With all the comments out there, I seldom see anything discussed regarding S.T. Dupont fountain pens. Does anybody have any experience with these that they would like to share?

You are right. Dupont pens are not discussed a lot here, but they do come up from time to time. I do not know why either.

But I can speak for myself. I have a Dupont Olympio in black with (platinum?) trim. I think it is a lovely pen, very well made, and an excellent writer. Mine is an older model, so I was able to get a factory stub nib that writes like a dream. The slip cap snaps shut with an authority that speaks to quality craftsmanship. The size and weight of the pen are good for me, but some might consider the pen heavy. I use mine unposted and it has a good balance.

I really cannot speak to other Dupont models. I would seek out a second Olympio, but I either do not like the pen colors or designs (I cannot abide metal sections) or the pen in question is just too expensive. Overall, I give Dupont pretty good marks for Olympio quality.

I seem to see that a lot of the discussion around about certain pens are due to problems which have arisen. This may be one of the reasons Dupont isn't discussed so much? Their quality is superb and I have never had any problem with a Dupont. I own an XL Olympio, L Olympio, Fidelio, two D-links and they were all perfect straight out of the box (I loooooooove my Duponts ).

The finish on these pens is marvelous but as FrankB mentioned, they are heavy instruments. Despite the weight, they aren't that tiring to write with since these pens write as soon as the nib touches paper. The nib on Duponts are stiff, no flex at all, but smoother than any other nib in my collection. I believe the XL Olympio nib is one of the most highly regarded ones around for its consistency and general WOW factor. The price does make one cringe a bit initially but I think they are worth every penny. I bought my latest Caprice (Mother of Pearl D-Link model) at close to full retail price and do not regret it.

Oh plus the click sound the Duponts make when closing a pen? Absolute joy.

I'd love to afford a large Olympio/Orpheo - love its heft and finish, and the nib is incredible. Barry Rubin at INK (http://www.penstore.biz) had a limited number of of Dupont Ellipsis in various finishes at very affordable prices. I have one of them and it's an incredible pen. Not too heavy, not too large at the middle - fits one's hand beautifully. (No affiliation, just satisfied customer, etc.). I know there are others here who have them as well...

I've also heard that after the recent Dupont factory fire, production is down on some of their components and also that their US distribution is tightening up...but I'm no insider, this is just second-hand from a couple of different shop owners.

In any case, I love these pens and wish they were just a bit more accessible (financially).

I inherited a Dupont Orpheo/Olympio from the late 80s or early 90s that was left since with ink inside.. I flushed it once, filled it back up with ink and within seconds it was writing beautifully, flawlessly, so much better compared even to my brand new MBs

It is black laqeur with gold finish, and with the signature on the gold it looks so elegant and classy.. I am actually thinking of buying the same one but newer model the nib comes two toned:



It is to die for

But seriously, they have proved for me to be very reliable and excellent craftmanship even more than other pens that are equally expensive but only for the brand name.

I have two large Orpheos. Both appear well made, and while I admit they are heavy they are reliable writers. The first one I bought came with a Fine nib. It felt a little sharp on the page, but I think that is because I hold my pen so high that in a sense the nib is pushing into the paper. So I sent it in for an exchange. They were very quick and got the pen back to me with a M nib.

My experience is obviously limited to my two Orpheos. The nibs are distinctive in that they are super glassy smooth almost to the point of being squeaky smooth. These things are so smooth that I really do imagine some people find them too slippery to enjoy. I am not being funny here.

I had a D-link Dupont and it too was smooth, but the nib was not quite as tolerant of angle of attack as the large Orpheo nib, so for me it occasionally had a tad of drag on the upstroke if I was not holding it dead on the page. Again, I think this is more a result of my hand position than any real flaw in the nib.

I also like the way the cap works. Technically it is a snap cap but it snaps on slowly and very firmly, thus inspiring confidence, though whether it really is a superior cap mechanism is something for a pen mechanic to comment on or maybe something for a very long time user to speak to.

I would buy another if I liked the design and the price was decent. I like the look of the white Shaman pen but it is too expensive for my budget. I got my Orpheos for $350 each, one on sale from Swisher and one from Pengallery a few years ago.

So I think they are nice pens. Just my opinion.

Thanks for all the good feedback! It does seem like a great writer from my brief experience testing it out at the local Paradise Pen store. Unlike their countless other pens, they actually had a tester with several different nibs. For all those who have more experiences with the Dupont fountains, please keep your comments coming, they are inspiring me to pick up one of these pens. One of the selling points to me, besides how nicely it writes, is the fact that it is much more understated than the Montblanc Traveler I own. The Dupont looks elegant without having a logo glaring back at you.

I have 3 DuPont FP's (actually, 4, if the one that's coming FedEx today is a keeper): a large black chinese lacquer with gold trim Orpheo; a limited edition sterling silver with black chinese lacquer inserts; and a third one that's primarily black, but with lines creating squares at the bottome of the barrel and bottom of the cap, with vertical lines running the length of the cap and barrel. All three are medium points. Wonderful craftsmanship and quality materials, and snapping the caps on and off is truly a great experience. I swear the way the cap clicks on to the barrel that they've got to be magnetic, but they're not.

They're heavy, but each of them feels balanced both with and without posting, although I usually post all of them. The nibs are smooth, very smooth, but definitely stiff for an 18-kt nib. The feed is not the most generous thing in the world in two of the three pens, and that seems to be considered a general trait of DuPonts, at least based on things I've read on various sites. It's not a poor ink flow, but it's not quite as generous as I would like out of the box. If they were piston-fillers, rather than cartridge/converter fillers, I'd say they were about as close to perfect as I could hope for in a fountain pen.

I have one and it is a wonderful pen in every category.

Eight years ago i received from my father the Perspective 2000 LE
and until 2006 it never left my shirt pocket , i even went fishingt
with it because i write a fishing journal.
Yes it's a bit heavy but they are very attractive and well made
with no problem at all . Never skips never dry out never leak
never scratch and this out of the box.
It's just the best pen i own.
The only thing i would have liked to make it the holy grail
is if it had a bit of flex but then i wouldn't have bought all the
other pens i have to add flex to my writing.

This thread makes me want to purchase a S.T. Dupont Orpheo Placed Lacquer Onyx. Such a sexy looking pen.

That's the name I was trying to think of earlier today! Much easier than the description of it I wrote in my message above.

It is a beautiful pen. You can really see the quality. Just the way the cap snaps on the pen is pretty cool. I'm really starting to want one. Any suggestions on the best place to purchase one of these things without having to get a second on the house?

One of the marvels of a well made pen is that one can buy an example second hand but still have a great quality pen. I can only speak for myself, but I would start with a "wanted to buy" ad here and on Pentrace. If you want a straight purchase, Swisher Pens carries Dupont products and you might inquire about a price there. I do not know if Pam Braun carries Duponts.

Good luck.

I have an Olympio in black lacquer with gold cap and section. Great pen, with an ultra smooth nib.

On the negative side, I would say that Dupont pens lack character - they seem to be designed for rich people who just like an expensive looking accessory. And the styling isn't very much to my taste; everything is lacquer and either rhodium plate or gold plate. Still, it's a very nice pen and excellent quality, so I do recommend buying it.

I've looked at them from time to time at my local pen store. I have always thought they were nice pens but that there was nothing to distinguish them from other brands - they are a bit too utilitarian for my taste. Also, their prices always seem to be substantially higher than other equally well made and more interesting looking and writing pens.

I cannot add much to what has been said already. I have two Olympios, one in lacquer and one in gold. I have dozens of pens; Pelikan, Lamy, Sheaffer, Wahl, Conklin, vintage and new, and I have tried many others. If I could only keep one pen, it would be one of my DuPonts. If I could keep two, it would be both of my DuPonts.

Well I just jointed the DuPont club today. I picked up a discontinued Olympio in red lacquer with silver trim for $450 at Paradise Pen. After only a couple minutes of testing back at the office I must say that it is one beautiful pen. On the heavy side but I like a pen that has a little substance. I will have to see if it does become one of my pens that I take to the grave.

Congratulations on your purchase! I'm sure you'll have many great times with this pen.

These are some of the best pens on the market today -- at any price! The workmanship is fantastic, and the nibs are both beautiful and well-performing. The only drawback, at least for some, is the weight. These are metal pens, and are, therefore, heavy.

I don't see the weight as a drawback. It's the styling that bugs me more.

I wrote for about 30 minutes last night with the pen for the first time. My hand started to get sore from the weight. I just unposted the pen and the problem was solved! It is a beautifully crafted pen. I'm sure I will enjoy for a long time.