Rotring Newton Review

[drunken spider]

I recently added to my growing collection by going German again with a Rotring Newton 600 in copper. I think this is quite an interesting pen and thought a review would be nice. But first I checked to see what other reviews were about (if any). Turns out there are a few good reviews of this pen giving quite diverse opinions and all available through the review index here. The only thing I thought they might be lacking were some pictures (no offence ) so I will keep the words on this one short, but let the pics do the talking

 

 

First Impressions (1-10) - Comes in a stylish shaped metal case and looks interesting. 7/10

 

 

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll19/swiftshine/box.jpg

 

 

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll19/swiftshine/box-side.jpg

 

 

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll19/swiftshine/boxed.jpg

 

 

Appearance & Design (1-10) - Modern looking with the hexagon shape and slant cut ends and chrome detailing. Probably a bit of a 'marmite' look. I quite like it. 8/10

 

 

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll19/swiftshine/capped-top.jpg

 

 

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll19/swiftshine/capped-side.jpg

 

 

…Construction & Quality (1-10) - Seems well built for the money. Perhaps the section could have been made of a nicer plastic but other than that. 8/10

 

 

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll19/swiftshine/uncapped.jpg

 

 

…Weight & Dimensions (1-10) - As you would expect being largely made of metal this is quite a hefty pen. I don't have accurate scales but it would seem to be about the same weight as a Pelikan M800, though much slimmer. The photos show it next to a Lamy Al-Star to give an idea of dimensions. 6/10

 

 

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll19/swiftshine/closed-w-al-star.jpg

 

 

 

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll19/swiftshine/posted-w-al-star.jpg

 

 

 

…Nib & Performance (1-10) - Steel nib in fine. Writes well straight out the box. Smooth and more on the dry side that the wet, but still decent flow. Writing sample compared with the Al-Star both with the same ink. Seems fairly standard width for a fine to me. 8/10

 

 

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll19/swiftshine/nib-close-up.jpg

 

 

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll19/swiftshine/nib-close-up-side.jpg

 

Please excuse the appalling hand :embarrassed_smile:

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll19/swiftshine/writing-sample.jpg

 

 

 

…Filling System & Maintenance (1-10) - Comes with a cartridge and can fit two inside the body so you can always carry a spare. Apparently takes Waterman standard converters as Rotring ones are difficult to source (if they exist at all). Turning the end to unscrew the section is quite a nice little design feature. 4/10

 

 

 

 

…Cost & Value (1-10) - I got this from a well known UK Ebay trader for £17. Seems like a decent price for a well built pen. Not sure I would be so happy to pay the supposed £45 RRP! 6/10

 

 

 

…Conclusion (Final score [sUM/6]: X) - Overall, I like this pen. Both the looks and the weight appeal to me, as does the German quality. It is the kind of bombproof pen I am happy to carry anywhere. 7/10

…

 

 

 

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll19/swiftshine/newton-apple.jpg

[MYU]

Thanks for this rather useful comparison of the Lamy Al-Star/Safari to the Rotring Newton. I wouldn't put them in the same category, due to the price point, but it's nice to know how they stack up.

 

Oh yeah, for the price you definitely got a good deal there, Drunken Spider. I especially like the box. I've not seen it before. One of the last attractive packing designs that Rotring made...

Edited January 8, 2010 by MYU

[drunken spider]

Thanks for this rather useful comparison of the Lamy Al-Star/Safari to the Rotring Newton. I wouldn't put them in the same category, due to the price point, but it's nice to know how they stack up.

 

Oh yeah, for the price you definitely got a good deal there, Drunken Spider. I especially like the box. I've not seen it before. One of the last attractive packing designs that Rotring made...

 

Cheers

 

I used the Lamy for comparison just because it's so ubiquitous many people would then be able to relate to something they know. Not necessarily because I thought them in the same category. Although having said that, both are Germans, both steel nibs, both pretty bombproof, c or cc filler and on UK Ebay at least, fairly similar price points (I kept forgetting to bid on quite a few that all went for about the same money ), so they do have quite a lot in common.

[dogpoet]

Nice review, Spider. I've got a copper Newton myself, and I'm very fond of it. Really nice pens: I actually prefer mine to my Rotring 600.

[Ed Ronax]

Excellent review, thanks.

[cutechocobos]

How does the nib compare to the Lamy Safari?

[RitaCarbon]

Great review! I love Rotring nibs. I have a Rotring Core pen with M nib, and for the price I got it ($9.99 on sale long time ago at SwisherPens.com), I am a very happy owner of the "ugly sneaker" pen that writes like a song. It never fails to attract attention.

 

Rita

[pmsalty]

Enjoyed the review. Very descriptive. Seems like you got a good deal.

PMS

[drunken spider]

^^ Thanks all

 

How does the nib compare to the Lamy Safari?

 

About the same I'd say. Both wrote perfectly straight out the box, smooth, no skipping, no scratching. No real flex as you would expect, but neither are total nails either IMHO.

[emiliovillegas]

Thanks for the pictures! :)

[breaker]

nice review and pics!

thanks!

[Claviusrobinsky]

I've been using a Newton for about a month and have had a lot of issues with hard starts out of the nib. Otherwise I'm a big fan of the pen.

[BCL-2]

Rotring converters definitely do exist

And they work very well for me so long (I use them in their fantastic ARTpen series pens where the thick ones naurally use up more ink.)

They are hard to find here as well, but I got myself one from the importer of the Rotring pens. It might be a good idea to ask you country's importer directly, (worst case: ask rotring who it is in your country is) if you need one but have trouble finding one.