S.t. Dupont Olympio (extra-large)

[jar]

Thank you Tanalasta & Jar for the thorough description. I've been interested to buy my first fountain pen for a few months, and had considered a Pelikan 1000 or 805 based on recommendations - but prefer the style of the Dupont. I'm planning to attend the nearby Miami show this Friday to test and purchase one. Thank you again for the helpful information.

 

The Pelikan 8xx and 10xx pens are also wonderful and you should fondle both before you decide. Personally I like my Duponts more than the Pelikans but I have to admit that the Pelikans are still fine pens.

 

Here is a picture of the Standard (large) Olympio, the X-Large Olympio, a Montblanc 146 and 149 and the Pelikan 800 and 1050 that may help put them in perspective.

 

http://www.fototime.com/A9FB2B98FF9CAB2/standard.jpg

 

The reason I prefer the ST Duponts over Pelikan is ST Duponts attention to detail at even the most mundane level. Cap an ST Dupont. Feel how the cap self centers during the last quarter inch of travel, the positive click as it completes. Post the cap. Notice how the balance remains the same. Look inside the cap, the body, the section. Examine how the edges are finished, the threading, the lack of any rough spots or looks of unfinished machining.

 

When a company pays that much attention to the parts that don't show, it says a lot.

[RGM]

In looking at those photos, I believe I'll need the XL. Why is it that some of the Olympios have the small black square on the clip while others do not?

[jar]

In looking at those photos, I believe I'll need the XL. Why is it that some of the Olympios have the small black square on the clip while others do not?

 

Almost all the Olympios have the inset. Usually it is black but on some pens it can be another color. For example on the Shaman it is pearlescent white.

 

http://www.fototime.com/BF26C9681B19B55/standard.jpg

 

I believe that very recently (2008-2009 ? ) they had some without the square. That was when they also changed the crown of the cap to add the stylized inset 'D'. All the ones I have are older and have the inset square in the clip.

[BerneseMtDogEatsArco]

Drooool.

 

Thanks for the great info. I really appreciate your comparison with the MB for the sizing. You have a beauty there!

[RGM]

The Shaman - that is impeccable. It almost looks like a King's Scepter.

[Bo Bo Olson]

Sigh......"""""Feel how the cap self centers during the last quarter inch of travel, the positive click as it completes. Post the cap. Notice how the balance remains the same.""""

 

Nope, and nope again, my counterfeit does not balance the same, posted. It's a great $35 pen though.

I'd thought the chance high, it was; but the counterfeit work is first class $100-125 pen class at least. Box and everything first class work.

It's a deco piece, sitting on a black glass double Art Deco ink well. Shore looks purtty. :blink:

 

 

Never buy a Dupont at a flea market with out a magnet. Fake gold plated nib looks so well done.

[kaisede]

The Shaman - that is impeccable. It almost looks like a King's Scepter.

 

I did a review of this pen awhile back. Take a look at the detail picture.

Shaman

[RGM]

That was an exceptional review, kaisede. The XL size really comes across in those pictures - and makes me realize that I can't go for any Dupont size other than XL. I am hoping someone brings a few for sale to the pen show in Miami this Friday - I've never attended one and never owned a fountain pen. Are you a dealer or just collector?

 

I'm looking for / considering an Olympio XL black Chinese lacquer with palladium trim, broad nib.

[jar]

That was an exceptional review, kaisede. The XL size really comes across in those pictures - and makes me realize that I can't go for any Dupont size other than XL. I am hoping someone brings a few for sale to the pen show in Miami this Friday - I've never attended one and never owned a fountain pen. Are you a dealer or just collector?

 

I'm looking for / considering an Olympio XL black Chinese lacquer with palladium trim, broad nib.

 

I think Bryant (a member here and a real enabler) is going to the Miami show and if you contacted him I just bet he'd bring some for you to try.

[kaisede]

I am only a collector.

[tanalasta]

 

I think Bryant (a member here and a real enabler) is going to the Miami show and if you contacted him I just bet he'd bring some for you to try.

 

Bryant is also an authorised retailer and has good prices on ST Dupont. Iguana sell (either online or his eBay store) is another reputable, authorised ST Dupont retailer with good prices. I have purchased from both previously.

[John Cullen]

Tanalasta---congratulations on your pen! Looks wonderful.

 

I agree with everything that has been said about Dupont. What wonderful pens, and it sounds like you have great service in your country.

 

I bought a used X-large Orpheo from a FPN member awhile ago and it is great. So a few weeks ago I bought a new extra large Orpheo from The Ink Flow (very nice and helpful seller). After using the pen for a week I noticed it skipped on the downstroke on occasion and could be a shade draggy now and again, so I popped it off to the new Dupont warranty service in the US and waited for a return. I figured this would be easy. The seller was great and was an authorized seller and I like the pen but want the nib tuned or exchanged.

 

Two weeks later it came back with a note saying there was no problem except a slight misadjustment of the nib and feed. It was no better than when I sent it in. I sent it back yesterday, and I sure hope this new warranty service knows what they are doing because my first experience did not leave me with the impression they did. In fact, the nib skips more often now.

 

 

Do not get me wrong. I DO INDEED think these are superb pens. I hope my first round with their service.....and it has been years since I sent any pen in for service so don't think I freak out at any tiny issue.....was atypical.

 

Has anyone else in the US recently used the warranty service provided by LOTUS? Just curious?

 

J

[tanalasta]

Inconsistent flow may be due to the nib being overly smoothed or the inner tines being rounded, resulting in either a flat spot or a 'baby bottom' that doesn't contact the paper correctly for the capillary action to be reliable. Especially if you're using reliable ink.

 

Hmm... almost sounds like wine appreciation notes - lots of jargon that even I do not understand. :embarrassed_smile:

 

The Australian customer service is sublime and my local retailer have also sung their praises for the lady who works at the Australian distributor. Unfortunately, I don't think you're the first to complain of LOTUS and perhaps you should demand a new nib unit.

Edited July 14, 2010 by tanalasta

[John Cullen]

Actually, when I sent it back this time I did ask for a swap. Seems reasonable given the initial cost of the pen.

 

Service is a big deal to me; you are lucky to have such good service available! I hope Lotus gets it together. J

[RGM]

 

I think Bryant (a member here and a real enabler) is going to the Miami show and if you contacted him I just bet he'd bring some for you to try.

 

Bryant is also an authorised retailer and has good prices on ST Dupont. Iguana sell (either online or his eBay store) is another reputable, authorised ST Dupont retailer with good prices. I have purchased from both previously.

 

Thank you - I contacted Bryant and will look for him at the show Friday morning.

[RGM]

Tanalasta & Jar - I drove down from Palm Beach this morning and attended the show shortly after opening. I spoke with Bryant and asked about the XL Dupont Black / Palladium Chinese Lacquer. Unfortunately, he didn't have one. However, I was able to hold the Dupont Palace Verdome - which was so ornate that I can't imagine using it for daily writing. The Palace, although beautiful, looks like something a King would use to swat at Plebeians. I tried a Dupont demonstrator broad nib, which was surprisingly not very broad. Bryant then showed me a stub-nib which produced the size of line that I prefer, and said that a guy across the room could make any nib perform in that manner with some adjustment.

 

One of the vendors had a new 007 Dupont available, but I never found the actual Dupont Olympio I had been searching for (essentially, the pen you reviewed here but with the Palladium trim and no inset on the clip). After handling the Dupont, I must agree with you all that there is no real comparison against the other brands in terms of quality and attention to detail.

[jar]

Glad you were pleased. Some other places to check are Fountain Pen Hospital, Iguana Sell (Jorge is another member here and great to work with), Andy's Pens, Fahrney's and Mora Stylos.

Edited July 16, 2010 by jar

[aj2004]

I have a fascination for fountain pens. I have Mont Blanc (Le Grand Traveller), Faber Castell, Caran d'Ache, others.. But my best pen to date was an S.T.Dupont Olympio XL black/gold (broad)..

 

I bought it in Asia in 2005 and, sadly lost it on a plane a couple of years back. It was, clearly, the best pen i've ever owned. They key aspect of the pen was how balanced it was sitting on the hand while writing and how exquisitely it wrote. Bonus is the fact that, in my view, it is the best looking pen in the market (followed closely by Caran D'Ache, Leman ebony/gold).

 

The price of this pen has shot up. Am saving to buy the new one! I live in the US - if anyone could suggest a deal, would welcome!

[jar]

I have a fascination for fountain pens. I have Mont Blanc (Le Grand Traveller), Faber Castell, Caran d'Ache, others.. But my best pen to date was an S.T.Dupont Olympio XL black/gold (broad)..

 

I bought it in Asia in 2005 and, sadly lost it on a plane a couple of years back. It was, clearly, the best pen i've ever owned. They key aspect of the pen was how balanced it was sitting on the hand while writing and how exquisitely it wrote. Bonus is the fact that, in my view, it is the best looking pen in the market (followed closely by Caran D'Ache, Leman ebony/gold).

 

The price of this pen has shot up. Am saving to buy the new one! I live in the US - if anyone could suggest a deal, would welcome!

 

Welcome home. Sorry about the loss and hope that you can soon replace it.

 

They show up every once in awhile here and sometimes at eBay, and there are several members here that are also dealers that sell ST Dupont. Bryant at Pen Time or Jorge at Iguana Sell. Also John Mottishaw at Nibs dot com also has a bunch of pre-owned ST Dupont pens for sale right now.

[georges zaslavsky]

Tried several duponts and this one as well, very nice and well made pen One thing that kept me from buying one was the diameter of the section which wasn't enough large for me. It is a very good pen with exceptional attentio nto finish and much better nibs than nowadays waterman nibs.This pen is easily an equivalent of the former man 100. It even beats the exception in terms of quality of built and nib.