OK, first of all I KNOW that pens are not made for dropping on tile floors, but that just happened to my Visconti Pericle 2001 (it just jumped from my coat pocket and commited suicide on a grocery store`s tile floor ).

Now I sent an e-mail to Visconti Italy if they can replace the barrel (it cracked in two). And when I get repair I wont carry around the Pericle anymore ...

Now I am looking for a sturdier (and lighter) Italian pen to carry around all the time and that is possibly sturdy enough to survive such a drop on the floor.

It must be:
- a good smooth writer (along the lines of the Pericle - very smooth!)
- sturdy
- not outrageously expensive (thinking in the line of a Delta Vintage or Aurora Ypsilon)
- not too large but not too small (the Pericle is probably on the largest side a pen I feel comfortable writing with)
- Lightweight (rather lighter than the Pericle)

Any suggestions?

My suggestion would be a Delta Dolcevita - you can get it cheap from Pam Braun. It's a great writer and is pretty tough and sturdy. It comes in a variety of different sizes; the medium is good, though I have the Oversize and I love it. Go for it!

LOL!! Committed suicide. Surely a writing instrument would commit pennicide.

Oh god, bad joke alert...

Anyway...I suggest a Sheaffer of some description. My experience with them, though limited, was good while it lasted. They're tough pens, smooth, easy to use and pretty cheap.

Well a Skeleton would be another Visconti and the silver exoskeleton might protect the body for acts of mayhem and foolishness...

I used my Pericles as the everyday pen for a long times since it acted tough. Maybe it's a good thing I switched to Carenes for my travel pens.

Have you thought of a used Waterman Carene? Wet, smooth nibs [if accused of being stiff by some] and the brass body will take all sorts of high g impact even if it scratches the finish a little. [OK, so mine dropped to the hangar floor - capped fortunately!] I periodically find good used ones on eBay

Thank You ... but it seems I was not clear enough.

The Skeleton is to me "Outrageously pricey" for a carry-around pen
Since I decided I would focus my pen enthusiasm on Italian penmakers, the pen must be Italian of course - I think Sheaffer and Waterman don`t fall in this category.

The Dolce Vita is a wonderfull pen - however here in Europe it goes for 300 EUR (medium) cca. 430 USD - also a little pricey.

If I order from the U.S.A. (Pam Brown) I must pay the local customs and VAT ...


(edited for typos)

Hello there,

Based on admittedly brief experience, I can endorse the Ipsilon. It's lightweight and well-made. More than that, it has the feeling - hard to put this into words - of a reliable, durable, right-sized, low-maintenance, fuss-free pen that will be perfectly happy as an everyday workhorse.

Now, as to the smoothness of the nib: personally, I'm quite fond of Aurora nibs; in my view, they're the most "vintage" feeling of currently-produced nibs (a tie, perhaps, with the Sheaffer inlaid nibs). I find them extremely pleasant to use, with an agreeable amount of tactile feedback. Some people call them "toothy," but I can't agree. To be sure, they don't have the glassiness of some Bock nibs, but frankly, I sometimes find that glassiness verging on numbness. To my hand, the Aurora nibs (the Ipsilon's included) are very much like classic-era Sheaffer nibs, which I have seen described as having the feel of a smooth pencil rather than a hot knife through butter.

As an Italian pen user, you probably have your own view on Aurora; and you do mention the Ipsilon as a candidate. But since you called out nib smoothness as a prerequisite, I thought I'd address the perception of Aurora nibs as being less than optimally smooth.

Given your set of requirements, I think the Ipsilon might be a very attractive choice.

Cheers,

Jon

PS I've been surprised to see the Dolce Vita offered up, in several recent threads, as an "inexpensive" model. I bought mine used, at a very good price, but it was still well above Ipsilon territory. If these pens are really selling in that price neighborhood, that's certainly an interesting piece of news.

I have an Ipsilon and second Jon's suggestion. It will not break the bank and it's Italian. The only issue (to me anyway) is it's steel nibbed.

Mike

Erm....no. Just email Pam and ask for a favour.

If you are after an Ipsilon then you could always buy from

http://www.gbapen.net/ - and not have to worry about duties.

who are in the EU - they have Ipsilon sets on special offer - got one of their black sets - easy to do business with - no problems - no connection with them just a satisfied customer.

Hi,

For this, I like the Aurora Idea.

It's a plastic-bodied pen for students, takes cartridges and converters, and it is lower-priced than the Ipsilon.

Dillon

I like Visconti Pericles, too. At least Visconti is repairing it for you. Why not put your money into a good pen pouch or carry case that will pad the pen? That way you can continue to carry the pen you like and trust.

I second Dillo's support for the Aurora Idea. I've used them for years, and they have, for me, all the benefits of the Ipsilon at around half the price or less. They are marketed as student pens, but they don't feel like student pens.

Cheers,
Eric

Any reservations regarding German? If durability is a concern, I have a Rotring 600 that is extremely tough.
I think one post referred to it as the Hummer of FP's.

If on a limited budget, go for the Ipsilon. It is an excellent pen for the money. For the price of two Ipsilons and some change, though, you might get an Aurora 88, which is a pen for a lifetime.