Yard-O-Led Viceroy Victorian

[dandelion]

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_FODBn3j5KLc/S6F-OW3JKNI/AAAAAAAASGw/xDKBoMuBKpo/YOL%20Silver_0084.JPG

 

I've admired Yard-O-Led's sterling silver fountain pens for quite some time. Classic flattops crafted in sterling silver. Made in England - just like Conway Stewart. As I've written in earlier posts about the Yard-O-Leds - the clip is one of my favourite features on the YOL pens. Refined, but still a little bit raw in the way it is attached to the cap.

 

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_FODBn3j5KLc/S6F5ovUoc8I/AAAAAAAASDI/6amI3WDaICM/YOL%20Silver%20XIV.jpg

 

The brand name stamped on the clip also has a little bit of a raw feeling that adds to the genuine feel to it.

 

Design 8.5/10

This YOL Viceroy Victorian is the old style version with a resin gripping section and a duotone nib. The newer version has a sterling silver section as well. I find the newer version a tad more stylish - both the sterling silver gripping section and the monotone nib - but this is also a very handsome pen. The design may be called victorian, but the flat top makes me think of the 1920's. The pattern is beautifully crafted - it gives the pen a very special feel. I don't think I have felt the same uniqueness - with regards to craftsmanship - to any modern pen in regular production. One can really feel that someone has worked on this pen by hand.Another thing I like is that YOL doesn't rhodinize the silver - this silver gets some tarnish if not polished and I like that. If one uses it regularly one keeps the tarnishing at bay - just as with silver jewellery. The design is classical - echoing the 20's - but it doesn't feel like a sheer remake of a pen from the 20's. The clip, the tapered shape of the barrel and the texture of the pattern makes it special and very Yard-O-Leddish. This kind of domed flattop belongs to my favourites and this is extremely well performed. It is also nice to see that they improved the design and perfected it in the newer version. No drastic changes, but appropriate adjustments.

 

Dimensions

Length capped 13.7 cm

Lenght unposted 12.2 cm

Lenght posted15.5 cm

Weight 26 g

 

Function, Quality and Writing Experience 8/10

It is a very slender pen- especially considering that it is labelled as "standard" size. It is about as thick/thin as an Esterbrook SJ. normally like my pens a little fatter, but it is remarkably nice to write with. A little bit to thin for real long writing sessions, but I have no problems with writing a fairly long letter with it. It is - as stated above - very, very well made. YOL is one of the few pen companies that still offer a life time guarantee and what I have understood they also honour this guarantee. Everything fit together perfectly. The cap snaps on in a secure way. Not too easy nor to hard to snap it on and off. I dare to say that it is so secure when capped that one can have it in a pocket without worries. It also posts very well and secure and is still well balanced when posted. The Viceroy is made of solid sterling silver which gives a nice weight to it. Since it isn't a big pen it is not a heavy weight pen - only 26 g - but not a light pen either. The only thing that feels a little odd is the black, plastic gripping section - it doesn't feel cheap, but it had been more stylish, and good for the writing experience, with a matte black section. I am impressed by the overall quality of this pen and - actually - amazed that these pens are made in Britain, hand crafted and still (relatively) affordable compared with similar (less handcrafted) pens in resin from other brands.

 

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_FODBn3j5KLc/S6F-jG6Nw1I/AAAAAAAASG4/W-F4IgsQpGI/YOL%20Silver_0086.JPG

 

 

Nib & Performance 8.5/10

Interestingly this broad nib differs quite a lot from the broad nib on my Retro (which has YOL' s new single tone nib). What unites them is that both are very precise being broads. It is neither too wet or too dry - a pleasant, steady average flow without any gushing or hesitations. The nib is smooth and offers some control. It is slightly stubbish, but not as much as the nib on the Retro that is more a stub than a broad (to my liking). It is not an exceptional nib as such, but it is - along with its Retro sibling - the only broad nib I think I will keep exactly as it is - which ought to say something about it. These broads are the first non-slippery broads that I have ever used. It would be lovely if YOL would offer italics or stubs in their regular production, but I must say that their broads are very nicely made.

 

Filling system

This is a cartridge/converter filler that accepts international standard cartridges and converters. I like that they haven't got the bad idea of making proprietary cartridges since it opens up for a lot of choices - both in regards to choice of converter and cartridges. It works well, is easy to clean and fill - really not much to say about it. SInce it is in sterling silver the choices of filling systems are limited, so I don't grade this. It works fine and I have nothing against cartridges.

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_FODBn3j5KLc/S6F5IvXWsjI/AAAAAAAASDA/iV17Spv1gag/YOL%20Silver%20XI.jpg

 

Price/Value 9.5/10 (on the verge to 10/10)

I bought this used for a very good price, but even if you pay retail price I think that this is one of the few expensive pens that truly is worth the price - even the MSRP. I've said it already, but say it again: hand crafted, sterling silver fountain pen with an 18 k nib and made in England (no outsourcing to cut costs...) for a sum that couldn't even buy you a non-hand-crafted resin FP from a majority of the other high brow brands.

 

Summary 34.5/40

This is, as stated above, not a cheap pen. I also had the luck of buying it for a very good price. But, it is one of the few in its price range that I dare to say gives good bang for the buck. Many of the other "high brow" brands demands a higher price for fountain pens in ordinary resin. Considered that these pens are made in sterling silver and hand crafted in Britain, I think they are reasonably priced. Not cheap, but reasonably priced considering what you get for the money. And a life time warranty that YOL honours. I think both my Yard-O-Led pens will be pens that I'll keep. They are very beautiful, well made and very nice writers. And - this one fits the loops on my Filofax. The ink in the writing samples is Diamine Amazing Amethyst. Lovely purple.

 

I've also published this review on my blog here, where you find more photos, but the text is about the same. I've also posted photos of it here, here and here on my blog.

 

 

Edited March 30, 2010 by dandelion

[reprieve]

Your photos of this pen are lovely! The Victorian is one of those pens that is beautiful in pictures but is just stunning in person.

[Juicyjones]

Nice review, thanks for that.

[dandelion]

Thank you! It is such a lovely pen to take photos of - I already have oodles of photos of it...

[Ed Ronax]

Nice review and great looking pen, thanks.

[Comedyguy]

I got interested in Yard-O-Led's pencils not long ago. I never looked into their fountain pens, ironically.

 

Thanks for the review.

[Brian]

Nice review of a retro pen. I'd think that when using it you step into a kind of victorian bubble.

 

I like the resin section much better than most of the present offerings that are made of sterling.

 

Thanks for the tour.

[Russ]

I love my Victorian Standard, but now I want a Grand...

[dandelion]

I love my Victorian Standard, but now I want a Grand...

 

Me too!

 

 

 

[Scriptorium Pens]

I love my Victorian Standard, but now I want a Grand...

 

Me too!

 

 

 

 

Beautiful! I wish I could afford either size!

[hari317]

Beautiful pen! I would like to buy one too. Which is the best place online to buy the YOL?

 

Thanks!

Hari

[dandelion]

Beautiful pen! I would like to buy one too. Which is the best place online to buy the YOL?

 

Thanks!

Hari

 

I actually don't know which site that are the best - I bought mine used at ebay. TWD always have good service, but I can't say if their price is the best.

 

 

 

[hari317]

Thanks Dandelion, this pen surely looks worth the money.

[Jaeger]

I bought a Yard-O-Led Viceroy Grand Victorian a couple of days ago and I must say I am really impressed with the quality, handcraft and art feel of the whole pen.

Most impressive and a nice weight also. Highly recommended!

I am thinking of searching for a Montblanc Proust. Would be nice to have a collection of pens in sterling silver!!!

 

Best

 

Rob

[pen2paper]

One of the very few pens that cause a flutter in my heart..sigh.

I too would prefer the sterling section..

Wondering, as you suggest it's not a heavy weight pen, how it compares in weight/size to the Waterman Carene?

[kazoolaw]

Beautiful pen! I would like to buy one too. Which is the best place online to buy the YOL?

 

Thanks!

Hari

 

Don't know how currency exchange/shipping/customs works out, but here in the US OscarBraunpens.com had the best prices when I bought. Plus, Pam is terrific to work with.

gary

[ballboy]

Yard O Led & Diamine: great British combo.

 

Another incisive and enlightening review by our Lady. How did I miss this one?!

[Russ]

Pam is outstanding. Hands-down. Yes, I am affiliated as a satisfied customer ... numerous times !

[Fountainpenlover]

Great review, which I concur with fully. I have a similar YOL Viceroy Victorian, but a later one, where the grip section is also in sterling silver, so I may say that the pen is totally sterling silver, hand made craftsmanship, and I just love this pen, as I do also the YOL Grand. Fantastic pens, considering that they are hand made (not usual nowadays) and with such love and dedication! Obviously I treasure my YOL pens amongst my best of my treasured pens!