I just noticed that Pilot added another short pen called Stella 90s. The barrel is metal and the cap is slip-on type. The pens come with #3 F or M nib, and take cartridges, CON-20, or CON-50. The length is 12 cm and the girth is 1.31 cm, the same or very similar to Legance 89s and Legno 89s.

http://www.pilot.co.jp/products/pen/fountain/stella90s/



There is a larger photo on this site.

The #3 nib is the same as the one on the Custom 98, right?

If so, I really like that nib.

Yup, that's the same size and material, though Stella's nib is rhodium coated.

Is this pen made to compete with the successful Sailor Sapporo?

Stan, I think you are right. Stella 90s is priced at exactly the same as Sapporo/Sapporo Mini (10,000 yen). Pilot came out with two mini short pen last year - Legance 89s and Legno 89s, but they do not seem nearly as popular as Sapporo series. I think one of the reasons for that is the pricing. Legance 89s is 50% more and Legno 89s is 25% more than Sapporo. I also read that Pilot is trying to market it to women, thus the name and colors.

Very nice pens. Now if they had a matching section I would all over it.

It sure looks like a competitor for the Sapporo Mini, but a metal barrel? WHY???
=

Oooh, I'm not a metal barrel fan, generally. Still, I won't rule this one out until I see it, but I'm not going to consider it until I see it either.

I agree, I would like to see and feel it before I actually get it. I also wonder how well it posts. I usually don't post regular sized pens, but I might need to post cap on this one.

Like Taki I wonder how well it posts. I bet it won't be as good as the Sapporo Mini since there's no threads (being as its an unthreaded cap)

Another negative in my books.

Hi Taki,

You probably meant 1.31 cm for the girth, right? A 1.31 mm pen would be quite challenging to write with

Pilot's site has the phrase "star's glitter" next to the link for the Stella, so I wonder if all the colors have a glittery/shimmery effect to them.

At least in Japan, looks like Pilot is marketing the Stella for women.

-Mike

Typo fixed

I agree, it is marketed for women in Japan. I guess Legno 89s and Legance 89s are more unisex.

BTW 90 in Stella 90s is the number of years Pilot has been in business, and s stands for short.

I think the white in the above photo looks pearly to me. I bet its got that shimmery look.

I read somewhere that the finish on Stella 90s are similar to decimo's, so my guess is it's pearly but I have not seen them in person.

Source of product-link found:

http://search.stores.ebay.com/Ujuku-Fine-J...9538870QQsofpZ0

Nooooooooo! I've been saving up for one of the Spring LE Sapporos, and now this! what to do, what to do?
*wrings hands*

Buy a spring Sapporo LE hands down... At least from my point of view that's what I'd do.

I agree. Looks like a nice enough pen, but for the same money, I'd rather have a colorful Sapporo.

Yup, Stella is not LE and will be there when you are ready

It's true that the finish on the Stella 90s and the Capless Decimo look similar, but on closer inspection the finish on the Decimo is much nicer. I don't think I can capture the slight difference on camera, so I'm just posting the two pens separately here. Just took these pictures yesterday:









Of course, all the pens look gorgeous.

Does anyone know where I might purchase the Stella with a fine nib?

Ujuku Shop.

What would you say are the distinguishing traits between Sailor and Pilot pens?

Nibs. I think Sailor nibs writes narrower and wetter.