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This is a review and comparison of competing brands of essentially the same fountain pen -- the Platinum Curidas and the Lanbitou 3088. After Platinum began selling its relatively recent Curidas model in 5 transparent colors, the Chinese pen maker, Lanbitou, came out with it's version of the Curidas, which Lanbitou designated the "3088." In virtually all respects, except the badging, the two brands offer identical pens. The biggest difference is the retail pricing; the Curidas sports an SRP of $90, but the 3088 can be purchased within a range, in USD, of around $9 and a bit more. The question is whether the Curidas is 10-times better than the 3088. It is not. In fact, in my estimation, the two pens are so comparable in appearance, build quality, and performance that the 3088 is the much better value. However, the 3088's resale value, if you try to sell one, will be much less than that of the Curidas, primarily because the Curidas is a Platinum product. I recently purchased all 12 color options of the 3088, but will compare its transparent teal version with the transparent teal version of the Curidas. Notwithstanding the color variation in the first two photos, in fact the color of each pen is virtually the same, and I would describe it as a greenish-blue or teal. Held to the light, it appears that the Curidas' color is a bit more saturated than that of the 3088. The third photo of the middle-inside of each pen is provided to show one (surprising?) difference between the pens. Notice that the Curidas has a plastic sleeve over its converter, while the less-expensive 3088 has a metal (brass? copper?) sleeve in the same location. Perhaps the metal on the 3088 accounts for the 1 g weight difference. Other than that difference, the pens work exactly the same inside in terms of filling by converter. Here are some objective comparisons: Weight empty: Curidas 24 g ; 3088 25 g. Weight after filling, expelling air and filling twice: Curidas 28 g ; 3088 26 g ; did the 3088's converter not work as well as the Curidas'? Length: exactly the same -- approximately 5 7/8 inches. (Sorry to mix metric and English systems) After filling each pen, each with a fine nib, each wrote immediately. The Curidas writes a bit wetter-thicker than the 3088. There is no question in my mind that the Curidas' fine stainless steel nib has more give (albeit limited) and feels better than that of the 3088, the nib of which is extremely firm and perhaps nail-like. When clicking the button to hide the nib, the Curidas manifested some hesitation (even after I removed and returned its spring), but did close, whereas the 3088 clicked closed immediately. If price is no object, I prefer the Curidas for its slightly more saturated color, its better-feeling nib, and its higher market value. However, for those not concerned with market value and slight color saturation difference, the 3088 is a superior value by far. As I mentioned earlier, I purchased one of each of the 12 colors of the 3088. In addition to the four transparent colors (whereas the Curidas offers five transparent colors, also including a true blue), the 3088 offers 8 solid colors (not offered at all in the Curidas line). The Curidas transparent colors offered are: clear, grey, red, teal, and blue. The 3088 transparent colors offered are: clear, grey, red, and teal (why not blue?). The 3088 solid colors offered are: black, grey, white, blue, red, pink, cocoa, and light green. I purchased my twelve 3088s on Ebay from a seller who shipped for free. When I checked today on Ebay about pricing, it appeared that the price of the 3088s increased, but that impression may have been mistaken. I noticed that just about every Ebay seller of the 3088s from China "advertised" a lower price than actually is charged when one "selects" the color and nib (either EF or F), which is disturbing; one cannot actually find the pen with the advertised price. On the other hand, the real price was so inexpensive for what I got that I didn't quibble.

Given the assertion often made by others that Sailor kiwaguro pigment ink is (totally, utterly, 100%, or some other adjective meaning absolutely) waterproof, which I know is not factually true, and the assertion I've often made about Sailor souboku and seiboku being completely waterproof (which I now know is also not factually true), I decided to put the nine pigment inks I have to the test. They are: Pelikan Fount India black inkPlatinum Black Carbon InkPlatinum Brun Sepia Pigment InkSailor kiwaguro black inkSailor souboku blue-black inkSailor seiboku blue-black inkSailor STORiA Night Blue inkSailor STORiA Magic Purple inkSailor STORiA Lion Light Brown ink These inks shed colour observably while the page was being soaked in a bath of clean water: and this photo of the page after drying attests that the three blue-black and blue inks are in fact not completely waterproof, even though they fared much better Pelikan Fount India and Sailor kiwaguro: Out of the black inks, only Platinum Black Carbon Ink is completely waterproof. I cannot see any colour come off either Sailor STORiA Lion Light Brown or Platinum Brun Sepia Pigment Ink with my naked eye during or after soaking, and it may take a new test with a full page of writing with one of those inks individually for me to know for sure, but for now I'll also assume that they're completely waterproof. Of course, writing in all of the pigment inks tested remained very legible. Here's the full page after drying. (Click to bring up a larger image.)

Two designs to be correct: https://www.instagram.com/p/DQCzlKDESGJ/ Buy as long they are still available. Platinum Izumo Aurora Platinum Izumo Urokomon

Hello, I read in a review of this pen that the nib unit is not supposed to come out. https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/291490-platinum-3776-century-chartres-blue-soft-fine-nib/ However, my nib and feed comes out without even a tug. I just have to pull it out casually. Is this supposed to be a bad thing? Thank you.

I haven't seen too much worthwhile offered at half-price or better in Dymocks on George Street in Sydney CBD for the past three months (when I bothered to drop in to have a browse at its Pen Bar), but today I spotted these (most likely single unit only) offers:

Don't know if this is a Platinum Karakusa pattern black the top two pics. The last two are the pocket pen, which I think is the 3000. The reason I am asking is for two reason. I think karakusa due to the patterns. But I am not sure because it has a steel nib instead of gold. I got them both for 40 bucks. Also would a modern platinum converter fit them both?

Just a quick poll. Have a couple extra dollars that I fell into and am considering these two pens. Which would you go for and why?

Hello every one, Nice to meet you all! I'm new to this forum and to fountain pens too! I just discovered the fun of fountain pens few months back and I'm now totally immersed in it. I just got my first gold-nib pen, which is the Platinum #3776 Chartres Blue SF nib. I was excited when I opened it, but when I inked it and wrote, I found it very, very dry. If I apply no pressure on it, the lines look washed out at best, or worse almost skipped. I tried first with Iroshizuku horsetail ink, then now I tired Sailor Kiwa Guro ink. Both have the same results. If I apply some pressure on it, however, the result looks ok. However, I expected that I can write without effort even with no pressure, just like my Pilot Metropolitan F nib pen does. Is this pen faulty or it is expected? Can I adjust it somehow to make it wetter even if I apply no pressure when writing? I have attached picture. The first 'quick brown fox' was written with no pressure, the 2nd one was with a bit force. Many thanks to you all!

I have Sailor 1911 L Sailor Compass aka Profit Junior Platinum 3776 Century Platinum President Pilot 74 Pilot 78g Muji pen

https://www.platinum-pen.co.jp/news/11719/ https://www.platinum-pen.co.jp/news/11708/ Source: K. Itoya Source: Platinum Pen (Location shown is inside K. Itoya store) I cannot get more discernible detail by zooming in, but could it be that the column of grey-to-black on the advertising poster is showing where Platinum Carbon Black ink's level of blackness sits relative to the new Platinum Chou Kuro ink?

When I checked my Junk Mail folder just now, I saw Bunbougu.com.au is having an End of Financial Year sale. Funny what Outlook decides to toss aside as junk mail, when I'm a repeat customer of Bunbougu (who only hit it when good discounts are on offer). (You don't need me to give you the applicable discount codes, when they're posted on the site's home page.) I had a quick note, and while there aren't really good offers for ink and fountain pen friendly paper products that I could spot at a glance, these caught my eye: the discontinued Pilot Petit1 fountain pens — even though the discounted price is still significantly higher than the product's retail price in the Japanese domestic market, back when it was easily available, for now it's lower than any price you'd see on AliExpress for such, once shipping from China (and tax, if applicable) is taken into account I think there are 17 units left in stock, across three colours, in total Sailor Shikiori Amaoto, or ‘Sound of Rain’, in the darker of two greens is discounted to half-price, making it competitive with the (fluctuating, and sometimes here-today-gone-tomorrow) lowest discounted price for it I've seen on Amazon.com.au Platinum #3776 Celluloid ‘Koi’ is half-priced, making the offer competitive with the lowest offer for it I've seen on Amazon.com.au in the past three years two units with F nibs remain — although it's the only #3776 Celluloid variant I don't yet have, and the discounted price is much cheaper now than its current retail price in the Japanese domestic market, I didn't pick one up the Pilot Capless in matt blue, with a choice of F or M nib, is decently priced after the discount on offer, and rather less than what I paid for mine some years ago the Lamy 2000 in brushed steel is I supposed decently or competitively priced, after applying the 30% discount, given the pricing adjustments over the past 12 to 18 months; but I haven't been (and still aren't) interested enough to have paid closer attention to know for sure

Picked this one up from a Japanese online auction. The nib is 18k WG <M>. I've seen some old posts that mention a pen with a "wave" pattern, but the images are all on dead websites, and I couldn't conclude anything about this pen from the text.

A number of Platinum Curidas fountain pens on Amazon for under $50. Most notably the Urban Green one with Fine nib for $37: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08443VTWW Not the most popular pens, I know, but at less than half retail it's an opportunity, if you want to scratch that itch on the cheap.

Hi, I just recently bought a new converter for my old Platinum PKB-2000 which is a Pocket Pen. My old converter was gone when my dad accidentaly threw it away. Anyway, this topic is just a remake from a2z's old topic. I'm just gonna make it clearer from the image, because the how to is the same as it was from a2z's old topic. You can find the original old topic from here: a2z original topic. As for the how to, I'll rephrase it with my own words: First of all, the tools needed: Cutting mat(I use Joyko CM-A3, but any cutting mat will do, as long as you have ruler if they don't have built-in ruler like what mine has, mine was bought intially for gunpla, lol), and Cutter(I used Kenko L-500, but any cutter that's not dull will do). Steps: First, you must turn the rotating stem on the converter counter-clockwise, so that the plunger go all the way to the other end of the converter. Second, if you have a cutting mat just like mine(see the picture below), you can just cut through the rotating stem leaving 0,5cm of it. And voila! You have a converter that fit into your Platinum Pocket Pen. Note: You can only fill the ink until the plunger rod hit the same length as the rotating stem, but it's still waaaaay better than using a cartridge, isn't it? Here's the picture to help you imagine and decide the cutting line to the rotating stem. I hope it helps whoever needed this guide. Cheers! ' Link for videos on the process: video on YouTube.

Not sure if this has been posted but fascinating video on the amount of care that goes into a Platinum 3776

Platinum Curidas LE Matte Black circa 2023 Here is a lazy review to match a lazy redux. The new 2023 Platinum Curidas is a ... wait for it... Curidas in a new suit or dress, if you prefer. If you liked the previous PMMA clear crystal pen housing that unique quick push to deploy smooth writing experience, you'll probably like this one too! Past review still holds sans broken feed QC issues. So now that we got that out of the way, a Curidas is a Curidas is a Curidas What's different? 🤔 Body: You like the feel of matte slick smooth rubber? Hard to describe but definitely preferred over the clear plastic shell. Feels like seal-healing if I poked it with a pin. Length is the same (left to right: Procyon, Curidas LE, Curidas ye olde) Any differences other than furniture? Spring looks shinier maybe oxidation from age or new parts supplier? Note the nib unit with the converter is the new LE version loaded with Pilot Black Clip: cannot confirm if it is plastic coated metal or just plastic, looks like is is removable but I keep mine on. Nibs: restricted to F or M but since it's a Curidas, swap with old clear versions for an EF. I chose Fine and it also writes smoothly in reverse. NO CRACKED FEED ! I think Platinum is probably hyper vigilant with quality control given the previous incidents with feeds. Is it worth it? Since it is 2023, here's what large language model Bardy Bard has to say about... Prompt: What's new with Platinum Curidas? (human edits) Platinum Curidas is a retractable fountain pen that was first released in 2020. (TRUE!) It has been well-received by fountain pen enthusiasts (EH?), and in 2023, Platinum released three new matte finishes for the Curidas: Matte Blue, Matte Black, and Matte Red. (Yep!) These new pens are sold as a set that includes the pen, a converter, a cartridge of ink, and a bottle of Platinum Aurora Blue Mix-Free Ink. (too lazy to shoot these accessories, think pen + extras = the $96 USD asking price) In addition to the new matte finishes, Platinum has also made some minor improvements to the Curidas. (darn straight!) The clip is now slightly larger and more comfortable to use (uh, you'll need a micrometer to see a difference), and the inner cap has been redesigned to prevent ink from leaking. (I can't see it) The Platinum Curidas is a great choice for anyone who wants a reliable and stylish retractable fountain pen. (YES!) The new matte finishes offer a more modern look, and the minor improvements make the pen even more comfortable to use. (smooth and silky, is it worth the extra? only if you like the original Curidas) Here is a summary of the new features of the Platinum Curidas: Three new matte finishes: Matte Blue, Matte Black, and Matte Red Larger and more comfortable clip (no clip difference) Redesigned inner cap to prevent ink leakage (unable to dissect) The Platinum Curidas is a limited edition pen, so if you're interested in getting one, I recommend acting soon. (AI is becoming sentient or this large language model probably been scraping again) Finally this PSA from Luxury Brands via PenChalet: Keep the spring on! Lest be bent or lost

There is quite a bit of color variation between pens. I expected the flex pen to be the darkest because it is so wet, but I was surprised that the 580 was so light - it is usually wetter than the Eco. (I'm speculating, but maybe the Eco isn't sealed quite as well, so perhaps the ink has already begun oxidizing before it hits the paper?)

We got some design ideas from your neighbor country, didn't we?

Hi there! I am looking for some help in identifying this pen I bought (currently in transit to me) I've spent way too much time searching and I thought I'd ask for help so I can possibly continue on with my day! It looks like a Century 3776 Body with a 14k 'wingfold' nib (idk if that's the correct term for this style but I'm going with it for now-feel free to correct me with the correct term!) The other really strange thing about this pen is the dome on the cap. It's not smooth like the #3776 pens...It seems to have ridges. Any information you could pass along will be much appreciated!!