ST Dupont Olympio (formerly the 'Orpheo') w/ medium nib, black lacquer, and palladium trim.

1. First Impressions: 3.5/5. The pen comes in a matte-black case with a plain white outer cardboard sleave. The case is lined with a purple semi-matte material. I have to say, the packaging for this pen is rather underwhelming. While I don't need an expensive box, I admit that I was expecting something a little bit more lavish than plastic and more plastic for a pen worth more than $500. That being said, the pen itself is stunning. I was very careful lifiting it out of the case and surprised by its heft.

2. Appearance & Finish: 5/5. Immaculate. I can't find any fault in terms of finish, and I'm very picky with my collectibles (pens, watches, etc.). The lacquer has an exceptional depth to it. I usually don't like the color black in my clothes and accesories as I find it too stark, but this black is a special black. It appears liquid, as if the lacquer were just poured on and one might smear the finish if not careful. The pen is large enough, but by no means over-sized. I like that it's very discrete. Few people will notice this pen as being anything expensive: I like that. This is a pen that has to be observed up close and held in hand to be appreciated in full.

3. Design/ Size/Weight: 5/5. The pen is made of brass and coated with natural black lacquer. The trim is brass plated with palladium. The nib is 18k gold, plated in rhodium. In terms of size, I'd say it's comparable to a Montblanc 146. It is, however, siginificantly heavier than a 146--probably heavier than a 149 too. Although it's not a light pen, it's very well balanced and feels very natural in hand. My Caran d'Ache Ivanhoe (another excellent pen) is equally heavy but feels somewhat top-heavy. The Olympio, on the other hand, feels great with cap posted or unposted. Others might not like the weight of the Olympio, but I consider it an advantage. It feels significantly more substantial than the other pens I've spent time with. Unlike plastic pens, I don't have the sense that if I squeeze just a little more, I'd be able to snap the barrel in two (not that I'd ever try it!). The clip is spring-loaded (apparently a feature on newer Olympios), so no worries about bending it out of shape.

4. Nib Design & Performance: 5/5. My Olympio has a medium nib in 18k gold. There is a nice palladium/brass 'hood' that peeks out over the top of the nib. I'm not sure of the purpose of this feature, but it provides a nice finished look to the pen, like a sports car with a tonneau cover. I'd give the nib on this pen a 6/5 if that were possible. It is incredibly smooth. It is rigid, but you can still get some line variation as the nib is amenable to pressure. It doesn't skip. The line it draws is sharp. The feed never seems slow or dry, and the pen starts up reliably even after sitting in a drawer for a month. I'd call this medium a true medium.

5. The Filling System: 4/5. Standard coverter/cartridge system. Not much to say. I suppose some might say this is a weakpoint, but I think there are advantages to convertors. I won't go into the pluses and minuses of convertors and piston filler systems here as we are all aware of them.

6. Cost/Value: 5/5. I know, this is a pricey pen, but no one else offers its combination of qualities: natural black lacquer/brass construction, spring-loaded clip, and possibly the smoothest nib in the business. If you could get these qualities in one pen for less, I'd deduct a point or two, but I think the Olympio stands alone. To me, this pricepoint is sort of a sweet spot. If you spend more, the pen doesn't necessarily work or feel better.

7. Overall Opinion/Conclusion: 5/5. This is my favorite pen in my collection. It is smoother than my Caran d'Ache, but better balanced. The perfect black lacquer, highly polished palladium trim, and the overall refinement of the pen's design make it appropriate for any occasion, yet the quality of its finishing sets it apart from other pens in the price range. Since I got this pen, I've found myself reluctant to use my others. I always reach for the Olympio when I get dressed in the morning and always take time to appreciate it before putting it in my pocket. To me, this is THE black pen of all black pens. In fact, I don't think I'll be looking for another pen in black since I can't see what the point would be.

Great review. I have several Olympios (Orpheos), and I love them all. The nibs are not only very smooth, but they (the nibs) also have an extremely elegant shape. The chinese lacquer finishes are gorgeous, and the brass bodies have a nice heft.

I recently bought my first DuPont (I bought the 007 version, black with gray stripes on the side) and I agree with everything mafoofan has said about the pen. I use Private Reserve Ultra Black in mine and it's a great combination. Incredibly smooth, no skipping, immediate start-up, and very wet. The pen has a nice heft, although I find it too heavy with the cap posted. I like the spring loaded clip. I have also heard that the chinese lacquer is pretty tough. Time will tell, I guess.

Here's a picture:

The Dupont inks are nice, too. Nearly everyone who has tried the Dupont Black likes it. The Dupont Blue is a good medium blue which draws mixed reviews. Some, like me, love it. Others find it too light. All Dupont pen owners should give Dupont inks a try.

I forgot to mention what ink I've been using. So far, I've only used Diamine Jet Black in the Olympio. I haven't had a chance to try the Dupont black, but the Diamine's been pretty satisfactory so far.

I must agree with Mafoofan's statement. "..this is THE black pen of all black pens.." I've owned my Orpheo Large with a F nib for a few months now, and I can't imagine buying another black pen. In fact, I've not really used my other fountain pens since I inked the Orpheo. For me, it's just a super reliable user pen. I uncap the pen with a quick "click" and it writes immediately, perfectly, and consistantly. What more could I ask for? The Chinese Lacquer finish is very durable, which is a nice contrast to my Omas 360's cotton resin, which seems to scratch simply by holding it. So far, for me, the Orpheo is just a perfect pen.

Steve

Thanks for the great review! I'm waiting for the day when I can afford one of these. From what I've read comined with personal taste, this definitely seems like a pen I would thoroughly enjoy.

I agree with all the above comments.

I chose the 'Medium' version of the black pen with gold trim. This was partly because someone gifted me with the Ballpoint for Xmas and I wanted a matching FP, and partly because the large and XL versions were a little too flashy for my personal taste. The nib is 14K and doesn't have the nice pattern and also the lacquer is contemporary not Chinese. However, it is the most exquisite pen nevertheless and writes beatifully and effortlessly for maybe £100 or so less than the bigger pens.

I looked at one in the Paradise Pen store in Oakbrook, IL then again in the Troy MI store and asked to ink it up. I knew when the ink hit the paper it was mine. I agree 100% with the review.


Great Job!!

Bujalino

I agree fully with Bujalino. I have a large size Orpheo and a sterling silver Orpheo. Both write superbly. The large size one skips occasionally, and I will be sending it to a nibmaster to grind to a cursive italic and check at the same time, but the smoothness is just incredible. The 2 pens, together with my Omas Paragon, are my current top 3 pens.

purpledog

Great review thank you

It reaffirms my view of Dupont. I have an Orpheo from the early 90s and 15 years later after it has been left forgotten with ink inside it wrote better than any of my brand new MBs.. not only that, it doesn't skip nothing.. What good pens these are..

And you do feel that they are hefty / amount to their value in terms of quality too no?

Congratulations

I will have to check that one out at Paradise Pen. That's the one thing I don't like about the couple Montblanc's I own. It is anything but discrete.

I have the Olympio X-Large in gold and black and i have to say it is one of the best pens i own.

Initially i had problems with Ink...it didnt like Noodler or Waterman Ink...so i bought Dupont Black ink.

But that was it...since then the pen has been a gem.

the nib is so smooth you could almost write on sandpaper and you wouldnt feel it.

I cant say enough about the pen.

Sammy

Ditto on the praise for the DuPonts. They are my pen of choice.