This Delta Sorrento was made in an edition of 100 pieces for the Fountain Pen Hospital. I'm thinking these were made about 4-5 years ago. Nice cigar shape which is unusual for a Delta. It's about the size of a 365 or Colosseum, which is to say nice and thick, but not too heavy. The resin material is a flat red with bits or translucent grey and grey-green. It's comparable to the celluloid used on the Pompeii, though not quite as nice. The hallmarked sterling silver clip and cap bands are cast and the clip is in the form of a Corinthian column. It looks great from straight on but it's a little on the thick side.

This particular pen has a nice two toned Delta Millenium OM nib that writes very well with a crisp, clean line and good variation. I can't remember now if this is one is original to the pen or if I swapped it from a different pen.

Click to view attachment

Click to view attachment

Thanks so much for posting this! Finally something different from Delta than their usual barrel-shaped design. I totally agree with you that the resin looks somewhat flat in comparison with celluloid. No depth, it seems. Moreover, I find the trim work too ornate and too intrusive. But that might just be me. Didn't a Japanese maker (the name escapes me right now) produce a variety of celluloid pens one of which also had this red and white marbled design? I think that this very pen looks much better and might also be cheaper to boot. Plus, can't beat those Japanese nibs.

Wow! That's a sweet looking pen. Thanks for sharing the photos.

The pen QM2 is thinking of is the Platinum celluloid in Koi.

Hmm?..

I actually like the ornate clip and engraving. It's a red marbled pen, after all. Let's go ahead and "stick out" a little. I would love to see this style resurrected by Delta.

Thanks for the post and great pic!!

I think that sterling silver trim makes such a difference, especially when it is engraved with intricate patterns and lettering as Delta does it on many of its models. Krone is very good at this as well. I do not like multi-coloured marbled sparkly pens, nor do I like torpedo shaped pens -- but the sterling trim here works very well with the red material. It "ennobles" the resin; brings it all together and makes it seem perfect just the way it is. Nice pen.

My only criticism of this pen is the clip. I do not like clips that look like objects; I think that is too kitschy. A clip can be decorated to the nines, but it must essentially look like a clip. In this case, the Greek column detracts from the graceful design of the rest of the sterling silver. It is too literally done and clashes with the lines of the other design elements. But that is just my personal view.

Ahmmm, that was actually me, but you can call me OK1 (Omas King 1) if you like. Yeah, that was the pen whose name I couldn't recall. Thanks!

The red is much deeper than it appears in the photo. There was some really strong sunlight yesterday and it got washed out. The red is very close to the Pompeii red. Having said that, the color is still not as nice as the Pompeii. It definitely has more of an acrylic look.

The shape is very appealing but the trim almost kept me from buying it, especially the clip. Not only is it a little bulky but it doesn't work too well as a clip. Having said that, I never notice that as a problem in regular use...

Yikes! Are you allowed to say that on the Italian pen forum? ;-)

The pen you're thinking of is the Platinum Koi Fish Celluloid. I had one of these back in the day. Beautiful color except because it's rolled celluloid there's a visible seem. Also, it's a fair bit smaller than the Delta. Mine was a music nib, and as much as I like Platinum's music nib (and I do, very much) I'd pick this particular OM against one any day...

Delta has just introduced a new LE using a similar torpedo shape as the Sorrento. It's also the theme pen for the upcoming DC Supershow. Unfortunately, like the Sorrento, the sterling silver trim is a bit over the top. I don't think I'll be springing for one of these, but you never know, maybe once I've seen it up close...
http://www.pens.it/pens.htm?delta/_caprigrotta.htm

Hmnn yeah... : ( I've seen these, and then immediately wish I hadn't. When a pen reaches the point where it no longer looks like a pen, or worse, looks like a toy, I lose interest. This is actually one good thing about Montblanc that they don't get enough credit for: Their models may be over the top in terms of expensive materials and overdone symbolism, but the pens look like pens.

I truly hope Delta has not "jumped the shark" by releasing these new models. Its trademark forms and tasteful glamour were what made it Delta. This stuff? I would not know what company it was, if I weren't told. Just another run of the mill, over-the-top LE : (

Mm. They don't do it for me either.

I like the new Deltas. Gonna get one.

Sorry QM2, I've been on my iPhone all weekend -- hard to see the whole thread while typing.

Yeah, like this one:


or that one:

Well.. Yes : ) The top one looks like a classic flat-top and the design of the diamonds suggests a vintage overlay pattern. Very interesting actually and if I were a billionnaire I'd like to have this pen.

The bottom one I just don't like, because the red butterflies are too weird and out of place. Plus I am not a fan of the Mesiterstück torpedo shape in general.

But both of the MB pens you posted look more pen-like and more representative of their brand, than do the new Deltas.

In my opinion, of course.

Thanks for the post. I like the looks of the Sorrento very much. I wish Delta had made a few more of them.

I have generally liked Delta pens. I have several LE's that are 365 sized, and I have a 365. I like the size and and classic flat top shape of those pens, and all of them are wonderful writers. There have been a coupld of designs I have not liked, so I voted with my wallet and did not buy them. The only Delta of late that I have any issue with is the 2008 Garibaldi LE. The sterling ring on those pens has a design so poorly stamped that the supposed portrait of Garibaldi looks like a skeleton on horseback - if it is indeed a horse. I assume the pens write well, and they otherwise look pretty good, but the design on the silver should be an embarrassment to Delta.

Sorry, I was just teasing you a bit...

Don't play with my FP-related emotions Omasfan, they are very delicate! : ))

BTW, where in the North are you? Hamburg? Lubeck? Frisia?..

I much prefer the Sorrento. The new Capri is just so.... "Marlen-ish" in terms of shape and colors. In general, I love the old Delta designs more.

Kevin

If you like the shape you linked to, check out the now (unfortunately)discontinued Nettuno Skippers. Same shape without all the metal tarting up the line of the pen. And I do mean same shape. IIRC, Delta made the pens.

Excellent writers, large pens that don't look it. The Sepia is one of the best writing pens I own.

I like Marlens. That said, I also like the Nettuno Skippers (have one in blue, wouldn't mind having another backup in blue).

Andrew-

The Skippers are great pens. I love the shape, and the colors are pretty cool too. And they have that nice Delta nib to boot. I had a blue one early on, but swapped it out for the magenta one, which is a really nice color, with flecks of grey...

It's a shame they've been discontinued. Actually, I think all of Nettuno has been discontinued. I would have loved to see these in some other materials and with some of Delta's specialty nibs.

best,
Doug