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Pilot Elite Pocket Pen (18k Gold Nib, Fine, Vintage) Review Ink: Diamine Monaco Red Paper: Rhodia No. 16 5x5 Grid I picked out this pen on ebay because I thought it looked very interesting. It was a used pen, and did not come with a box or converter, but it was in fairly good condition (it only had micro scratches). I fell in love with the design the moment I saw it, but to my horror I found that the pen did NOT write well. Thankfully, after a quick check with a loupe, I found that the tines did not have any space between them. I quickly fixed it and used it for a full day with several different inks. The following is my handwritten review of the pen: http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2868/11992561946_de01404a8b.jpg For those who can't read my handwriting, I took the liberty of typing up the review as well: 1. Appearance and Design: 10/10To me, the design is one of the most appealing aspsects of the pen. It looks sleek, modern and very classy both capped and posted. The integrated feed really drives the appearance home. It is a nice glossy black with elegant gold trim. http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3770/11992137344_6736e58fcb.jpg 2. Construction and Quality: 10/10 There is nothing that I can justify deducting points for. The pen is very solid, and the capping/posting mechanism process is wonderfully smooth but with just enough resistance. The pen does not feel cheap in the hand. It feels solid enough that I would not be afraid if I dropped it. http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5517/11992568796_29ebc49b8d.jpg 3. Weight and Dimensions: 8/10 The pen is a bit on the light side but not quite light. The section may be too thin for some but I find it to be close to ideal. It is about 4.5 inches capped and about 6 inches posted. The pocket pens are made to be posted. 4. Nib and Performance: 8/10 The nib is smooth with just the right amount of feedback. It is made of plain 18k gold, and is a nial, more or less. It's a great Japanese fine, and has average flow. http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7335/11992571766_b10391bd7c.jpg 5. Filling System and Maintenance: 5/10A standard cartridge/converter. Not much to say. Takes the con20. 6. Cost and Value: 7/10I got it on ebay for very cheap for a wonderful smooth gold nib. I don't see them very often, but I feel as though $90 was a fair price. 7. Conclusion: Recommended! A very pleasing vintage pen that I found to be functional and handy I would definitely recommend this pen. Addendum:I only rated the nib so low because I had problems initially and for a while I also had some problems with the occasional hard start. That has since been worked on and it is seemingly fixed. After that it has been a very pleasant experience and it is one of my favourite pens for everyday use. I would only rate my Sailor 1911 higher, and my flex nib Eversharp ties with it.