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  1. Very difficult color to "catch", scanner didn't succeed so it is a picture...
  2. drsky125

    Marlen Aderl Review

    This is my review of the Marlen Aderl. This fountain pen from Marlen bears the name of the currency used in Atella, an ancient Oscan city in the southern part of Italy. Marlen is an Italian brand, maker of collectibles, artisan-crafted luxury writing instruments. http://i65.tinypic.com/2rf51sg.jpg Appearance: The Aderl is a large and relatively short fountain pen, which shares some similarities with other cigar-shaped Italian pens like the Delta Dolce Vita. It is made of resin and features engraved trims made of sterling silver. The nib is a single-tone 14k nib. The model that I am reviewing features a medium sized nib (which is the same size as on all my other pens). The resin has two distinct colors. The barrel sports a nice light-and-dark brown gradient, whose tones and variations remind of wood. The cap and and the finial at the end of the barrel use a dark brown/black resin. http://i67.tinypic.com/5n673s.jpg The bottom of the barrel and of the cap have some nice antique accents that consist of an engraved sterling silver trim (thin at the end of the barrel, thicker at the end of the cap). The sterling silver trim on the cap is engraved with the latin words “ordo populesque atellarus” and is followed by four alternating dark brown-light brown thin rings that repeat the tones of the pen. Just above are marked “Marlen Italy Aderl” and the pen serial number. The silver clip has a very art deco style. It is thick, short and has an original shape. The clip is sturdy and offers some resistance but given its short length, I am not sure if it is really usable. http://i66.tinypic.com/33m0gnk.jpg The nib (medium size) is a little longer than what I have seen on my other pens. I think this is actually a good thing since it adds a bit of length to the pen. The pen I received sports a single-tone nib, which differs from the two-tone nib shown on most pictures that I found online for this pen. The nib is engraved with “Marlen, Italy”, “14 k” and the size “M”. http://i63.tinypic.com/2mgtr80.jpg Overall, the pen looks stunning. It is curvy and the brown colors mix well with the numerous silver trims. The resin is top quality and the patterns created by the light-brown color on the barrel can be mistaken for wood. Build quality: The pen gives an impression of solidity and high-quality craftsmanship. The cap screws on the barrel. The threads on the dark brown resin are thick and well machined, making the screwing/unscrewing a very smooth experience. The same applies to the threads machined on the finial, at the end of the barrel. http://i64.tinypic.com/a4wrvs.jpg The piston filling mechanism offers little resistance but does not feel cheap. While I have only inked the pen once, the reservoir seems to hold a relatively large volume of ink (not as much as in a TWSBI 580, but more than in a standard converter). http://i64.tinypic.com/34ysh15.jpg Dependability: I have only used the pen for a few hours. What I can say is that in every situations so far, the ink just flows in a consistent manner. For this review, I inked the pen with J Herbin “Lie de Thé”, which is known to be a very fluid ink and which may have helped getting this consistent thick stream. Nevertheless, I feel that this pen will stay well lubricated and will perform in a similar manner regardless of the ink consistency. The nib, at least in this size (M), is a real pleasure to handle. Comfort: Among what I would consider the “fat” pens in my collection (e.g., Delta Fusion One, ST Dupont Olympio), the Aderl is at least as comfortable. It is lighter than the Dupont and shorter than the Delta. I love the way the nib just slides on the paper with the slightest pressure. Since I do not post my pens, I will not comment on this but given how light the pen feels in the hand, I believe that posting would not be an issue. The threads on the barrel do not interfere with the holding position. Overall, this is one of my most comfortable pens. Writing experience: Did I mention how smooth the writing experience was? The pen produces a very consistent stream of ink that is hardly impacted by the pen holding position and the writing speed. The nib is not a flex nib but responds a bit to the amount of pressure applied. This was somewhat visible based on the nice shading obtained with Lie de Thé. Value: Even at full retail price (~$375), I would consider this pen a great value. At $175 (from an ebay seller), it was a no brainer. The quality of the craftsmanship combined with the unique look and the piston mechanism completely justify the price. Conclusions and score: The Marlen Aderl is an impressive pen from an Italian brand which, in my opinion, deserves more consideration than what it actually receives. The pen has a superb look and provides a great writing experience. Through this purchase, I am very happy to have discovered a new brand and I highly recommend this pen to any enthusiast. Appearance: 5 / 5 Build quality: 4.5 / 5 Dependability: 5 / 5 Comfort: 5 / 5 Writing experience: 5 / 5 Value: 5 / 5
  3. http://stationeryblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/DSC_8042-768x512.jpg Note that this review was originally posted at my blog at www.stationeryblogger.com. During the summer of 2016 I went on a trip to Japan. Prior to setting of to my destination I was aware about the rich tradition the country had on stationery and in particular fountain-pens. I had therefore planned to start a new tradition of my own where I would purchase a locally produced writing instrument as a souvenir to mark my travels starting in Japan. I was not certain about which pen to choose but I was always attracted to the utility of a retractable nib pen. Even though initially the Pilot Vanishing Point did not catch my eye in terms of beauty, it slowly grew on me. It thus became my pen of choice when I finally visited the iconic Itoya stationery shop in Ginza, Tokyo. SIZE AND DESIGN The pen I purchased was the Pilot Vanishing Point (Capless in Japan) Decimo in the blue trim with silver furniture. Compared to the normal VP, the Decimo is slightly thinner and lighter. Naturally the clip is also thinner making it easy to grip and I have found to often use it as a marker in order to grip the pen consistently comfortably without looking. Another visual difference to the larger brother is that the two metal rings that connect the two sections of the barrel for refilling are not the same size. The one towards the nib is slightly smaller than the one on the back. While this is not a deal-breaker for me, I would have preferred for the rings to have been more proportionally sized as it does stand out a bit. The overall size is comfortable to use even though I would not mind the slightly heavier feeling of the classic. http://stationeryblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/DSC_8040-768x512.jpg NIB One of the biggest selling points of the pen in my opinion is the nib. It is an 18K gold nib and writes like a dream. I chose the medium size which does write thinner than a European medium but its wonderfully calibrated wetness makes it the perfect daily writer size. Thankfully, if I wish to keep my current nib, if I purchase the larger size, the two sections are interchangeable. The nib is slightly soft however and taking into account its small footprint I feel that I have to treat it with a lot of care when I write to not spring the tines or damage it in any other way. Maybe this is just in my head but it keeps me from fully engaging with this pen as the daily workhorse it is designed to be. http://stationeryblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/DSC_8035-768x512.jpg FILLING SYSTEM The decimo is a cartridge-converter pen. While it does not come with a converter in the box, I was able to easily purchase a CON-40 in a local stationary shop while in Japan. The converter however in my opinion is mediocre at best. It holds a tiny amount of ink and I find it extremely difficult to get a full fill as the piston stops almost an entire centimetre shy of the actual opening point. That one centimetre is a substantial amount of ink considering the small capacity and size of the converter. While I do sometimes try to flip the nib section upside-down to release the air and get a larger fill, it is far too messy and time consuming so I mostly stick to cartridges. Thankfully, the ink selection of the Pilot proprietary cartridges is good in terms of variety and quality but I do prefer using bottled ink. http://stationeryblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/DSC_8046-768x512.jpg WRITING SAMPLE http://stationeryblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/DSC_8048-768x768.jpg FINAL THOUGHTS While the pen does suffer from some negatives I think that the one-handed ease of use of the buttery smooth retractable nib make this pen an excellent purchase. For me, thanks to my new-born tradition, every time I write with the pen I day-dream about my trip to Japan making this pen have a special place in my heart. Note that this review was originally posted at my blog at www.stationeryblogger.com. http://stationeryblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/DSC_5590-768x512.jpg ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Items mentioned*: Pen: Pilot Fountain Pen Capless DecimoInk: Pilot Namiki BluePaper: Rhodia Orange Dot PadConverter: Pilot CON-40 Photography equipment: Camera: Nikon D3300Lens: Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm Other blogs about this topic: Other blogs about this topic: Goulet Pens Blog Decimo Review The Pen Addict Decimo Review The Well Appointed Desk Decimo Review
  4. 5umedh

    Pelikan P40 Pura

    Intro I am using this pen for more than a month now. I borrowed this black/ chrome variant of the fountain pen from a friend of mine and will return after I complete this review. The Packaging This pen comes in an attractive box with a cardboard sleeve. The box also includes a fake leather pouch which is kind of good if you want to carry a pen or two. The Nib As all Pelikan pens, this pen is also a pleasant writer. I like metal pens, heavier the better. As you can see in the images, this is a all metal pen. Pleasant to hold and has a medium folded nib. Finial & pocket looks Top of the pen or finial has a Pelikan logo emblemed on it which looks classy in pocket. Clip The clip of the pen is very good. Nice and springy. Posting This pen can be securely posted. Posting makes it a bit top heavy though. I’m not a poster of a pen, but if you prefer posted writing, this is a good pen to have. General Aesthetics Aesthetically, the pen is amazing. I am always amazed when the chrome line (shown in above image) lines up with the nib. You don’t have to put any extra efforts to do that. The threads of the pen are designed to do so. But it is what is expected from a premium pen of this range. Filling mechanism The pen does not come with a cartridge converter which is a pity for such an expensive pen. You can buy one for USD 6-7. Cost A cartridge converter pen which is bit of a set back for a ₹9000 pen. It’s a bit (lot) on costlier side in Indian currency. You would get a good piston filler at this cost if you want. I found it for $97 on amazon.com which when converted to Indian currency comes to ₹6500 (approx.). Almost 28% cheaper. I wouldn’t buy this pen for ₹9000 but if I’m getting it for $97, I might give it a thought. 2 more colors available: General Info Locking Mechanism: Snap Cap Filling Mechanism: Cartridge Converter Posted: 15.5 cm Capped: 14 cm Uncapped: 12.2 cm My Ratings Nib: 6/10 Looks: 6/10 Pocket Looks: 7/10 Writing Experience: 7/10 Wetness: 4/10 Scratchyness: 5/10 Cost: 3/10 Overall Rating: 4.5/10 Do let me know how you like the review. Follow my blog: https://pen5um.wordpress.com Thanks, 5umedh
  5. Been looking at getting a vintage Soviet pen for a bit. I finally found one I really liked the look of. Here is my review. Feel free to ask me any questions.
  6. The Lamy 2000 is probably my favourite pen of all time. I know, it is a big statement but my admiration for this pen is well founded. I first purchased this pen back in 2014 when I began my first year studying law at university. I can honestly say that since then it has been almost everyday on me, taking notes and writing exams. Note that this review was originally posted at my blog at www.stationeryblogger.com. http://stationeryblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/DSC_7839-300x200.jpg DESIGN The pen looks and feels phenomenal. Its bauhaus inspired design makes it easy to look at with no extra bling. This makes it the perfect everyday pen when you do not want the entire room thinking you are trying to make a statement with your choice of writing instrument. In addition, the texture of the fibreglass-infused plastic gives a textured feel. Perfect for those with sleek hands constantly suffering from sticky-pen syndrome. The attention to detail and excellence of craftsmanship is evident from the fact that the brushed microscopic lines transition perfectly between the piston-knob and hand-section seams. http://stationeryblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/DSC_7992-300x200.jpg SIZE Another great win for the pen is its size, measuring at 140mm caped. What is particularly outstanding however, is its centre of balance when posted. You can literally find the middle of the pen by simply balancing it on the tip of your finger. This is because the cap fits really deeply into the back of the barrel. That means that it will not only post securely but it will not stick out too much when writing. Moreover, the hand-section extends to cover a fair amount of the nib meaning that there are literally unlimited ways to hold the pen ensuring a comfortable grip. NIB The nib is fantastic to write with. I currently have the medium size but I have tried both the extra-fine and fine. They are all smooth, wet and always perform upon demand. I have had some issues in the past which I will go into more detail in the section below but I am more than happy overall. http://stationeryblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/DSC_7994-300x200.jpg CUSTOMER SERVICE One of the biggest selling points however is the customer service of Lamy. A few years ago, after owning the pen for a few years, for some reason the extra-fine nib that I had started writing very dry. I had no idea why but I contacted Lamy with my problem and they immediately requested that I send the pen back for repair free of charge. A few weeks later, they had fixed the problem and also replaced my cap as the clip had become a bit wobbly. Moreover, a year ago, after owning the pen for three years, I emailed them asking whether they sold replacement nibs as I had outgrown my extra-fine size and wanted to change to a medium. They offered to replace it for free. I believe that this is how customer service should be and more companies should be striving towards such a high standard. OVERALL I believe that the Lamy 2000 is one of the best choices for a fountain pen out there. Whether you are a student or a seasoned professional the iconic look of the pen and quality are bound to make you smile every time you pick it up. As for negatives, I am struggling to think of any. Maybe if you like your fountain pens to be glossy and blingy you would not like this pen but it would be hard to argue it does not deserve a spot in everyone’s collection. http://stationeryblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/DSC_7988-300x200.jpg You can read my other reviews, modifications and hacks at www.stationeryblogger.com
  7. The M805 Ocean Swirl is a stunning yet controversial 2017 Special Edition from Pelikan. While my initial view was ambivalent, in actual use, the pen has moved into the same vaunted category as the understated, equally variable, City Series San Francisco. I was fortunate enough to see seven copies among the local DC/MD stores and two additional copies from Pen friends; 9 in total. Particular thanks goes to Pen Boutique for helping me land mine. Pattern and Color Distribution: Some posts seem to hint that some pen copies may have "nearly" 100% blue-green and others verging on total black. Not what I saw and may be due to range in perception. All 9 copies had clear bands of fluorescent blue-green swirls alternating with darker bands of shimmering deep blue-black occurring in approximate quarters as a constant. None of them were nearly one color, and certainly not pitch black (see a true black pen comparison side-by-side below). Granted, as a matter of degree, two copies leaned toward the darker side a tad more, but most were ~50/50 distribution, or close. The fluorescent bands are striking when light hits them and depending on the warmth there is a bit of green peaking through, but to me its a blue-leaning teal or brilliant turquoise in most instances (Yama Dori calls!). Pattern Alignment: Much has been made of the alignment or the lack there of between the fluorescent and darker bands in some copies. This is true. Not all the pens had aligned-patterns, but most seemed to have at least one vibrant band that aligned upon choosing the right cap-thread. I am sure there are some cap/body combos out there that do not align at all, along any thread. If this is important, seeing pens in person, or getting pics may help, but unaligned patterns look quite nice to my eye when in actual use. My copy does align, but when misaligned purposefully, the darker cap still looks elegant to me (pic below). YMMV. Work-appropriateness: almost black, but not quite My Ocean swirl saw more use simply because it was not a pen that immediately attracted attention, but still had a subdued elegance about it. In conservative settings, pulling out even a marginally showy pen, may go without comment but not without notice. This pen is work appropriate. In comparison, the Burnt Orange frequently invites comment (lovely nonetheless). Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Two's Company: Here's the Ocean Swirl next to the somewhat showy Burnt Orange Nib: I chose a Fine nib. Luckily, it turned out to be a true fine, not "Pelikan- Fine". My take on it: The color pattern is truly beautiful and unique. The pattern alignment issue can't be helped unless there is a way to nail down each body to a specific cap all the way through the supply chain and retail counters: fairly a tall order once it leaves the Pelikan factory given the number of hands that may handle them. Also when misaligned, the black cap contrast actually looks ok to me in actual use, YMMV. There are scores of pens out there that cover the whole pen with a single mosaic pattern from countless manufacturers including Pelikan (M620 Chicago anyone?). What's novel in that? This is more of a brave choice from Pelikan that is fairly subtle and renders a different look from one lighted room to another. Yet I doubt they will ever try this again. Cheers!
  8. Greetings Fellow FPNers, Below are some of my thoughts on the Thyer edition of the Jinhao 911. This review turned out sounding a little more negative than I had intended, but don’t let it scare you away from this pen. Many of the good points about the Jinhao 911 have already been discussed in KingRoach’s excellent and much fuller review. My observations agree 100% with his, including the issues of potential scratching and the nib lightly touching the inside of the cap when capped. According to the Thebai Company that sells this pen, it has several distinct differences from the regular Jinhao 911: 1. The nib has been reground from 0.38mm to 0.45mm, given a better feed assembly, and tuned. 2. The plastic threaded part that connects the section to the barrel has been replaced with a metal one (newer Jinhao 911s also have the metal part). 3. A better piston converter has replaced the plunger type (newer Jinhao 911s also have this improved converter). 4. Each Thyer pen is adjusted by hand for optimal performance. 5. The Thebai logo and “Thebai Thyer” have replaced the “Jinhao 911” engraving on the cap rim. I’m not sure if it’s available outside of China, but Seele has kindly provided the link to the Taobao seller whom I bought it from. A Final Word If you want an inexpensive, lightweight, hooded nib “flighter” with a decent fine nib, then this is definitely worth your interest. Just know that the outside of the pen will scratch easily (I can already see scratches on the barrel in addition to those already on the section) and may quickly turn into a “beater” pen. The nib is average but not scratchy and flows alright with a wet ink, producing an even fine line. Is it worth paying a little more for this “hot rod” Thyer version as opposed to the standard Jinhao 911? Since I don’t have the latter to compare with, all I can say is definitely if you really want the fine nib instead of the 911’s extra fine. SDG
  9. The two minute guys have posted a review video of yet another Indian flex pen, once again made by Kanwrite, which is called the Kanwrite Standard Flex Fountain Pen. First things first, here is the review: Now, like last time, i don't know if this pen is sold by Noodlers (under its brand name) in USA or not. But it looks like a great flex pen.. I have done some research on the pen - it was manufactured by Kanwrite in 2009 and is the companies most compact fountain pen. And its very cheap for a flex pen, and the guy claims it is as good as Noodlers Ahab. Even if it is not, i think it is going to be a great introduction to the world of flex pens. Does anyone own this pen? Is it good? Please share your experience here. I am getting it from the seller and hoping to get a discount on the price and great review by the guy, btw. Kudos to him
  10. Hello again to all my FPN friends, Here is just a quick write up I did of my impressions on this lovely pen that I've been enjoying for the past few weeks. I found out about it from the hot tips here: https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/295491-chinese-pens-show-and-tell/page-50?do=findComment&comment=3957350 and here: https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/304037-hero-haifu-186-any-one-might-tell-me-how-is-the-pen/?hl=huafu&do=findComment&comment=3565597 Dimensions: - Capped = 137mm - Capless = 122mm - Posted = 152mm - Weight = 23g Photos From the Taobao seller I purchased mine from: [https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z09.2.0.0.3d59f006LXXAbr&id=549487132934&_u=52lkvpjhfc75] Review:
  11. Hi all. My apologies for being 'new' to the forum; I've lurked here for many years, and have digested countless reviews of pens and inks. My fountain pen journey began as a 16 year old, almost two decades ago, with a Waterman Phileas as a birthday present. Unbeknownst to me at the time, my youthful use cracked the section, and so for a long time I thought fountain pens were supposed to leak ink into the fingers. Needless to say, my passion quickly waned. Then in 2012 on an overseas trip, I impulse-bought a modern Sheaffer - which was a delight, and with a fine nib it was suddenly usable on all sorts of papers that I had thought the Waterman had not been (as a fat medium)...and I became interested in pens again. Over the past 5 years, I have acquired and disposed of a great many of the 'greats' - Lamy 2000, Parker 51, Pilot VP, Pilot 823, Sailor 1911, etc. With a brief peak at around 20 pens, it became obvious that I do not enjoy what many of you cherish in this hobby - the routine of cleaning and re-inking individual pens. It was clear to me that I needed to whittle the collection down to a small, but cherished, core. As I would go through up to 2 converters/cartridges of ink per day, I gravitate to piston/vacuum/other fillers. And so, having sold all the others, I was left with: a Sterling Silver Sailor 1911L with Naginata Togi nib for my first daughter's birth, a Burnt Orange M800 for my second daughter's birth, a Homo Sapiens BB nib, a 1953 Pelikan 400 Brown Tortoise, and a 1970's Omas Gentleman with super flexible gold nib. I was close to pen nirvana. I just needed one more pen, I thought... Which brings us to here. After much internal debate and consideration, I felt Conid represented most of what I loved about fountain pens - a unique mechanism, clever engineering, exclusivity, a wide selection of nibs, and the practical elements of easy cleaning and long-duration between fills of ink. Herein lies my review. I tend not to like numerical ratings, as inevitably a new purchase scores very highly and it is impossible to compare scores between pens. Apologies therefore for lots of text, and some of the pictures will have my Reddit username attached. The Ordering The Conid website is clear and concise, with lovely pictures of each model and a variety of after-purchase options. I picked out the model I most liked, thought I would not be satisfied without trying one each of the gold and titanium nibs, and put a few comments in the comments section. Within a short time, I received an email relating to my order and confirming details. I was then given an estimated ship date. Almost to the day, I received notification of package and shipping. As the pen departed Conid they sent a nice update email with pictures of my particular pen and the writing samples they generate during the testing process. DHL from Belgium to Australia took 5-real-world (ie. not business) days to arrive, including customs clearance (with a small amount of duty and import tax to pay). Pretty snappy! The Unboxing I don't like fancy boxes. They all live in a drawer, empty and unloved, at my house. The box is as shown: Utilitarian. Resembles a military ammunition box. Inside it the pen nestled nice and securely, along with the extra nibs, tools (if ordered), spare o-rings (a nice touch), instruction manual, and a lovely engraved plate: It all looks like it's made to suit function, rather than being 'pretty', and that's exactly how I like it. I've read other reviews say they'd prefer even simpler packaging to reduce cost - I think it suits the pen nicely, but that's just me. The Pen I've had TWSBIs previously, so they are my immediate comparison point. I haven't previously had a high-end demonstrator, so users of M800 demonstrators may be able to chime in. At this price point, I like my pens to feel solid and I prefer a bit of weight. I have big hands. This pen fits me better than any other I've used and feels valuable. For comparison, I feel modern 149s feel plasticky for their price point (but this is very much personal taste), and I overall don't like the light plastic feel in a high-end pen. The finish is perfect on my pen. I cannot find any imperfections that bother me. Everything is 'necessary', down to the beautifully functional clip that's machined from a solid piece of titanium. The ink sloshes around beautifully inside the body of the pen, meaning that for the first time, I somewhat regret my 'professional blue' ink choices... To summarise, even if nothing else, the feel of the pen out of the box made it clear the money spent was used wisely. The Nib As far as I'm concerned, this is what it's all about. Like many of you, I've had fluctuating experiences with the big manufacturers tending to provide nibs that write with...ahem...varying quality from the box (cough cough Visconti). The effort Conid put into checking nibs prior to shipping is evident. I ordered both an 18k Gold Medium and Medium titanium. They are both superb. I ordered both because prior reviews didn't help me pick one over the other. On the one hand, I love gold nibs and value smoothness with a hint of character. For example, I'm not the hugest fan of Sailor's "pencil on paper" feedback, even though I have retained a lovely example of their pens. But oldrifleman's review that they didn't like the pen until fitting it with titanium meant I didn't want to have any regrets. I like stubs, but not for everyday use, so I resisted the chance to modify one of these. The titanium nib is not as soft as I'm lead to believe the Size 6 nibs are. It's soft, but I don't think it's quite as springy as the Visconti Dreamtouch Palladium nibs, for example. The Conid example I have is quite smooth, though I agree with previous reviewers that there's a slight feedback of titanium like a high frequency resonance....as someone who prefers little feedback, I find it quite pleasant and it's no where near Sailor levels. However...the gold. Wow. What a nib. It's smooth, it has some softness, and it's neither too wet nor too dry for me. It's unbelievably my favourite nib in my collection right now, and that's despite my conscious effort to avoid bias towards 'a very expensive recent purchase'. It's perfect for me, and I do actually quite like the gold tone against the titanium. I think it's a little bit of show, for an otherwise not-very-showy pen, and I prefer it to the rhodinated look. Simply put, I love the gold and a week into ownership, it's been on constantly. The $60 spent on the titanium is by now means a waste, and it's incredible that it can even compete with the stunning gold nib, but I can't see myself swapping nibs very much at all. I've gone through two fills of ink, and it just grows on me more and more. Conid nailed this one! Summary This pen arrived in Australia at considerable cost. The Euro to AUD is not kind, and further import duty stung a little. It's my most expensive pen. However. Everything about this pen is exactly as I wanted it. The experience purchasing from Conid was one of outstanding communication and as-promised service. This pen meets my needs as the ultimate daily user perfectly. It holds bucket loads of ink, looks pretty doing so, writes like a dream, and somehow flies under the radar without being excessively opulently flashy, with just a hint of bling with the gold poking out from the nib. It joins the final collection, complements it perfectly, and (hopefully) obviates any further pen purchases for the indefinite future. Overall, I love it! I highly recommend Conid pens to people with similar likes to me.





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