Omas Arte Italiana Paragon(older)

[handlebar]

I have always wanted to own the larger size Omas Paragon.Having acquired a couple of Milords over tha last few years,i yearned for a fine point nib and the larger black model.So when i saw a company online was closing out said model,i jumped on it.Some of you have followed these events as of late.After a few glitches,i was told i had a Paragon on the way!!Evidently these pens are getting harder to find at a lower price(new in box that is).

 

So here is what the box looked like out of the packing:

 

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h93/n7myw/Pens/OP12-small.jpg

 

Now the first thing that surprised me was that this was a 75th Anniversary model.I didn't expect that.The photo the advertisement had shown was a more current model.But ,hey.For this price ($200),i was not going to complain.

 

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h93/n7myw/Pens/OP21-small.jpg

 

This was my first ever brand-spanking new Omas pen.All of my others have been used.

So the excitement was growing.Here is what i saw when opening:

 

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h93/n7myw/Pens/OP31-small.jpg

 

Beautiful!! I was anxious to ink it up right away!But i wanted to shoot some photos before getting out the ink.

 

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h93/n7myw/Pens/OP41-small.jpg

 

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h93/n7myw/Pens/OP51-small.jpg

 

Here my impressions using the format we have come to love here on the FPN.

 

Weight/size---5 out of 5

 

I think that this size pen is what i have been looking for!Perfect fit for my hand.And lightweight yet not too light or too heavy.Those of you whom have Omas pens know how good they feel to the touch and in writing.

 

Here is a pic capped:

 

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h93/n7myw/Pens/OP91-small.jpg

 

 

The size is a wee bit larger than the Milord series.The Milords are delightful pens but i wanted a little larger Omas and a fine point.This fit the bill!!

 

Here is a size comparison with a burgundy Milord:

 

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h93/n7myw/Pens/OP61-small.jpg

And with my other Omas pens:The Paragon on top,Milord FP,Milord RB and Extra 620.

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h93/n7myw/Pens/OP81-small.jpg

 

I won't give sizes as most here know those(And they are pretty common to find online).

 

Ink filling system- 4 out of 5

 

I only gave it a 4 due to the knob being a bit tight.Other than that,it holds quite a bit of ink and is a pleasure to use.I have only had it a few hours,so no leaks as yet.I know the older models have had issues with this but it is good so far.Time will tell.

 

Nib performance--5 out of 5

 

The nib i wanted was a fine.I have a medium on my other Milord and it is too wet.Delivers a wider line.But this is perfect!!The nib is not from the last couple of years production but from their 75th Anniversary series.This mattered little to me as i want a pen that writes well!!And that it does.Here are photos of the nib and a poem written with Visconti black ink (my penmanship is usually better but i was excited and didn't take my time.Shame on me!!!

It is a nice wet ink and flows good from this nib.Please forgive my blurry pic.I did this a bit more hurriedly than i should have !

 

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h93/n7myw/Pens/OP71-small.jpg

 

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h93/n7myw/Pens/OPP21-small.jpg

 

Cost/Value--5 out of 5

Being that i didn't pay full retail for this pen,a 5 was essential!A delightful price($200)

Hence my needless worries about whether it was a 75th anniversary edition or not.

This model has the HT trim and as i prefer silver to gold,to my eyes it looks better.

 

So now it sits in one of my Italian pen only cases with a few others.

 

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h93/n7myw/Pens/C11-small.jpg

 

Thanks for letting me share my opinions and photographs.

I will continue to admire older Omas pens more than the newer models.Not that they are not made well.I like the Greek key pattern better than the name Omas on the bands.

I just don't care for the aesthetics overall,the celluloids being an exception.

 

JD

Vancouver,Wa

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Chris_PA]

Very nice review and even nicer pen! Your handwriting is very nice as well. I also feel the silver trim looks very classy on those Omas'

[Freeloader]

An Italian only pen case ....

 

I'm glad to see you got your Omas. It looked touch-and-go there for a bit.

[handlebar]

QUOTE (Freeloader @ Mar 28 2007, 06:43 PM)

An Italian only pen case .... I'm glad to see you got your Omas. It looked touch-and-go there for a bit.

It was that indeed.But all worked out in the end.And now i have tha Paragon to show for it.I have a feeling that this Italian will be seeing a lot of activity(and i mean the pen,not myself)

 

JD

[alvarez57]

Very nice review! These pens are a class by themselves (OK, incontinency is no longer an issue if they're getting repaired...).

I have the Milord but on gold, I love the smoothness of the M nib.

Enjoy your pen! (did you get it from penseller?)

Edited March 29, 2007 by alvarez57

[Maja]

Great review of a classy pen, Jim! I am looking forward to trying my Milord out when it arrives from Bertram's Inkwell. Mine is a piston-filler like yours, so I will be watchful for any leaks and/or sticky pistons. At 50% off, I figured it was worth a chance.

 

Oh and your handwriting is very nice

[handlebar]

QUOTE (alvarez57 @ Mar 28 2007, 08:32 PM)

Very nice review! These pens are a class by themselves (OK, incontinency is no longer an issue if they're getting repaired...). I have the Milord but on gold, I love the smoothness of the M nib.  Enjoy your pen! (did you get it from penseller?)

Indeed,penseller was the place.Shipping was very fast.Sent on monday,received today.

That was nice.I always get nervous when the pen is in transit.

Thanks for the kind words,Alvarez.

And Maja,i can't wait to see your photos.The Milord is a great pen as well.

I have never really had a sticky piston as yet.But my Milord had a slightly leaky seal and i just undid the nib and screwed it back in nice and tight.No problems since.

This Paragon might have the same issues.I have already noticed a wee bit of ink around the tip.but i'm not worried.It is miniscule and i will try what i did with the Milord.

Enjoy that pen!!

 

JD

Edited March 29, 2007 by handlebar

[lecorbusier]

Congrats! Always a happy event to get a new pen (esp. an Omas!). I saw one up for sale at a pen gathering recently and it was much more than what you paid. Good deal I say. And black with silver is just a splendidly elegant combination. That was my initial configuration but Omas HQ did not have stock for that after checking and the wait was 3-4 weeks--so I went for the Arco.

 

Enjoy in good health!!

[Maja]

QUOTE (handlebar @ Mar 28 2007, 09:08 PM)

QUOTE (alvarez57 @ Mar 28 2007, 08:32 PM) Very nice review! These pens are a class by themselves (OK, incontinency is no longer an issue if they're getting repaired...). I have the Milord but on gold, I love the smoothness of the M nib.  Enjoy your pen! (did you get it from penseller?) Indeed,penseller was the place.Shipping was very fast.Sent on monday,received today. That was nice.I always get nervous when the pen is in transit. Thanks for the kind words,Alvarez. And Maja,i can't wait to see your photos.The Milord is a great pen as well. I have never really had a sticky piston as yet.But my Milord had a slightly leaky seal and i just undid the nib and screwed it back in nice and tight.No problems since. This Paragon might have the same issues.I have already noticed a wee bit of ink around the tip.but i'm not worried.It is miniscule and i will try what i did with the Milord. Enjoy that pen!!   JD My photos aren't worth waiting for, Jim... ...but thanks for the encouragement!   I ordered a black Milord with gold trim, and I'm guessing it's the old-style one with the Greek Key cap and section bands...

[alvarez57]

I have 2 Milords, one Tokyo and one Ogiva. The Tokyo I got it via fleabay, the rest, from penseller. I never had a problem with Weaver and now you can pay via paypal, which is very convenient for me. the high tech Milord came with a defective piston and Weaver took responsability by sending it to Italy and doing all the transaction himself.

[georges zaslavsky]

Very nice fat pen Somewhat different from mine but very cool too

I am more used to the silver sterling grip. Anyway enjoy yours

[handlebar]

QUOTE (georges zaslavsky @ Apr 1 2007, 03:46 AM)

Very nice fat pen Somewhat different from mine but very cool too I am more used to the silver sterling grip. Anyway enjoy yours

The great thing about the Paragon is that it really is not that fat.It grips very nicely.My Stipula Etruria is fatter.But again,easy to use.

 

JD

[Freeloader]

QUOTE (handlebar @ Apr 5 2007, 07:18 PM)

The great thing about the Paragon is that it really is not that fat.It grips very nicely.

I agree. My old-style Brown Celluloid Arco Paragon is a big pen, but not large enough to be problem. It actually fits better than most smaller pens. At least, that's how it feels to my hand. Perhaps I'm biased by the beauty of the pen, and it only seems to fit better because it's so pretty.

[handlebar]

I have noticed that penseller has pulled the "sold out" notice from his Paragon sale.Maybe he has more available at $195???

Just wanted to pass this along.

 

Ciao,

 

JD

[girlieg33k]

QUOTE (handlebar @ Apr 11 2007, 05:27 PM)

I have noticed that penseller has pulled the "sold out" notice from his Paragon sale.Maybe he has more available at $195??? Just wanted to pass this along. Ciao, JD

I also recently inquired if, by chance, they had any Damas in stock, and they do. Weaver responds very quickly to inquiries, and I'm very pleased with their service so far.

Edited April 12, 2007 by girlieg33k

[radite]

I have noticed that penseller has pulled the "sold out" notice from his Paragon sale.Maybe he has more available at $195???

Just wanted to pass this along.

 

Ciao,

 

JD

I also recently inquired if, by chance, they had any Damas in stock, and they do. Weaver responds very quickly to inquiries, and I'm very pleased with their service so far.

 

 

All of you OMAS lovers.... we have more coming. We have some 360 models and some DAMA Paragon models. All are in the standard acrylic materials. WE hope to get our OMAS page updated in the next few weeks.

 

Thanks for looking!

 

Weaver McCracken

Fountain Pen Domain

www.penseller.com

 

 

[goodguy]

As a proud and happy owner of an Omas Paragon HT I am happy to see that more people share my joy of using and owning these truly magnificent writing instrument.

For me this is the best pen to write with.As for now I didnt find any pen that makes me fell so good while writing.