Has anyone tried this pen? I have been eying it with interest for awhile. How does it compare in size to a 149? Does it use the double power filler thingy? Any comments would be appreciated!

I'd also like to hear some in regards to how it compares to the original Divine Proportion... I kinda like the idea of Black rather than the brown and it is less expensive, however having a more collectable pen is always a good thing.... not to mention I'm far more partial to Celluloid than I am Acrylic Resin. I'd pretty much decided my next purchase was going to be the original Divine Proportion... till this one hit the streets, and now I'm not so sure.

Note... ALL my pens are daily users.

D.

Hey PRG (I love that strip) -

I have test-driven the Black Divina at ArtLite in Atlanta - it's a really handsome pen. Visconti created the pen as an homage to Italian Opera Diva Maria Callas - the love of Aristotle Onassis (at least before Jackie). I suppose it was designed to reflect the Black Tie attire of Opening Night at the Opera. High gloss black acrylic and luminous sterling silver spirals. Because of the high contrast between the black acrylic and the polished silver, the pen has a bit of a dressy feel to it. The Black Divina would be the perfect tuxedo pen.

The nib is buttery smooth, with no tactile feedback - it just glides. The line is wet and reliable.

I liked the clever hook-and-pin mechanism to keep the spiraling silver bars aligned between the body and the cap - it has a nice feel to the closure.

The pen is much smaller than the MB 149. I think the pen is narrower than the MB 146 - though it is about the same length as the MB 146.

Owing to the embedded spiraling sterling silver bars, the pen is heavier than a MB 146, heavier than the MB 149 - but of course that's not saying much.

I can't remember the filling mechanism - I looked at a couple of pens that day, and walked away with the Divina Proporzione - precisely the same body style and size - just a different material and color palette.

One thing to consider - I don't think the sterling silver is overplated with rhodium or platinum, so you'll need to hunt up a good treated polishing cloth and keep the cloth for pens only. Any dirt or grit on the cloth would surely scratch the luster of the black acrylic.

Happy hunting.

I'm working on a review of the mid-sized version, but work is keeping me away from such pelasures right now.

Short version, Ray's assessment is spot on.

My M nib is really, really smooth and very pleasant to write with. The pen is reasonably hefty. The mid-size has the piston (integrated converter?) filler.

I carry my pens in one of winedoc's NOS DaniTrio leather cases. This pen has tarnished quite seriously in there - whereas my other sterling-trimmed pens haven't. I need to track down a suitable polishing cloth, because while I normally appreciate a bit of tarnish it doesn't look as comfortable on the trim lines against the black

More will follow when I get a chance for the review.

/edit to add: I really like the pen

Oh goodie! I'll be eagerly anticipating your review!

So what made you go for the Divina Proporzione over the Black Divina??? Pallette? Collectabaility? Celluloid over Acrylic? Some other reason?

I'm still leaning to the Divine Proportion... I like the idea of the color pallete of the black, but I wonder if it's a bit TOO formal (as you say.. a good Tuxedo Pen), I worry about the tarnishing (does the divine proportion tarnish too?), but I just flat prefer celluloid to acrylic or resin... I can feel the difference.

I also want to say again that all my pens are writers. I don't buy one if I think it's going to sit in a case or in a box somewhere waiting or a special occasion, or to appreciate in value. I don't leave them sitting on my desk at home... I go with what feels like my "Pen of the day" and I use it even if I'm travelling (most weeks).

D.