, non-slipping and very, very functional.

[pavoni]

I would normally pass on pens with a metal section but it's a '10' in terms of the Dupont's looks and your excellent review.

 

Pavoni.

 

Not all metal sections are created equal. The metal sections on ST Duponts, Yard-O-Leds, Ferrari da Vareses and Montegrappas are exceptional, comfortable, non-slipping and very, very functional.

 

I am certain you are right Jar. I have admittedly been guilty of allowing my view to be prejudiced by just two very disappointing experiences (which is silly really, given the sheer number of pens with a metal section). :embarrassed_smile: Obviously, where the girth and length of the grip section, weight and length of the pen are right for my particular hand, I should clearly enjoy the pen, regardless of its metal section. Thank you for the direction. I will certainly take a new look at the brands you have highlighted, starting with Olivier's pen above.

 

Pavoni.

Edited August 9, 2012 by pavoni

[olivier78860]

Thanks for the kind replies.

As it might not be obvious, when writing with the feed above the nib, the horizontal stroke is somewhere between fine and extra fine.

This is indeed a great pen. It was my second choice. I had spotted the Humphrey Bogart one at the shop, but I didn't want a pen dedicated by an actor (what next, using dead writers' signatures on pens ? Oh wait... I even have one, but that was a youth mistake )

 

Regarding the section, I wasn't too attracted by metal sections neither; that is, until I bought a Parker Premier 18 months ago and the S.T. Dupont Défi, last year.

Since then I also got a Cartier Pasha and this one. The next on the list should be a S.T. Dupont from the Néoclassique collection, that I will eventually review too.

All in all, lots of prejudice for sections that can be very good, and that came from the use of a Parker Vector ballpoint years ago (the section is so thin that slipping was unavoidable there).

[georges zaslavsky]

outstanding workmanship on this pen and thanks for sharing

[rvthof]

What a beautiful pen. Thanks for reviewing.

Especially the shape of the nib is striking: French elegance

[rvthof]

Not all metal sections are created equal. The metal sections on ST Duponts, Yard-O-Leds, Ferrari da Vareses and Montegrappas are exceptional, comfortable, non-slipping and very, very functional.

 

Just curious:

Is this because of engineering i.e. shape/form or are the surfaces coated or otherwise treated to make them less slippery?

 

thanks

[jar]

Not all metal sections are created equal. The metal sections on ST Duponts, Yard-O-Leds, Ferrari da Vareses and Montegrappas are exceptional, comfortable, non-slipping and very, very functional.

 

Just curious:

Is this because of engineering i.e. shape/form or are the surfaces coated or otherwise treated to make them less slippery?

 

thanks

 

In ST Dupont metal sections it is a matter of texture and design, for example adding subtle ridges to the section. In the others it is simply one of the properties of uncoated Sterling silver, the same reason Sterling silver was used for fine tableware.

[olivier78860]

To me, it's mainly a matter of proportions. If the nib unit is working perfectly, one doesn't need to hold the pen firmly to apply pressure to write. If the body is well balanced, the pen is naturally well placed in your hand. Therefore, the materials used for the section are very secondary. I do not think plastic is less slippery than metal.

[ccvinylman]

Beautiful pen; excellent review. Thank you!

I stumbled on your review while looking for pen reviews on a pen by the manufacturer Elysée. I'm wondering if Dupont and Elysée have anything in common? I'll have to google that. (If anyone "out there" knows the answer, feel free to respond here. Thanks.) When I was a newbie pen collector and wet behind the ears, one of my grail pens was an Elysée Cloisonné, a picture of which I'll post here. Unlike the faux cloisonné pens from China, which are a dime a dozen, the Elysée Cloisonné was crafted as a true cloisonné. I'll attach some pictures, just for the heck of it.

 

Forgive my politically incorrect comment about Chinese pens. I could simply erase it; instead, I'll post the eBay item number of a Chinese cloisonné pen, up for sale now (February 6, 2015), which seems to be a "cut above" the dime-a-dozen variety. The number is 131417256905, and the buy-it-now price is a mere US$58.50 plus shipping.

Edited February 6, 2015 by ccvinylman

[jar]

No connection between the two companies.

[Opus105]

So nice, but so expensive.