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  1. Braxfield

    Diplomatic Variations

    Having dawdled and dithered, I finally acquired one of the so-called "granite" finish Diplomat Esteems from a certain well-known Virginian-based pen dealer. Boy, am I glad I did. I'm already familiar with the Esteem. I'm in the book trade and I work with a pen in my hand. For the last several months, I've been using an Esteem on an almost daily basis. I find it lightweight, nimble, and equipped with a spry steel nib. My current favorite has a smooth matte finish that seems to be both fingerprint and scratch resistant (tempting fate, I know). And at 26g, including the cap, it suits me down to the ground. I keep my Excellences for the evening. My hesitation over the "granite" was that I feared it would be too "plastic-y" to the touch. It's not. It offers a curious feel, almost like that of a sugared almond. That's the best comparison I can think of. It's pleasant to the touch not slick. Still cool but less cool than the usual lacquer. But here's the thing. The cap carries the word "Diplomat" in a straight line, without the famous (for some, beloved) "ink flower" logo. And the clip is plain and tapered, without the telltale drip-lomat cut-out. I am curious to know if these are "old-style" pens, "new style" pens or some other off-piste variant. I have looked at a few European sites and not seen any. I have not pored over old trade catalogs because I don't have any. Performance is 100% perfection (as one would expect). Appearance is 98% classic and 2% different. I'm intrigued and wonder if other Diplomateurs have found comparable variations in other parts of the world.
  2. JustWrite Pen Company

    Diplomat Clearance

    Out they go... We are clearing our Diplomat stock with most items at half price. Stocks are limited and once they are sold we will not be restocking them. https://justwrite.com.au/Clearance
  3. I have never had a Lamy before and decided to try this one because of the interesting color scheme. I ordered it with an extra nib (italic) to try out as I had heard people really like the interchangeability of Lamy nibs. I had never changed a nib before. I think the pen is handsome but the plastic feels more like a toy than I expected; think Legos. It was easy to replace the EF nib with the replacement. All the pen parts fit snugly together. The pen started pretty easily. Although I like the triangular grip, I found the barrel of the pen too wide for my taste, the cap even wider, and the clip on the cap a bit awkward. The pen's weight is well-balanced. At this price point, I prefer the experience of writing with the Diplomat magnum. À chacun son goût!
  4. twomartoe

    Diplomat Aero Clip Thingy

    Thingy on the clip of the diplomat aero fell out. New, store bought, hardly a month. Seems like a soldering problem. Hardly use the clip, in fact probably the 1st time and thing fell out. Was lucky to catch it. Thinking of supergluing it back. Might be a hassle to send it back to Diplomat (under warranty).
  5. I have been looking through some old compatibility threads but haven't found an answer to my question, so if this has been addressed elsewhere I apologize in advance. I was wondering what nib is compatible with the Diplomat Magnum. Goulet says the Magnum has a JoWo nib, but doesn't say what size. I know that #5 and #6 are standard sizes, but don't know which is on the Diplomat. The stock Diplomats only come in three nib types and now that I finally got brave enough to change a nib on a Lamy I'm keen to try some others. Thanks.
  6. I bought this Diplomat Excellence A2 a few months ago. In general I like it quite a bit, but it has a problem that bugs me enough that I may need to give up on it. The problem is that small amounts of ink collect around the circumference of the flared out edge near the bottom of the section (where the arrow is pointing) and it gets all over my hands when I write, try as I might not to let my fingers drift down that far. Does anyone have any suggestions on how this might be mitigated? Thanks, Marc
  7. The finial of my Diplomat Excellence broke. Some piece of plastic or something snapped, which meant that the finial fell out. I stuck it together with a lump of blu-tak. I e-mailed Diplomat to ask if it would be possible to get a repair or replacement. The reply that came said that the pen came with a five year guarantee. If I sent them proof of purchase (a digital copy of my Amazon invoice) they'd send me a replacement cap. The new cap arrived in the post today. I didn't know that Diplomat came with a five year guarantee (most pens come with two at most). Just thought I'd share this with everyone.
  8. aliflee

    Montblanc 149 Real Or Fake

    Hi Guys, Just having a look on eBay, an online retail shop selling the Meisterstuck 149 Red Gold. They have two of these and many other various Montblanc pens, wonder if you could let me know if it is legitimate or not. Here is the link below: http://www.ebay.com.my/itm/381255645201?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649 Kind Regards,
  9. Hey! I'm new to posting on FPN but have been reading for a while. I wanted to ask for recommendations of my next pen. I started out with the varsity and preppy and since have expanded my collection. I have the following pens: Platinum 3776 14kPlatinum BalancePlatinum PlaisirPilot MetroTWSBI Eco (lost this )Wing-Sung 3008Wing Sung 6359Monteverde MonzaJinhao Shark I was considering buying the following pens but have not heard as much about them. Diplomat MagnumSailor LecoulePilot e95sFaber Castell Loom I wanted to add that though I have a lot of Platinum pens, I don't really enjoy the writing experience. I like the pilot though it's a bit dry. The pen i've enjoyed the most is maybe the TWSBI. Also, I have smaller hands and typically like lighter pens. Any advice on what to buy next?
  10. A few months ago, when Kevin from the JustWrite Pen Company (www.JustWrite.com.au) gave me the opportunity to review some of the pens in his line-up, I was expecting to receive a shipment of mostly inexpensive (but hopefully good value!) Chinese and Indian fountain pens – and to be sure, most of the pens I received fit that category precisely. Not this one, though: to my surprise, included in with the Jinhaos, Walitys etc, came the Diplomat Esteem. Compared to its stablemates, the Aero and (especially) the Excellence A range, you might call the Esteem a ‘midrange’ pen. Be that as it may, it’s the most expensive pen I own, and I was (very pleasantly) surprised to be receiving it free in return for an impartial review. A little harder to do, when your jaw is dropping at the price tag(!) – but I’ll do my best to live up to my side of the bargain. It’s a beautiful looking pen – nicely weighted, comfortable in the hand – and provides a great writing experience, BUT… I’ve had a few issues with the stock nib, which took me some time to diagnose. After a bit of to-ing and fro-ing, I’ve sent the original nib back – but agreed with Kevin (who’s been very helpful along the way!) that I’d present this review, ‘warts and all’ – and give an update down the track, when the dust has settled re warranty issues. ______________________________________________________________________ 1. Appearance & Design (9/10) –Black-and-Chrome Finish, Beautifully Styled With the exception of the two TWSBI pens I purchased last year, most of the pens I’ve obtained over the past 12 months have come in a factory-issue plastic sleeve – so forgive me if I take a moment to comment on the packaging. The Diplomat arrived in a brushed-aluminium case – roughly the size of a glasses case, though not quite as deep. Inside the case sits a felt-covered ‘tray’ of moulded plastic, with a groove just large enough to house the pen. I’d describe the case as ‘business-like’ rather than luxurious – but I like it that way. http://i.imgur.com/HoqFcdt.jpg?1http://i.imgur.com/DiKWo0q.jpg?1 As for the pen itself? I think you’d have to say it was ‘conservatively styled’ – long, sleek and slender (but still comfortable to hold); with a glossy black lacquer finish on the cap and body, and shiny chrome-coloured trim. On the finial of the pen you’ll find the black-and-white Diplomat logo prominently displayed; the bottom of the pen has a grooved chrome ending that also serves a very useful function (see below). If you’re not keen on glossy black, this pen also comes in an ‘easy grip’ matte black finish – or, if you want to live even more dangerously (!), you can go for pastel colours (also ‘easy grip’ matte finish): turquoise, lime green, pink, or lilac…. Oh, there’s also a straight (brushed) stainless steel option, for . Me, I’m not into pastels (they don’t suit my complexion?!) – so the glossy black lacquer was right up my alley. http://i.imgur.com/tLXku9X.jpg?1 No matter which colour you choose, the trim is the same – shiny chrome – while the grip section is a sturdy black plastic. Diplomat do sell gold-plated and/or two-tone stainless steel nibs in some of their other models – but the only option for the Esteem is chrome-coloured stainless steel. More on that below. 2. Construction & Quality (10/10) – A beautifully-constructed penI know 10/10 seems excessive, but really, I can’t fault the pen. Though not overly heavy, it’s made primarily of metal, and has a satisfying ‘heft’ to it; it feels well-balanced in the hand; there are no obvious blemishes anywhere on the pen – it’s well-designed, and flawlessly executed. After three months of continuous usage, the lacquer has held up well. The lid comes on and off with a satisfying ‘click’… And maybe here is where it’s appropriate to talk about the purpose of that stainless steel ending to the barrel. The cap is designed to post on the end of the pen – and it posts securely, settling over the stainless steel ending with another satisfying ‘click’. More often than not I write with my pens unposted, (unless I’m writing with a Kaweco Sport or TWSBI Mini – you get the idea) – but the pen remains comfortable and well-balanced, either way. http://i.imgur.com/fhi4TId.jpg?1 3. Weight & Dimensions (9/10) – A comfortable, mid-sized penIn terms of size (and cost), the Esteem sits in between two of the Diplomat’s better known pens – the Diplomat Traveller (which I’d considered purchasing before this arrived in the mail), and the much higher end, much more substantial Excellence A Series. I think I’d like to try the Excellence A sometime – I quite enjoy writing with heftier pens – but the Esteem, although I’d class it a ‘Medium’ size pen, punches well above its weight (so to speak). Weighing in at 26.2g capped, or 15.7g uncapped (you’ll need to add another 3 mL for a full Diplomat converter), and with a diameter of 10.5mm for the grip section, the pen just feels substantial in my hand. The pen is 136mm capped, and 125mm uncapped – which I think most hands will find quite comfortable to write with – but again, this pen is designed to post, in which case you’re wielding a 158mm writing implement. The diameter of the pen barrel at its widest point (the barrel and cap both taper towards the end) is around 12.5mm – as I say, a medium-sized pen, rather than a ‘monster’. The grip section tapers from 10mm near the ‘step-up’ to the barrel, down to 8mm near the nib – I tend to hold it towards the step, and find that pretty comfortable. 4. Nib & Performance (7/10) – A surprisingly pleasant experience to write withI’m a firm believer in the concept that a pen is only as good as its nib – and unfortunately, the Diplomat nib that came with this pen was problematic from the moment it arrived. It came with a Medium nib – which I’m OK with, though I tend to prefer Fine or Stub nibs (the latter is not an option, incidentally)… but that wasn’t my problem. http://i.imgur.com/hNOiflJ.jpg http://i.imgur.com/zCr9A1y.jpg On the upside, first of all, the Diplomat nib was pretty ‘springy’ – you could get a decent amount of line variation without a great deal of pressure. And it was so smooth, it wrote like a dream… until, that is, it began ‘skipping’, seemingly at random, as I wrote. Pressing down harder on the nib was usually sufficient to get the flow started again – but it made for a very “stop-start” writing experience. At first, I thought the problem might be the ink I was using (Pelikan Royal Blue)… or the home-made ‘bulb converter’ I’d whacked in (more on this below)… But when I obtained a Diplomat cartridge converter and swapped in about 5 different inks, it became clear that wasn’t the problem. I also noticed a slight misalignment between the underside of the nib and the feed, which was fairly rectified – but that didn’t solve the problem either. I suspect either that the tines are too close together, or (possibly) a ‘baby’s bottom’ problem. Eventually, in consultation with Kevin (from JustWrite), I decided it was better to return the nib under warranty, rather than try to adjust it myself. Within a week of receiving the pen – and unrelated to the skipping problem – I decided to order a replacement nib unit, a Fine. The writing sample below was mostly written with this nib. Like the Medium, the Fine nib writes beautifully smoothly, and is relatively springy – though I wouldn’t recommend overdoing it, it’s not a flex pen! The Fine writes a noticeably narrower line than the Medium – though it’s definitely not the finest Fine I have in my collection (if you get my meaning!). I had a couple of issues with this nib as well – I had to adjust the nib relative to the feed to get the alignment of the tines just right – but once that was done, I’ve found this pen an absolute pleasure to write with! http://i.imgur.com/t0LwncM.jpg?1 5. Filling System & Maintenance (4/10) – Why no cartridge converter?!?!I’ve deliberately scored the pen very low on this point, for two reasons. In the first instance, I cannot understand why a $100+ pen would not come with a cartridge converter included. All I got with the pen was a single lousy cartridge, plus a ‘dummy’ cartridge (as in, empty and with the bottom cut off)… and a note in the included warranty material that the pen should have two cartridges in the barrel at all times (one as a spare). Every single (cheap) Chinese pen I’ve purchased that takes cartridges, comes with a (cheap) cartridge converter installed – why do these higher-end European name-brands have to be so stingy?! To make matters worse, I quickly found that the cheap Chinese converters I had ready to hand would not fit this pen – around the ‘nipple’ the cartridge fits onto, Diplomat have incorporated a ‘cuff’ or ‘ring’, which I suppose is meant to create a snugger fit for the cartridges – but it also had the effect of preventing me using any converter that doesn’t have an appreciable taper below the nozzle. My only remaining options were to use cartridges (and refill them if necessary)… or to obtain a compatible converter. Once again, Kevin came to the rescue – sourcing a Diplomat-branded (Schmidt-style) converter for me, at a cost of another $10. http://i.imgur.com/u6MM6uK.jpg To be fair, Diplomat are not the only culprits when it comes to shipping pens without converters – and standard international cartridges work perfectly well – but still, on principle, I feel compelled to mark them down for doing this with a premium-priced pen, and to mark them down further for designing the pen so that only a more expensive converter. 6. Cost & Value (9/10) – It’s not cheap – but why should it be?I’m genuinely puzzled as to why Diplomat seems to have such a low profile in the fountain pen community – they’ve been around since 1922; their pens are great quality (my nib problems notwithstanding); and though they’re not cheap to purchase, you really do get what you pay for. This is the most expensive pen in my collection – and honestly, I would have thought twice about purchasing it (full disclosure, though: I was seriously considering setting aside some birthday money to place an order on the matte black version). But for all its conservative styling, this really is a lovely pen – so I’d have no hesitation recommending it. 7. Conclusion (Final score [sUM/6]: 8.5)I know, I know, add up my scores and divide by 6, and you’ll only get 8 – but I think the pen deserves more than that. I had to score the pen down for the nib, because of my problems with the Medium (which I believe will be sorted out by warranty) – and I can’t blame the pen for the manufacturers’ decision to ship it without a converter. So I’ve bumped it up to 8.5. These scores are really subjective – but this pen offers one of the most pleasant writing experiences I’ve experienced, when the ink is in full flow. I said a little earlier that I don’t know why Diplomat doesn’t have a higher profile – let me add to that, I don’t know why the Esteem seems so lowly esteemed, if you’ll pardon the pun! It’s a more substantial pen than the Traveller – which I’m told is a great pen, just a little small for sustained writing – and it’s significantly cheaper than the Aero and the Excellence. I’m happy to recommend this pen to anyone who’s interested in a good quality, serious-looking pen – and will keep you posted on developments with the Medium nib.
  11. Hey all, For those of you that have a Diplomat Traveller, would you consider it a wet or dry writer? Cheers, Chris.
  12. Hello, some 30 years ago I discovered a bunch of discarded strange ink cartridges which did not fit a modern pen. I was lucky at that time to find a local shop that still had a pen in which those cartridges fitted. That was my introduction to a Diplomat pen and I have been using it almost on a daily basis since. As you can see in the images below it concerns 6/99 cartridges for a Diplomat +2. However searching on those keywords does not give me any relevant information. As far as I know this type of pen is dated end of the '60's / begin 70's? It looks the same model as the one that was offered in the following link: https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/193302-2-rare-diplomat-school-pen-sets-fp-bp/ So my question is if someone has more information regarding this (type of) pen from Diplomat. As you can see in the images an 'F' is present on the bottomside of the pen. The Diplomat logo is present on both ends of the pen. I found this to be a very durable pen which writes nice. It sure would be nice to get hold of another Diplomat pen in which these cartridges fit. Thanks in advance for your feedback Hopefully someone can shed some light on this pen and cartridge system. Any information is welcome. Best regards, R. http://i60.tinypic.com/20jpgqr.jpg http://i61.tinypic.com/2h5031l.jpg http://i58.tinypic.com/24bradh.jpg http://i58.tinypic.com/22nhax.jpg http://i59.tinypic.com/2luper.jpg
  13. Hey there, I'm going to buy a Lamy 2000 most probably (https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/326594-decent-capacity-first-gold-nib-fountain-pen/page-2?do=findComment&comment=3906816) and I have some extra money remaining with me. So I was wondering which pen should I get, the Pelikan M215 lozenge or the Diplomat Excellence A (steel nib). Both of them are used pens and both are in Medium nib. I am getting M215 for $61 (INR.4000) and Diplomat for $38 (INR.2500). Which one of them would have a smoother writing experience for everyday use?
  14. The Diplomat Excellence A is a pen that’s been on my radar for the past year or so – a beautiful looking pen, with a reputation for being a smooth writer… but it was just a bit too far above my budget. Enter Kevin from the JustWrite Pen Company, who’s provided me with pens for review in the past (including the Diplomat Esteem – see https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/271382-the-diplomat-esteem-conservative-german-styling-great-writing-experience/). In June 2015, Kevin was offering a 25% discount on all products listed on his website – on top of the (comparatively) competitive pricing he’d already put on these pens. The only option available (from memory) was a pen with chrome and black finish – but an email enquiry revealed that he also had stocks of the Marakesh finish. He kindly agreed to list one so I could take advantage of the discount… and here we are. True confession: the Diplomat Excellence A is probably the most expensive pen I own – but I have no regrets about ‘splashing out’. I’m not normally a fan of M nibs (I prefer fines and stubs/italics), but even so writing with this pen is a sheer pleasure. After 3 months (and a few other pen purchases), this is still up there in my top 2-3 (along with my matte black Vanishing Point and my TWSBI 580 with custom ground cursive italic). ______________________________________________________________________ 1. Appearance & Design (10/10) From the moment I opened the parcel post envelope, I was impressed with what I saw. The Diplomat box (with aluminium wrap-around lid) is large and imposing, and speaks of quality. http://i.imgur.com/CailtrQ.jpg http://i.imgur.com/Fp77kci.jpg And as for the pen? I liked the Diplomat Esteem I was provided for my previous review, with its ‘piano’ black lacquer and chrome accents – but the Marakesh finish on this pen is just beautiful. A deep coppery-brown colour that’s hard to capture – becoming darker or lighter depending on the way it catches the light, and with a definite metallic ‘shimmer’ to it. The pen does come in a variety of finishes – so if the colour of the Marakesh is not your thing, there are plenty of other options – and the black finish is available in chrome or gold trim – but the basic shape remains the same. The Diplomat logo on the finial is black on white plastic – simple and understated; the shape of the pen is (like the Esteem) fairly standard and conservative. http://i.imgur.com/oebpGpV.jpg http://i.imgur.com/4fgk8FE.jpg 2. Construction & Quality (9/10) Like the Diplomat Esteem, the Excellence A is solidly constructed, beautifully designed, and flawlessly executed. The cap and body are made of metal, covered in a ‘metallic’-looking copper brown lacquer; the grip section is made (mostly) of plastic, but is pleasant to hold. http://i.imgur.com/wscVXl1.jpg The pen clip is attractive and sturdy, with a little bit of give. I admit I do baby this pen a bit, but the lacquer shows no signs of scratching or chipping. My only slight quibble is that you have to be careful capping the pen – unless pen and cap are lined up perfectly, the wings of the nib seems to ‘catch’ against the plastic inner cap. The pen posts fairly deeply, but doesn’t appear to be designed for it – and it upsets the balance of the pen (back-weighted) while writing. http://i.imgur.com/FRRizDh.jpg 3. Weight & Dimensions (10/10) There’s no doubt about it, the Excellence A is a substantial pen, with a reasonable ‘heft’ to it. If you like your pens ultralight, this won’t be for you – but I love the way it feels. The pen weighs in at 42.3g capped (with half-filled converter), and 14.6g uncapped – which means that much of the weight is in the cap. The diameter of the grip section is 12mm (at its widest – it tapers towards the nib), which is comparatively wide – I think that’s part of what I enjoy most about the ‘feel’ of the pen. http://i.imgur.com/zWN9tzz.jpg The pen is 139mm capped, and 129mm uncapped; posted, it’s a rather unwieldy (and back-weighted) 155mm. At its widest (just above the band), the cap diameter is 14mm, compared with ~13mm for the barrel (just below the cap band). 4. Nib & Performance (9.5/10) When I first received the Diplomat Esteem, I had lots of problems with the nib – it was slightly misaligned relative to the feed, and even after adjusting was prone to skip. I had no such problems with the Excellence A nib. The pen I purchased came with a stainless steel M nib (no other options available at JustWrite, though the manufacturer makes stainless steel and gold nibs, in F, M and B.). The M was beautifully wet and juicy – it laid down a fairly standard medium line. With moderate pressure it’s possible to get a bit of line variation – but with no pressure applied the pen glides so sweetly across the page, I wonder why anyone would want to mess with the writing experience! I’ve been using Diamine Ancient Copper as my ink of choice in this pen – it’s a fairly good match, colour-wise. http://i.imgur.com/hZS04t4.jpg http://i.imgur.com/LNUnZ1z.jpg 5. Filling System & Maintenance (9.5/10) The pen takes standard international cartridges (the barrel will fit two small cartridges back-to-back, or a single larger cartridge) – and a good quality (Diplomat-branded) cartridge converter comes standard. Nothing innovative or imaginative here – but I’m perfectly content with the limitations (and advantages) of this filling system. http://i.imgur.com/xp589en.jpg 6. Cost & Value (9/10) The RRP of this pen is around US$225 (much higher for the rhombus and guilloche finishes) – though a few Australian vendors are selling the black-and-chrome pen for AU$195-225. Given the weakness of the Australian dollar, that’s pretty good – I managed to get mine for under $150, which was just spectacular. Whatever the price, this is a beautiful pen – and available at significantly cheaper prices than (say) a Montblanc or a Pelikan of comparable size. My thanks again to Kevin from JustWrite Pens for agreeing to list the pen so I could buy it at the discount price. 7. Conclusion (Final score [sUM/6]: 9.5) The score I’ve given this pen reflects my enthusiasm for it: it’s a conservatively-styled pen, no doubt about it, but is so comfortable to hold and write with – and I really love the unusual colour of the Marakesh finish. It would be just as good a pen if it were black… but a little less attractive (for mine) to look at. If you’ve got the cash to spare (hey, it was my birthday!), I’d thoroughly recommend this pen as an option to consider.
  15. Hello group, My first fountain pen ever was a Diplomant, and I've been trying to find it on google in order to figure out what it is called, so I can maybe buy another one (it broke a long time ago). However the closes picture I could find was this ebay listing: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/182391784370?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT The pen I had was all black plastic: barrel was just black plastic without the butt and golden ring. The section looked the same rippled black, also plastic. The nib was golden colour, and the cap was stainless steel. Can anybody help me find out the name of this model so I can google it or look for it in auctions?
  16. Here's some photos and my review of my first fountain pen. I apologize in advance for the horrible lighting, the sun kept popping in and out of the clouds and I didn't have patience to wait until a bright sunny day. Comes with a nice aluminum case! After the aluminum case is slid off:
  17. visvamitra

    Diplomat Aero, Medium Nib

    guess we may all agree that Diplomat isn’t the most popular fountain pen maker on the market. The company is rarely named when someone asks for fountain pen recommendations. It’s surprising. While some of their pens aren’t particularly exciting designwise, the ones I’ve tried so far (three) were all great writers. Solid, well built, reliable. I’ve heard about Aero some time ago and enjoyed its design instantly. Sadly at the time the price was too high for me. It doesn’t mean the temptation faded. No, it awaited patiently, coiled, alert. Inevitably and invariably the moment came when it overhelmed reason. It happened four months ago. To be fair good price helped me to make a decision and finally grab the pen. Ok, what’s interesting about the pen? To my eyes its design is quite unique and eye-catching. Just look at this advert: The pen is available in three finishes (photos taken from Diplomat online catologue) Black Brown White I had a hard time to choose the finish – while white does nothing to me, I find both black and brown very appealing. Finally I decided that brown IS the winner. Overall impressions The pen is made from aluminium and I tend to enjoy metal pens. As seen above the Diplomat advertisements highlight how the Aero design theme came from the German Zeppelin Airships. After using the pen I can agree with this assessment – shaped like a zeppelin Diplomat Aero is appropriately-named. Anodized brown aluminium looks very well. The pen is shaped like a strange cigar. The ridged body swells toward the center, then tapers back down.Anodized section matches anodized clip and pointed ends. It has nice texture that gives non-slippery feel to it. Section is rather long so most of users will be able to find comfortable grip. The pen is well balanced when uncapped, when capped the balance is off. Unless you post the pen deeply and risk creating some scratches with time, that is. Is the pen comfortable in the hand? For me – yes. Actually, when uncapped, it’s quite light (32 g).The pen feels well balanced. Construction The pen feels solidly made and I believe the construction quality is rather high. There are however few issues that may arise with time: Inner plastic cap may get loose with time and repeated opening and closing the pen. It’s not most durable closing system. So far it works perfectly well. How will it behave in, say, two years of continuous, everyday use? That’s the question only time will answer. Diplomat logo is painted on the metal cap. It looks and feels a little cheap to my eyes. Also it’ll definitely fade. It would be ok in a pen that costs 20 $, this one however is much more expensive and therefore I expect more quality, especially when it comes to details. Anodized finish isn’t the most abuse-proof. If you tend to post the pen (I don’t) some scratches will inevitably occur on the pen with time. Some users may find small step between barrel and section disturbing. Nib Diplomat stainless steel nibs are among the very best steel nibs in the business – rigid but smooth and enjoyable. Also the ones I’ve tried so far were all reliable – they wrote perfectly well out of box. It is a #6 nib in the standard profile, it lacks a breather hole and features the Diplomat logo and the text “Diplomat Since 1922.” In terms of pen-to-paper experience – the nib is smooth but not very wet, I would even say it’s a little on the dry side. Steel I’ve never experienced any kind of ink starvation even during longer writing sessions (it was one of two pens I’ve taken to a ten day course of movement therapy – apart from the movement itself there was quite a lot of things to note. Diplomat Aero passed the exam). Filling system Cartridge or a converter. The supplied converter is branded and well-made. It holds enough ink for a typical day in the office. Dimensions Capped: 140mm Uncapped: 128.7mm Posted: 158.2mm Section Diameter: 11.3mm Barrel Diameter: 15mm Weight:42g Summary + some thoughts on the pricing I enjoy this pen but in the same time I think the market price is simply too high. I’ve managed to buy it for 98 euros, a little bit cheaper than MSRP but still not really cheap. For most of us it’s the pen to save up for. The pen is well built and offers interesting design. The nib is enjoyable. The pen feels solid and it can be considered as a good choice for a workhorse pen. On the other hand for Aero’s regular price (120-130 euros) you’ll easily buy used Lamy 2000 or new Pilot CH 92, both well-engineered pens with golden nibs. Still, when it comes to pen choices, most of us don’t make 100 % reasonable decisions. Apart from construction and materials used to produced the pen, we look for aesthetic experience, uniqueness, design. Here Diplomat delivers – Aero is well built and interesting pen that performs well. It’s not free of shortcomings – I dislike painted logo and font on the barrel. With time they’ll probably fade but it’s hard to say if the process will be fast or slow. I usually have this pen in fabric case and so far it protects painted marks well. The build quality is satisfying. It’s not light pen and I wouldn’t post it – I’m afraid the scratches would appear on this aesthetically pleasing barrel. I enjoy metal sections but it seems I’m in minority – if you dislike them in general chances are you won’t fall in love with this section. On the other hand its matt finish makes it really pleasant to hold. Do I have another Diplomat in mind? Yes. I find Diplomat Excellence Evergreen CT very tempting due to its color. I’ll slowly start looking for good deals on this one. Just take a look at this stunning color.
  18. This uniquely shaped pen with the absolutely smooth as butter steel nib is back on MD for an excellent price. The amazing 14K nib option is also available. The great Amazon seller Albora-pens Germany also has some options available except for the 14K nib. Albora also ships free from Germany and it usually gets to the US in a week. These are some of the best nibs around from a little known brand and the only "complaints" I've heard are that they are a little on the heavy side and their silk screen logo wears out over time. These are amazing writers in a unique design that people always notice in the matter aluminum version. Links below: https://www.amazon.com/Diplomat-Metallic-Brown-Medium-Fountain/dp/B00G6T8JDO https://www.massdrop.com/buy/diplomat-aero
  19. Federalist Pens

    It's "back To School" Time!

    It's that time of year again! Time to "stock up" on your Back to School needs! We offer Notebooks and Journals from Clairefontaine: http://www.federalistpensonline.com/-Clairfontaine-Products_c_81.html Rhodia Pads in all types (Lined, Plain, Grid, Dot): http://www.federalistpensonline.com/-Rhodia-Pads_c_32.html Filofax Refillable Notebooks: http://www.federalistpensonline.com/Fiolofax-A5-Model-Notebook_p_52.html Check Out Our "Pens for Under $25" Tab under Pen Specials! FP Models from Regal, Diplomat, and J. Herbin! http://www.federalistpensonline.com/Pens-25-and-Under_c_105.html Receive and additional 5% Discount with code FPN at Checkout! Authorized Dealer of All New Brands Listed Frank Federalist Pens 866-746-4900
  20. Kimi18h

    Spinning Diplomat Aero Cap

    My black diplomat aero wich I bought in the netherands has a cap that starts spinning when I post it and I don't know if it is normal or if it is broken. If it is broken, does annyone know how to fix it or how to get a replacement. Thanks already.
  21. Kimi18h

    Diplomat Aero Spinning Cap

    My black diplomat aero which I bought in the netherands has a cap that starts spinning when I post it and I don't know if it is normal or if it is broken. If it is broken, does annyone know how to fix it or how to get a replacement. Thanks already.
  22. Hi All, Can anyone identify this Diplomat fountain pen purchased new in 1996? Note, the nib was originally gilded, but that wore off after about 10 years. It has been in heavy daily use and taken many knocks. I am so impressed by the value, considering it cost the equivalent of around $40-$50 at the time. Please see attached photos. It is the smoothest writer I have experienced so far. I have not tried any more expensive pens or solid gold nibs yet, but I honestly cannot imagine anything writing smoother than this nib. Put this to Claire Fontaine paper and away you go. Now, my quest is to find a new pen with this writing experience, since it is now leaky due to several drops on hard floors. Cheers, Marcus
  23. Hello everyone, I've owned a Diplomat Traveller for quite a while now and I figured i'd go ahead and give my opinion about it in the form of a review. The traveller is one of Diplomat's cheaper pens. One of these should set you back about 40-50 euros, although it has been seen on amazon.de for 25. The pen comes in a pretty sturdy metal box, which allows you to take it anywhere while protecting your pen. The metal box isn't big so it should fit in your jacket pockets quite easily. Looks: The pen itself is made of (brushed) steel. When I bought it, it was only available in the steel finish. I understand there's a black version now too. On the fineal of the pen you can find diplomat's logo (the flower type logo) in a sort of resin-ish bubble. The clip of the cap is very sturdy, but i haven't had any problems attaching it to any type of clothing. The section is made from a black plastic and has a lacquer finish. It tapers down and then stretches about a bit. On the nib you'll find the same diplomat logo with no breather hole, and the feed which has no specific design and is made from plastic. The barrel also has the brushed steel finish and also tapers down just a little bit. http://i1323.photobucket.com/albums/u599/Damien368/Diplomat%20Traveller/IMG_20151202_165235_zpsb51kdoai.jpg http://i1323.photobucket.com/albums/u599/Damien368/Diplomat%20Traveller/IMG_20151202_165010_zps8hcaakwq.jpg http://i1323.photobucket.com/albums/u599/Damien368/Diplomat%20Traveller/IMG_20151202_165120_zpswczwubh6.jpg Writing: This pen will accept international standard cartridges or a converter which allows for use of inks from a bottle. The nib is made from steel and is actually very stiff and offers virtually 0 line variation. As a result I do not recommend pushing its boundaries, because you may end up stretching those boundaries permanently. Overall writing with this pen is a pretty pleasant experience, i have not experienced any skips. Its not the smoothest of nibs, but i didn't find the feedback to be painfully present or scratchy. Ergonomics: I've found the pen to be a bit on the small and thin side. The section is pretty narrow and short which means there's but a small room for you to hold the pen. As someone with fairly large hands this results in a bit of discomfort when writing in long sessions. Not being able to post this pen doesn't help either. Overall it's acceptable for me, but i'd call it a bordercase. http://i1323.photobucket.com/albums/u599/Damien368/Diplomat%20Traveller/IMG_20151202_164908_zpslvtq84uv.jpg Looks: 7/10 Clean brushed steel, nothing special but good finish and doesn't look/feel cheap. Writing: 7/10 Smooth nib with a touch of feedback. Does what it should do with ease, no line variation though. Ergonomics: 5.5/10 a bit too small and thin for my liking. Overall: 6.5/10 Thanks for reading, let me know if you'd be interesting to read more like this. I've got another pen (and another on the way) which i could review too. Comments and suggestions are most welcome! Totl.
  24. Simon Pen-Pusher

    Diplomat Aero - Simply Terrific

    Last month, after about a month's regular use of the new Diplomat Aero fountain pen and ballpoint, I wrote a review. In summary it's a terrific new model from this excellent German maker of all metal larger format fountain pens. They are now a favourite for me. I thoroughly recommend the Aero as you'll see in my review. While released later in 2013, the Aero could not be found easily here in Australia. The dealers were a bit slow off the mark. But now it's readily available. This is a pen you have to see in-store to really appreciate how good it looks and how superbly made and finished it is. (image by Diplomat) My review is located at: http://www.fountainpenbiz.com/blog/diplomat-aero-german-quality-gets-style Cheers.
  25. So here is my story of what I did with both my 146 and 149 75th anniversary fountain pens both with rose gold trim and MOP and limited to 1924 pieces. When I first bought them, they arrived with Med nibs and I used them for only short time before I opted for an EF nib size exchange. The service was excellent and both pens arrived back in less than 8 weeks. I started to use both of them and just could not get used to the way the tiny nib end would drag on the writing surface. I was completely bummed because I new at that point that I had made a terrible mistake in sending for an exchange. So I had no choice but to send them back for another fitting of a M nib. Luckily, one of the nibs was ok so they just charged me a small service fee, but the other had been nicked so I had to pay the full fee again for that one. I am very happy to have them back and now fully understand why most people prefer the med nib as opposed to something narrower. It just writes ever so smoothly on the surface. Lesson learned and pricey one if I may add. Enjoy the week!!





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