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Aurora Optima 360 Monviso. Similar Look?


DustyR

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Hi all. I'll post this here since I'm not looking for the Aurora, or even an Italian pen, necessarily. I like the celluloid pattern of the new Aurora Optima 360 Monviso. It seems a bit softer-edged and darker than the typical flake/cracked ice pattern, to me anyway. The Aurora is a smaller pen than I prefer, and pricey. Does anyone know of a slightly larger pen with a similar pattern and color? (middle pen below, although the pictures on nibs.com are better) Certainly doesn't have to be celluloid. Acrylic/resin would be fine. Thanks!

 

EDIT: Thanks for the correction, Laura. Those pens came up under the "Optima" tab at aurorapen.it, but it would explain why that one looks different than the images at Classic Fountain Pens. And thanks for IDing the material. I wasn't quite sure what Auroloide was.

 

I'm always leery about posting someone else's pictures (besides the manufacturer's) but maybe a compromise would be to post the direct links to John's pics and people can click through. His show the pattern I'm looking for:

 

http://www.nibs.com/www/WEBSITE%20PICS/Aurora/aurora-optima-360-monviso-LE-capped-576.jpg

http://www.nibs.com/www/WEBSITE%20PICS/Aurora/aurora-optima-360-monviso-LE-uncapped-576.jpg

 

Hopefully he won't mind.

Edited by DustyR
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Hi Dusty.

 

Actually, the pen in the middle of your photo is the Nero Perla, not the Monviso. If you're looking for a pen material like the Nero Perla, I'm not sure. Each individual Optima does vary. It's possible that Edison Pens might have something similar.

 

Good news, though: the current Optima is acrylic, not celluloid.

 

In terms of size, the Optima is comparable to a Montblanc 146/LeGrand, uncapped. That still might be smaller than you like, of course. But if it works, it's a great pen. :)

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Hi Dusty.

 

Actually, the pen in the middle of your photo is the Nero Perla, not the Monviso. If you're looking for a pen material like the Nero Perla, I'm not sure. Each individual Optima does vary. It's possible that Edison Pens might have something similar.

 

Good news, though: the current Optima is acrylic, not celluloid.

 

In terms of size, the Optima is comparable to a Montblanc 146/LeGrand, uncapped. That still might be smaller than you like, of course. But if it works, it's a great pen. :)

 

The Optima is significantly shorter than the 146, 5mm shorter (I think it's a big difference FWIW).

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  • 2 months later...

 

The Optima is significantly shorter than the 146, 5mm shorter (I think it's a big difference FWIW).

 

Hi. To me, 5mm is not that significant, or a big difference -- it's less than a quarter of an inch.

 

But if it's significant to you, definitely try them both in person.

 

This also depends how you measure them. Uncapped and unposted, they are about the same length. That's how I use them. It's only posted that the 146 is about half a centimeter (or 5mm) longer. To me, that's not much, given the posted pens' length, but it's always good to try them in person just to see.

 

When the pens are capped, it's more deceptive, because Aurora places the cap threads very high on the section, so capped, the Optima is noticeably shorter -- less than 2cm shorter.

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Thanks for that, katanankes. I think part of what got me interested in this materials was the romantic marketing description from Aurora ("...fog rising from the banks of the River Po" - I've spent some time there), which fit the fist picture of the pen I saw (subsequent examples, like the one I posted above, don't resonate quite as much). We've all seen a lot of these "flake" pens in resin and celluloid, and I'm guessing it's from pieces being added and softened enough to meld but not blend. The first example I saw with slightly more blended edges really stood out to me. Something between a "flake" and a the "swirl" you posted.

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Yes, that Conklin (all the Duragraphs) are a great deal (I have one). The difference (to me anyway), is that the material used by Aurora is made so that the borders between the chips smears a bit, which gives the pen a bit of a landscape look. I've so far only found one other pen that has something similar, the Wahl Eversharp carrera marble Skyline (it's not the same, but I like it almost as much):

 

 

http://blog.andersonpens.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/wahl-eversharp-skyline-carrera-marble_p.jpg

 

 

Conklin Duragraph Cracked Ice? It is definitely not so pretty but much cheaper and the pattern seems to be close enough.

 

https://fromthepencup.wordpress.com/2014/11/17/vintage-value-the-conklin-duragraph-fountain-pen-cracked-ice/

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