Monteverde Artista

[myles]

My Artista was packaged as a "kit" with a dozen cartridges - I'm not sure if it is also available just as a pen.

 

First Impressions

 

Recently I've succumbed to "the lure of the demonstrator", as so ably phrased by the eminently readable Dyas Anna Lawson. However I also prefer modern pens that I can throw a range of inks at, and pens that I can readily replace if I lose them or break them. I'm a user more than a collector, and my pen has to be a workhorse not a show pony.

 

While Googling for inexpensive demonstrators, I came across the Monteverde Artista.

 

It looked good, and a further search showed it was readily available in Australia.

What also attracted me to this pen was the transparent twist handle to the converter and a transparent feed.

 

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e239/mylesstrous/monteverde-twist-handle.jpg

 

The pen comes packaged in a lovely mossy green (external colour) display case that I have been unable to photograph well at night (maybe I'll try again in daylight on the weekend).

 

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e239/mylesstrous/monteverde-kit.jpg

 

Appearance & Finish

 

A wonderfully clear resin (acrylic?), which is reportedly polished inside and out (are there demonstrators that aren't?), the pen is highlighted by a silver-coloured section (stainless steel I suspect, but possibly chrome?), a silver-coloured nib (stainless steel, I think), a silver-coloured join on the converter where the twist handle joins the ink reservoir, and on the cap a silver-coloured clip, cap lip band to help prevent splitting (bearing the words "Monteverde USA") , and an inset cap "jewel", a smooth round surface again probably of stainless steel that forms part of the structure holding the clip.

 

(The metal parts in particular are shinier than my poor photographs illustrate.)

 

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e239/mylesstrous/monteverde.jpg

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e239/mylesstrous/monteverde-2.jpg

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e239/mylesstrous/monteverde-jewel.jpg

 

 

There is a hint of mould seam on the barrel, but it is difficult to find. It is slightly easier to see on the threads. If you have an Artista and you are looking for it, also have a look under the clip on the cap for another.

 

Design / Size / Weight

 

A short but comfortable size and medium weight, the section covers the ink collector part of the feed, the messiest part of a demonstrator, making this one of the "neatest" (as in tidiest) demonstrators I have seen, but preventing demonstration or learning about how the collector works.

 

The metal section also adds some heft to the pen and moves the balance forward towards the nib somewhat, which feels very comfortable in use. The grip has a subtle bulge or curve to it which is quite comfortable, although some people might possibly find it too short.

 

The clip is fairly short, but with a firm springiness and pleasing shape. Works well on shirt or trouser pockets.

When capped (a screw-on cap), the nib can seem almost on display within the transparent cap, although can be found in different orientations depending on the initial position of cap and pen before screwing the cap on.

 

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e239/mylesstrous/monteverde-nib-display.jpg

 

Capped: 12.8cm (about 5&1/16")

Unposted: 11.6cm (about 4&9/16")

Posted: 15.6cm (about 6&1/8cm)

 

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e239/mylesstrous/monteverde-uncapped.jpg

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e239/mylesstrous/monteverde-posted.jpg

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e239/mylesstrous/monteverde-in-company.jpg

 

 

 

Nib Design & Performance

 

The stainless steel Iridium Point nib is marked as a medium, but in my experience writes on the fine side of medium. A nail under normal use, with firm pressure (not recommended) it is possible to get a slight movement towards the tip of the nib.

 

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e239/mylesstrous/monteverde-nib-2.jpg

(Oops, I see there is a dot of ink on the nib, probably as a result of me grabbing it out of my briefcase soon after the cats had knocked it over - oh well, as I said it's a working pen).

 

It is a fairly dry writer, but without any initial hesitation or skipping.

 

Initially I found the nib disappointingly toothy, even scratchy, but after reading FPN I drew figure-eights and loops on a brown paper bag^[1] for several minutes and this improved matters noticeably, and this with some regular use has produced a great smooth nib with a little feedback (I hesitate to call it tooth - milk tooth perhaps), along with a whisper of writing sound I'm finding common on the few steel nibs I've tried.

 

I also changed from Parker Quink Blue-Black to Noodler's Zhivago, which may have helped as I find Zhivago more lubricating than Quink BB.

The transparent feed, which had looked reasonably good with Quink Blue-Black, looks very much like a normal opaque feed when backed with a dark saturated ink like Zhivago, alas.

 

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e239/mylesstrous/monteverde-feed.jpg

 

The shiny steel nib matches the section and the join on the converter and adds appropriate highlights to the transparent barrel and cap.

 

The Filling System

 

A cartidge/converter, the converter and 12 colourful opaque short cartridges were supplied in the box, although I have so far only used the converter. The cartridge colours (2 of each) apparently represent the ink colour inside to some extent.

 

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e239/mylesstrous/monteverde-cartridges.jpg

 

The converter has about 2.2cm of the ink reservoir showing, good for seeing how much ink is left and if it is hanging with gravity-defying cling away from the nib.

 

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e239/mylesstrous/monteverde-disassembled.jpg

 

Cost / Value

 

The pen cost me about AUD$80, and I regard it as good value now that the nib has smoothed. In Australia it is available from Pen & Ink (online or on the Gold Coast) and I have since seen it in the Monteverde section of Melbourne Pen Depot at Chadstone Shopping Centre.

In the US, it is available online through His Nibs and no doubt other sources.

 

Overall Opinion / Conclusion

 

I like this pen. All in all, a good-looking reliable demonstrator, relatively inexpensive, which now backs up my Pilot Capless (Namiki Vanishing Point) - unlike the Capless, I can readily see the ink remaining, and screwing/unscrewing the cap is a lot quieter in small meetings than clicking the Capless, particularly when someone else is talking on teleconference.

 

^[1] I'd like to thank Pen City (Melbourne CBD) and Melbourne Pen Depot (Chadstone Shopping Centre, Melbourne) for selling smaller purchases in good stiff brown paper bags, great for nib smoothing.

 

(Edit to add link to Pen & Ink)

Edited January 4, 2008 by myles

[His Nibs]

A terrific review and photos Miles!

 

My Artista was packaged as a "kit" with a dozen cartridges - I'm not sure if it is also available just as a pen.

 

It's sold as a kit, with the extra cartridges included.

 

A wonderfully clear resin (acrylic?), which is reportedly polished inside and out (are there demonstrators that aren't?), the pen is highlighted by a silver-coloured section (stainless steel I suspect, but possibly chrome?)

....

 

It's chrome.

 

 

 

[myles]

Thanks Norman! (for both the praise and the useful extra information)

 

Regards, Myles.

[BklynWriter]

Thanks for the review. This pen was already on my "I Want It" list.

 

deb

[greencobra]

What an interesting pen. And you can never have too many photo's. We love photo's don't we guys? Thanks for posting the review.

[dashboi666]

nice review - thanks for it!

 

if you don't mind me asking, where did you buy it from and for how much?

[Anne-Sophie]

The best review ever! Thanks for giving such details

[PenTieRun]

Probably the most comprehensive pictorial review I've ever seen. Although I'm now a bit frustrated because you've just added one more item to that massive lust list that I'm keeping. Super work, Myles :thumbup:

[bdngrd]

Very cool pen, I have never seen that one before. Love the photos! Thanks for the review.

[reginaldgolding]

dude, never too many photos

thanks for the peek!!

[His Nibs]

nice review - thanks for it!

 

if you don't mind me asking, where did you buy it from and for how much?

 

As Myles hasn't answered yet...I carry it here

 

 

 

[Shelley]

Thats some nice photos there, well done!

[Tsujigiri]

Great review! It looks a lot better with the converter in it than the catridges, as most photos have it. I see that the nib feeds on the HisNibs site are clear, is this a new feature?

[His Nibs]

Great review! It looks a lot better with the converter in it than the catridges, as most photos have it. I see that the nib feeds on the HisNibs site are clear, is this a new feature?

 

No, the feeds have always been clear.

[myles]

Thanks everyone!

Sorry for the late reply, I've been offline for a few days.

 

dashboi666, I got mine through Pen and Ink (an Australian store) for about AU$80 + postage. If you're not in Australia, you could do a Google search (there's a few online vendors selling the pen), try your local bricks-and-mortar store, or use the link in the post by His Nibs (who I see has currently reduced the price on his page from US$65 to US$52). If you are in Melbourne (Australia), I've also seen it in the Melbourne Pen Depot in Chadstone.

 

Tsujigiri, the feed on mine is also transparent, which looked much better when used with a nice semi-translucent blue ink such Quink Blue-Black (I didn't take a photograph of that, unfortunately).

I'm currently using it with Noodler's Zhivago, a dark almost-black opaque ink which hides most of the transparency in the feed. The photographs were taken after I started using it with Zhivago.

Some transparency can be seen from the side, and if you look closely you can see a hint of transparency in the top edge of the feed in the photograph.

Also in the photograph, underneath the number moulded into the feed you can also see some of the vent/breather hole in the nib showing through the feed.

 

It's a nice-looking reliable pen which is usually not too far away when I'm at work - at home I tend to prefer an italic nib.

Note: reasonably robust too - I've managed to drop mine (when capped) a couple of times at work (from about waist or chest height onto corporate carpet over concrete) without any noticeable ill effects.

 

Regards, Myles.

Edited January 15, 2008 by myles

[DRP]

I purchased one from His Nibs about a year ago and am quite satisfied, both with the pen and the vendor.

 

Standard disclaimer: I have no financial or personal interest in the vendor; am writing as a satisfied customer.

[sargelee71]

My Artista was packaged as a "kit" with a dozen cartridges - I'm not sure if it is also available just as a pen.

 

First Impressions

 

Recently I've succumbed to "the lure of the demonstrator", as so ably phrased by the eminently readable Dyas Anna Lawson. However I also prefer modern pens that I can throw a range of inks at, and pens that I can readily replace if I lose them or break them. I'm a user more than a collector, and my pen has to be a workhorse not a show pony.

 

While Googling for inexpensive demonstrators, I came across the Monteverde Artista.

 

It looked good, and a further search showed it was readily available in Australia.

What also attracted me to this pen was the transparent twist handle to the converter and a transparent feed.

 

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e239/mylesstrous/monteverde-twist-handle.jpg

 

The pen comes packaged in a lovely mossy green (external colour) display case that I have been unable to photograph well at night (maybe I'll try again in daylight on the weekend).

 

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e239/mylesstrous/monteverde-kit.jpg

 

Appearance & Finish

 

A wonderfully clear resin (acrylic?), which is reportedly polished inside and out (are there demonstrators that aren't?), the pen is highlighted by a silver-coloured section (stainless steel I suspect, but possibly chrome?), a silver-coloured nib (stainless steel, I think), a silver-coloured join on the converter where the twist handle joins the ink reservoir, and on the cap a silver-coloured clip, cap lip band to help prevent splitting (bearing the words "Monteverde USA") , and an inset cap "jewel", a smooth round surface again probably of stainless steel that forms part of the structure holding the clip.

 

(The metal parts in particular are shinier than my poor photographs illustrate.)

 

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e239/mylesstrous/monteverde.jpg

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e239/mylesstrous/monteverde-2.jpg

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e239/mylesstrous/monteverde-jewel.jpg

 

 

There is a hint of mould seam on the barrel, but it is difficult to find. It is slightly easier to see on the threads. If you have an Artista and you are looking for it, also have a look under the clip on the cap for another.

 

Design / Size / Weight

 

A short but comfortable size and medium weight, the section covers the ink collector part of the feed, the messiest part of a demonstrator, making this one of the "neatest" (as in tidiest) demonstrators I have seen, but preventing demonstration or learning about how the collector works.

 

The metal section also adds some heft to the pen and moves the balance forward towards the nib somewhat, which feels very comfortable in use. The grip has a subtle bulge or curve to it which is quite comfortable, although some people might possibly find it too short.

 

The clip is fairly short, but with a firm springiness and pleasing shape. Works well on shirt or trouser pockets.

When capped (a screw-on cap), the nib can seem almost on display within the transparent cap, although can be found in different orientations depending on the initial position of cap and pen before screwing the cap on.

 

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e239/mylesstrous/monteverde-nib-display.jpg

 

Capped: 12.8cm (about 5&1/16")

Unposted: 11.6cm (about 4&9/16")

Posted: 15.6cm (about 6&1/8cm)

 

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e239/mylesstrous/monteverde-uncapped.jpg

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e239/mylesstrous/monteverde-posted.jpg

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e239/mylesstrous/monteverde-in-company.jpg

 

 

 

Nib Design & Performance

 

The stainless steel Iridium Point nib is marked as a medium, but in my experience writes on the fine side of medium. A nail under normal use, with firm pressure (not recommended) it is possible to get a slight movement towards the tip of the nib.

 

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e239/mylesstrous/monteverde-nib-2.jpg

(Oops, I see there is a dot of ink on the nib, probably as a result of me grabbing it out of my briefcase soon after the cats had knocked it over - oh well, as I said it's a working pen).

 

It is a fairly dry writer, but without any initial hesitation or skipping.

 

Initially I found the nib disappointingly toothy, even scratchy, but after reading FPN I drew figure-eights and loops on a brown paper bag^[1] for several minutes and this improved matters noticeably, and this with some regular use has produced a great smooth nib with a little feedback (I hesitate to call it tooth - milk tooth perhaps), along with a whisper of writing sound I'm finding common on the few steel nibs I've tried.

 

I also changed from Parker Quink Blue-Black to Noodler's Zhivago, which may have helped as I find Zhivago more lubricating than Quink BB.

The transparent feed, which had looked reasonably good with Quink Blue-Black, looks very much like a normal opaque feed when backed with a dark saturated ink like Zhivago, alas.

 

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e239/mylesstrous/monteverde-feed.jpg

 

The shiny steel nib matches the section and the join on the converter and adds appropriate highlights to the transparent barrel and cap.

 

The Filling System

 

A cartidge/converter, the converter and 12 colourful opaque short cartridges were supplied in the box, although I have so far only used the converter. The cartridge colours (2 of each) apparently represent the ink colour inside to some extent.

 

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e239/mylesstrous/monteverde-cartridges.jpg

 

The converter has about 2.2cm of the ink reservoir showing, good for seeing how much ink is left and if it is hanging with gravity-defying cling away from the nib.

 

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e239/mylesstrous/monteverde-disassembled.jpg

 

Cost / Value

 

The pen cost me about AUD$80, and I regard it as good value now that the nib has smoothed. In Australia it is available from Pen & Ink (online or on the Gold Coast) and I have since seen it in the Monteverde section of Melbourne Pen Depot at Chadstone Shopping Centre.

In the US, it is available online through His Nibs and no doubt other sources.

 

Overall Opinion / Conclusion

 

I like this pen. All in all, a good-looking reliable demonstrator, relatively inexpensive, which now backs up my Pilot Capless (Namiki Vanishing Point) - unlike the Capless, I can readily see the ink remaining, and screwing/unscrewing the cap is a lot quieter in small meetings than clicking the Capless, particularly when someone else is talking on teleconference.

 

^[1] I'd like to thank Pen City (Melbourne CBD) and Melbourne Pen Depot (Chadstone Shopping Centre, Melbourne) for selling smaller purchases in good stiff brown paper bags, great for nib smoothing.

 

(Edit to add link to Pen & Ink)

 

 

Myles, a wonderful review. I JUST picked up this pen at my local brick & mortar in Oak Park, Illinois (about 2 hours ago) and I decided to see if there's a review of it. I agree with almost all of what you said--I say "almost" only because I haven't given it the writing time yet to agree "completely."

 

I bought mine as a kit as well, and don't think I'll be using the "funky" color cartridges they've provided. At the store, they dipped it in Rotring blue and it wrote BEAUTIFULLY--a finer Medium than I expected, which was a very pleasant surprise. I'm a F nib fan--even a Japanese F fan. This was fine enough for me. I was a little nervous when I got home, after giving it a flush of soapy water, as I put a Pelikan Blue-Black cartridge in and it wrote TOTALLY thick (wide?) and the ink feathered insanely on my Moleskine page. I almost ran out to return the pen. But, after calming down a bit, I decided to change the cartridge to a Private Reserve Tanzanite and am absolutely happy. I also followed your advice (or your following of FPN advice) to do loop-di-loops on brown paper bag paper, and am ready to go-go-go. I also found that you can also put in upside-down spare cartridge, but it does look weird. The only bottled in I have right now with me is PR Avocado, and was in the mood to go blue. Glad I did, given what you said about the Zhivago's effect on the transparent feed. Thanks for the heads-up.

 

Now, in my bag, I've go both a Waterman Kulture and this demonstrator--the former with Waterman brown and this with Tanzanite. I'm happy-happy-happy.

 

Thanks again for the wonderful review. I'm glad this impulse buy was a good one.

 

Regards,

 

Tina

 

[sotto2]

I bought one of these Artista's from Fred Krinke this afternoon at his Fountain Pen Shop in Monrovia, CA. Completely pleasant and fun experience. He and his wife were very helpful and friendly, even though we held them over a little bit after their 3 p.m. Saturday closing time, and they generously gave us restaurant and antique shop tips in Old Town Monrovia just north of the shop.

 

Fred let me demo the pen, then cleaned it out using his Special Sauce and ultrasound cleaner, then loaded the Artista up with one of the pink cartridges included in the kit. It wrote a little pale for about a half page till the remaining "sauce" left the feeder, and now I have a nice fine-ish bright pink line (usually I'm a dyed in the wool PR Velvet Black user). Anyway, great pen, great shop (amazing "museum" section), and great folks. Old Town Monrovia was extra nice too. The Greek kabob place there was pretty tasty, but don't let them charge you $3.83 for their tatziki sauce. Just tell them "all I want is enough for my lunch"! ;-)

 

Don't miss the shop if you're vacationing in Southern Cal.

[Juicyjones]

Those are very affordable pens and your review was great, thanks. Sigh, now I want one.

[alvarez57]

dude, never too many photos

thanks for the peek!!

 

 

I will have to agree on this one also.

 

Thanks for such a neat review. It is an attractive pen and looks well made for its price. I have a demonstrator and it is neat how the inks show in the barrel.

Glad you're enjoying it.

Edited March 21, 2010 by alvarez57