Press Release on the 23ct Palladium nib From Visconti

[Bryant]

If you have not seen the press release for this nib, here it is...

 

 

Visconti introduces the first ever made nib in 23 ct 950 Palladium.

 

The international classification system lists only four precious metals and their related titles: platinum, palladium, gold and silver. Of these metals Visconti has been producing 18 ct gold nibs, 14 ct gold nibs on a regular basis and years ago also produced Platinum 800 nibs.

 

The advantages and disadvantages of gold nibs are well-known, while platinum nibs have proven to be excessively stiff. Although a precious metal silver is not suitable to fountain pen nib manufacturing due to the strong corrosion ink has on silver.

 

Palladium though has very interesting physical features when employed in the production of fountain pen nibs due to its strength and resistance to corrosion and, for these reasons, unlike gold, it can be used almost solid.

 

Palladium melts at much higher temperatures than gold – 1522°C against only 1063°C – hence it is obvious that any manufacturing process is more difficult and more expensive in palladium. Being more resistant than gold it also has better mechanical features, but it is as the same time more expensive.

 

Nowadays manufacturing palladium nibs is possible thanks to new metal fusion technologies and to the welding of iridium points.

 

Palladium has been the fundamental chemical element of 1989 Pons and Fleischmann cold fusion theory.

 

Main features:

 

Value: the 23 ct 950 palladium nib is the nib with the highest value ever manufactured in the history of the fountain pen. In other words, it has 95% pure palladium against, for example, 75% of pure gold in an 18 ct gold nib and 58% in a 14 ct gold nib.

 

Flexibility and Memory: are best possible for any kind of writing, increased of 30% compared to the 18 ct gold nib.

 

Writing comfort and reliability are guaranteed.

 

Resistance: to ink corrosion increased up to 100% thanks to the pureness of the material to a point at which no plating treatment is required.

 

Originality: the palladium nib will render even more exclusive your Visconti, either as collection piece or as a daily use fountain pen.

 

Broadness range:

XXF (extra extra fine)

XF (extra fine)

F (fine)

M (medium)

B (broad)

BB (double broad)

S ( stub)

OF ( fine oblique)

OM (medium oblique)

OB ( broad oblique)

[eric47]

Thanks, missed that.

 

And what's the MSRP on a Palladium nib versus an 18K?

Edited November 26, 2009 by eric47

[jlepens]

Humm! 30% more flex than 18k!

[AltecGreen]

Ok I must ask.

 

 

When will the nibs be available? Are these an option on new pens or is this going to replace the gold nibs? Now I need to find a Visconti pen I want to buy?

 

 

I applaud Visconti for making this move. It's pretty smart too since the spot price of palladium is 1/3 the current price of gold. The historic high for palladium is one half of current gold prices.

[Bryant]

Thanks, missed that.

 

And what's the MSRP on a Palladium nib versus an 18K?

I am pretty sure its the same, but I will find out for sure.

 

Humm! 30% more flex than 18k!

 

Yeah, we will see... I should have some next week...

[Bryant]

Ok I must ask.

 

 

When will the nibs be available? Are these an option on new pens or is this going to replace the gold nibs? Now I need to find a Visconti pen I want to buy?

 

 

I applaud Visconti for making this move. It's pretty smart too since the spot price of palladium is 1/3 the current price of gold. The historic high for palladium is one half of current gold prices.

 

They will be released in January, but I will be getting some on my new LE Ripples. Or at least thats the plan. I dont think the plan is to replace. I think its smart to see how it goes, before doing something that drastic.

 

As for finding a Visconti... I can help there!

[AltecGreen]

 

 

As for finding a Visconti... I can help there!

 

 

I don't think I need any more help. Looks at the Templari. Thank god it's time to leave for my aunt's house for Thanksgiving.

 

We were talking about sending you the Bay Area Pen Posse Evil Dealer Award for 2009.

[Bryant]

We were talking about sending you the Bay Area Pen Posse Evil Dealer Award for 2009.

Excellent....

 

 

 

 

As for finding a Visconti... I can help there!

 

 

I don't think I need any more help. Looks at the Templari. Thank god it's time to leave for my aunt's house for Thanksgiving.

 

Yeah, the Templari will be nice with Palladium nib!

[Deirdre]

Wow, those would be fun to have.

 

So they did have platinum nibs after all, it wasn't just a rumor.

 

Another grail to add to the list.....

[offbase]

We were talking about sending you the Bay Area Pen Posse Evil Dealer Award for 2009.

Excellent....

 

 

 

 

As for finding a Visconti... I can help there!

 

 

I don't think I need any more help. Looks at the Templari. Thank god it's time to leave for my aunt's house for Thanksgiving.

 

Yeah, the Templari will be nice with Palladium nib!

 

Would've been nice if they had developed the nib on time to include on the Templari as announced. I guess through the production run, there will be both 18k & Palladium variants?

[Ghost Plane]

Oh my....where's that droolie?

[Silvermink]

They will be released in January, but I will be getting some on my new LE Ripples. Or at least thats the plan.

 

Shoot - time to start socking away money.

[diplomat]

Ok. Just bear in mind that Sheaffer's use Palladium in nibs for ages. Possibly Visconti found some new technique to be used but the use of the material itself is not new.

 

Ciao,

[Deirdre]

Ok. Just bear in mind that Sheaffer's use Palladium in nibs for ages. Possibly Visconti found some new technique to be used but the use of the material itself is not new.

I think the point was that it'd never been that pure a palladium nib and that making it that pure offered a new feel.

[Kamiyashi]

I can't wait until these come out, to say the least~!

[Ghost Plane]

Mmmmmmmmmm. BB might be fun to try. But stubs are so luscious. Wonder how their OBs run?

 

Oh dang. There goes the pen budget for next year and it's not even next year. Whimper...

[Bryant]

Wow, those would be fun to have.

 

So they did have platinum nibs after all, it wasn't just a rumor.

 

Another grail to add to the list.....

Yeah, well this press release says they had platinum, but on the Empire it should have had a platinum nib and it came with a 18k, and as far as everyone I have talked to, they have never seen a platinum nib. If someone has... Please speak up... Although I dont think it would be very nice to write with.

 

 

Would've been nice if they had developed the nib on time to include on the Templari as announced. I guess through the production run, there will be both 18k & Palladium variants?

 

For sure, but... If you bought a Templari from me and want to swap the nib out with a Palladium nib, when they are available. I would be more than happy to do that.

Bry

[saintsimon]

...

Visconti introduces the first ever made nib in 23 ct 950 Palladium.

......

Value: the 23 ct 950 palladium nib is the nib with the highest value ever manufactured in the history of the fountain pen. In other words, it has 95% pure palladium against, for example, 75% of pure gold in an 18 ct gold nib and 58% in a 14 ct gold nib....

They missed the 23 Kt gold Sailor nibs from the Japanese carat wars era.

[Garageboy]

Anyone know the modulus of elasticity of Palladium?

[jlepens]

Mmmmmmmmmm. BB might be fun to try. But stubs are so luscious. Wonder how their OBs run?

 

Oh dang. There goes the pen budget for next year and it's not even next year. Whimper...

 

Tell me about the budget. And this morning I see the Bryant Ripple! Down the rabbit hole again!