Aurora Sole Mini - A Closer Look

[wspohn]

Excellent review which I also somehow missed.

 

I am a maxi, not mini sort of guy, but now you have me lusting after the full size Sole! O Sole mio....venuto a me.....

[Russ]

Laura, outstanding review!! Documenting via photos and text as you unwrapped your exciting package - - not only the true indicator of a real pen lover, but a treat for us as well!

 

Say three times: "I'm not going to buy another pen; I'm not going to buy another pen..."

[MYU]

Laura, this is truly an outstanding review--very professional and conveys your true feelings for the Aurora Sole Mini. It sounds like you got yourself a phenomenal pen that will serve you well for many years to come. I can definitely relate to what you said about becoming an Aurora-only girl; when you get a fountain pen that meets your every expectation, why write with anything else?

 

Ah yes, diversity is the spice of life. You can't own just *one* fountain pen!

 

And in line with that statement, I am becoming fearful of reading your future reviews--every one of your reviews highly tempts me to buy the pen!!

[Phthalo]

QUOTE

And in line with that statement, I am becoming fearful of reading your future reviews--every one of your reviews highly tempts me to buy the pen!

Really? How odd... <Insert evil laughter here>

[alvarez57]

Laura:

Very, very, VERY NICE PEN. Good detailed review, I liked it. I've been watching this pen for the longest, but alas! it's too small for my hand! How does it compare to the Omas Dama? I have one (got it for the price of +/- USD 200) and it gets lost in my hand, even if it's capped!

And it's darn true, seeing the reviews here....... well, in less than 2 mo I've bought 4 pens!

If you don't mind, which camera do you use?

Edited February 27, 2007 by alvarez57

[Phthalo]

Hi Sonia,

 

The Aurora is slightly shorter that the Omas Dama when capped (~0.8mm) and posted (~1cm), though the Aurora is slightly thicker around the middle of the barrow, the grip section is quite narrow.

 

For images, I use a digital SLR with a 100mm Macro lens, or a standard 50mm lens - the body is an 8MP Canon EOS 20D.

 

It's a shame you and smaller pens aren't compatible - so many small pens are so pretty!

 

If you ever want to part with the Dama, give me a heads up - I collect the Dama and Princess models!

[jonro]

Thanks for an excellent review. That particular pen is too small for my hands, but I would definitely consider a larger Aurora in the future, based on this review.

[Anne-Sophie]

Thank You for a great review of cute small pens.

 

Thank goodness they are much too small for me.

 

That is lucky for hubby, because pens that are that cute are definitaly asking for matching cute clutch purses and fun costume jewellery. Especially now that the spring collections are coming yummm

 

 

Disclamers: I will take the 5th if Hubbies ask why they are finding their side of the closet invaded by pastel and girly stuff "to match my cute pen".

Edited February 27, 2007 by Anne-Sophie

[alvarez57]

QUOTE (Phthalo @ Feb 27 2007, 06:15 AM)

Hi Sonia, The Aurora is slightly shorter that the Omas Dama when capped (~0.8mm) and posted (~1cm), though the Aurora is slightly thicker around the middle of the barrow, the grip section is quite narrow. It's a shame you and smaller pens aren't compatible - so many small pens are so pretty! If you ever want to part with the Dama, give me a heads up - I collect the Dama and Princess models!

Hi Laura!

 

OOOOH! Too small !

I think you have this one already, now the nib is B as you can see below. It was new when I bought it and I used it for maybe 4 months and sent it to get fixed (for the control quality control issue Omas is known for -leaking) I do not remember if I used it after the repair for it's too small and it cramped my hand.

I know, there are a lot of nice small pens around but thank God I can go with the larger pens (again, NOT the M Dolce Vita, too fat though).

Let me first investigate $$ and I'll let you know.

[alvarez57]

Sorry! But I haven't got the time NOR the patience to deal with Photobucket... is there a more user friendly/moron-proof system than Photobucket?

[Phthalo]

Darn Sonia, that's the same colour I have! Poo.

 

Thanks for the photo though - can't have enough Omas prettiness to look at.

[alvarez57]

Laura;

check out these links

 

http://cgi.ebay.it/stilografica-blue-dama-...1QQcmdZViewItem

 

http://www.penseller.com/pages/omas.htm In saft Green and Omas Dama Green

 

and

 

http://www.pensinasia.com/omas_celluloid_pens.htm

 

Hope this helps to your perdition!!!!! (wicked laugh)

[Dillo]

Hi,

 

I collect the Princess and Dama models too, but I like the Princesses more since they are smaller. The Princess is just the perfect size for my hand and I can write at my full speed and clarity with it. I write A LOT better when I am using something the right size. Right now, I am waiting for my Aurora 88 full-sized Demo to arrive, but I always have to modify my grip to fit on such large pens and my hand hurts after. I do have an Aurora 88P which is fairly large to my standards, but it's ok since I'm a lot better adapting my grip to pens with tapered sections.

I also have an Aurora Madamin which is only a little bigger than my preferred size, but it's a lot better than the 88P for my hand. My next one is an Optima mini I think. Which one do you think I should get? The Sole is very pretty too.

 

Dillon

[Phthalo]

Sonia: $350 for the Dama... ouch. I know for a fact that the seller from the last URL you posted wants $480 for a Princess... double ouch!

 

Dillo: What trim do you prefer? The Burgundy Mini looks *really* good with it's bright rhodium trim. Then again, the Yellow of the Sole looks awesome with the contrasting black jewels...

 

Buy both.

[alvarez57]

QUOTE (Phthalo @ Feb 28 2007, 05:58 AM)

Sonia: $350 for the Dama... ouch. I know for a fact that the seller from the last URL you posted wants $480 for a Princess... double ouch! Dillo: What trim do you prefer? The Burgundy Mini looks *really* good with it's bright rhodium trim. Then again, the Yellow of the Sole looks awesome with the contrasting black jewels... Buy both.

Laura:

 

Yep! They hurt, especially when I payed like USD 230 for this weeny Omas...

 

[Dillo]

Hmm...Buy both sounds good. I wonder how far I can get though. I'm glad I'm not getting an Omas 360 vision anymore because I found out how the piston mechanism of the pen worked by looking through the lines of my green arco Princess last night. (And yes, I was going to check my ink reservoir capacity compared to my other Princess which is about 1.5MM larger) Funny thing though is that Omas has not changed the design of the piston mechanism for 50 years at least. The workings of my Omas 361 is exactly the same. I like it because you don't need to turn the cap nearly so much to fill and the mechanism is very positive-feeling.

 

Anyway, to check the ink level of an Omas celluloid pen, I typically shine a flashlight through to see. You can look through the layers of material on the Arco.

 

Dillon

[sallywally]

Aurora is Italy’s largest and most acclaimed pen manufacturer. Founded in Turin, Aurora have been making stunning writing instruments since 1919. Their collection includes inexpensive ballpoints, well-known classics such as the 88 and Optima, and beautiful limited edition items. Aurora writing instruments are predominately constructed from precious metals, patented shatter-proof resin, or marbled celluloid-acetate known as ‘Auroloide’.

 

<span style='font-size:15pt;line-height:100%'>AURORA SOLE AUREA MINIMA (SOLE ‘MINI’)</span>

Limited Edition, 750 Fountain Pens.

 

<span style='font-size:13pt;line-height:100%'>First Impressions</span>

 

The first Aurora I thought I would buy was the Optima Mini, the size and colour being the main attraction. However, when the identically sized and very beautiful Sole Mini range was launched, I knew it was for me. The original Aurora Sole was a full-size Limited Edition fountain pen released in 1996, and the 2006 Aurora Sole Minima range celebrates the tenth anniversary of the Sole LE.

 

I purchased my Sole Mini from Oscar Braun, and found Pam to be a total pleasure to deal with. Payment was easy, and shipping was super-fast, with my Aurora arriving in Australia two days before it was expected! Somehow I managed to finish a couple of chores I had been doing around the house, before I finally took the package into my office. I setup up a camera, opened the package and started documenting the heavenly experience of handling my first Aurora.

 

http://www.ciar-roisin.net/photos/sole/6614-01.jpg

 

Inside the box was the tiny, very cute and very bright leatherette presentation case, which barely measures 5” long.

 

http://www.ciar-roisin.net/photos/sole/6616-01.jpg

 

Aside from this gorgeous pebble-texture case, the instruction / warranty booklet was the only other thing inside the box. I like this minimalist approach very much. When I bought my Montegrappa, the opulence of the box made me instantly wonder how much I was paying for the packaging.

 

http://www.ciar-roisin.net/photos/sole/6618-01.jpg

 

The Sole Mini, in all its tiny glory.

 

<span style='font-size:13pt;line-height:100%'>Appearance / Finish (5*)</span>

 

The barrel and cap are made from turned and highly-polished Auroloide - a beautiful and rich marbled celluloid. The colour is ‘Yellow Marble’, the only colour the Sole Mini is available in. Generally, the Sole Mini looks a vivid orange-yellow colour, but when the light catches it, the colour shifts to a pure golden-yellow that glows with warm highlights.

 

http://www.ciar-roisin.net/photos/sole/6627-01.jpg

 

The barrel section, piston knob and cap-end and made from glossy black resin with gold-plated accents. The colour contrast is very complimentary and striking. The pen is beautifully constructed, with all parts secure and flush fitted. I couldn’t find a single blemish.

 

http://www.ciar-roisin.net/photos/sole/6643-01.jpg

 

Anxious to preserve this perfect finish, I looked through my pen boxes and found a small leather pouch from one of my Jean Pierre Lepine pens (above). The Sole Mini fits neatly inside this pouch, and can now safely travel around with me.

 

<span style='font-size:13pt;line-height:100%'>Design / Size (5*)</span>

 

The gold-plated cap clip is gently tapered, and ends with a pronounced ball, making it slide quite easily onto a shirt pocket. The number of each limited edition pen is engraved in gold into the flat, black resin cap-end, and positioned opposite the cap clip. The cap features a gold-plated band with a burnished double-border which is engraved with a Greek key design and ‘AURORA’. The inner cap threads are turned from extra material on the cap itself, with the cap unscrewing in one full turn, then posting onto the end of the barrel.

 

The black resin nib section is warm and smooth to the touch, with Aurora positioning the cap threads at the beginning of the section, closest to the nib. This is contrary to most designers, where the threads are high on the section. I like the position of the Sole Mini threads, as sometimes my long nails can make things hard to handle and these threads provide nice grip. The section features a small ink view window, which is subtly nestled between two gold-plated bands.

 

http://www.ciar-roisin.net/photos/sole/6624-01.jpg

<span style='font-size:8pt;line-height:100%'>(Small Pens: Orange Montegrappa Micra, Green/Black Pelikan M300, Aurora Sole Minima.)</span>

 

As a lover of small pens, the compact and well-balanced size of Sole Mini is utterly perfect for my hand. At 4.4” (113mm) long when capped, this pen is a delightful little handful. Uncapped, it measures 4.1” (105mm) long, and with the cap posted, just over 5.3” (135mm) long. A half-inch shorter than a M400, both pens weigh about the same when filled, with the Sole Mini having a slightly more solid, quality feel.

 

<span style='font-size:13pt;line-height:100%'>Nib Design / Performance (5*)</span>

 

Aurora nib design primarily consists of single-toned, solid gold nibs with attractive scrollwork and circular vent holes. The Sole Mini features a beautiful and small solid 18K yellow gold nib, whose delicate appearance and size compliment the pen perfectly. The nib is slightly smaller than the nib on my M300, and as with most of my pens, I chose an Extra Fine point.

 

After I had ordered my Sole Mini, I thought about how devastated I would be if the Extra Fine nib did not live up to my expectations. Many manufacturers appear to have no clue as to how an EF nib should perform, and as someone with extremely small handwriting, I have simply found most ‘EF’ nibs to be woefully disappointing (the Sheaffer 14K Triumph Extra Fine and Account nibs are my benchmark). But, upon examining the nib of my Sole Mini, I was comforted to find a very small point, and after filling the pen, I began writing with what I can honestly say is a true and correct Extra Fine nib.

 

Oh. The. Joy.

 

The utter joy of buying a pen, requesting a nib, and simply getting a nib which writes exactly as you hoped for is a joy I do not often experience. I was so impressed that I began to have wild thoughts about selling my Pelikan and Montegrappa pens and becoming an Aurora-only girl.

 

The firm EF nib writes beautifully and with minimal line variation - it is a real pleasure to use. I cannot really comment on the Aurora 'tooth, because all of my nibs have feedback, but I did find the feedback from my 18K Aurora EF to be almost the same as the feedback from my 14K Sailor EF (the Sailor is a slightly more wet writer also).

 

http://www.ciar-roisin.net/photos/sole/6658-01.jpg

 

I have filled the pen with an ink I mixed specially for the occasion. It is a dark golden-ochre shade, and was created primarily from R&K Helianthus, PR Shoreline Gold and PR Copper Burst. In the Sole Mini the ink flow is extremely well controlled, and I imagine thicker inks may feel a little drier than normal in this pen. I have not experienced any skipping or hesitation from the nib, and when left uncapped for a half-hour, I wrote easily on the first stroke.

 

<span style='font-size:13pt;line-height:100%'>Filling System (5*)</span>

 

The Sole Mini features a piston-filler system and thus fills exclusively via a bottle. The piston mechanism operates firmly - but not stiffly - and the piston knob feels solid and secure when turned. I would estimate that the ink capacity is similar to that of a Pelikan M300.

 

<span style='font-size:13pt;line-height:100%'>Cost / Value (5*)</span>

 

The US RRP of the Aurora Sole Minima is in excess of $450US, but street prices are easily one hundred dollars less. At present this pen is not yet available in Australia, and when I inquired locally for pricing, I was told that the RRP will be almost $900AU. By purchasing online from the US I saved 50%, and am able to own a pen which would otherwise be out of my reach.

 

Similarly priced and sized pens I considered in place of the Sole Mini, included the Pelikan Souverän M450/M425, the Omas 360 Mezzo, and the Omas Princess. Eventually I decided that: a) although I own five Pelikans, I find them too plastic-y and their F&EF nibs are to wet and awful, the 360 Mezzo only fills via a cartridge, c) Princess discontinued thus overpriced and rare to find EF nibs now. While there is no doubt that Pelikan piston-fillers are terrific value for money, I have happily paid extra for my Sole Mini with better construction, and a far superior nib. I could have purchased a Souverän and had the nib modified, but why would I, when my personal nib preferences can be met by a brand which gives me a pen which writes correctly out of the box.

 

I do feel the Sole Minima could be a little cheaper, as it is essentially a yellow Optima Mini – the specifications are identical. However, it is new, and a LE, and I’m so pleased with it that I can forgive Aurora for the extra $$$ and marketing hype.

 

I'm so pleased in fact, that if Aurora made the Sole Mini LE in three different shades of yellow, I'd buy all three. However as those three little yellow pens are just a little fantasy of mine, I will console myself by buying the Aurora Optima Mini later in the year.

 

<span style='font-size:13pt;line-height:100%'>Final Thoughts</span>

 

The Aurora Sole Minima is my first Limited Edition fountain pen, and as far as LE pens go, the well-priced Sole Minima is an attractive choice. The sturdy construction and beautiful celluloid finish, along with the piston-filler and truly Extra Fine nib, make the Sole Mini a wonderful pen to own.

 

http://www.ciar-roisin.net/photos/sole/6661-01.jpg

I loved all the Aurora LEs - the Sole above all! But I felt too expensive to buy. I finally bought an Aurora Style yellow XF for barely $100 and enjoy it very much! It has been supplanted by a Sailor with the ultrasuperfine Saibi Togi nib and the Nakaya XF nib...I would still love that tiny little Aurora, though! A great review and a wonderful little pen!