Visconti "the Forbidden City" 888 Ltd

[Pen2009]

Congrats on your new purchase.

 

This pen looks too over-the-top and its design is way too busy and toy-like for my personal taste. When I saw the pen, I felt "wow" not in a positive way. This is just based on my personal taste and I am sure there are people who like the pen as is.

Edited March 10, 2012 by Pen2009

[Truman]

We are surrounded by clichés, and in my opinion, there are more important things to be offended by than petty things like pens.

 

 

I tend to agree. Sometimes a pen is just a wonderful writing instrument and not meant to convey world relationships and the weight of history.

 

Except that when you name your pen "The Forbidden City" that is exactly what you are trying to convey. Same goes for any commemorative, limited edition pen.

 

 

Really? This 5 inch pen embodies international relationships and world cultures - all wrapped up with a nifty nib to boot? Hmmm...I'm trying to interpret what my Esterbrook J has to say about the state of the economy and world peace.

Edited March 10, 2012 by Truman

[Kyouju]

Well, I must admit the design of the box calls out to me more than that of the pen (chuckle) but that may be my predilection for less glitter operating. The pen itself does not exactly fit my preferences but it does look interesting. How dark is that blue on it, Sir and would it be nearer Prussian or Cobalt? It is difficult to tell due to the limits of digital representation (or merely "representation", given that Margritte has been brought up already).

[olivier78860]

Kyoujou, the pictures posted here are from the original ad, but with additional light sources so the actual colour variations are rendered; so, from dark to clear blue, with purple accents.

The "rainbow" figure at the bottom of the cap, on the picture just under the written review, for instance, is exactly like this in reality.

All in all the plastic overlay has a type of marbled effect, with some glittering, especially on the under part of the section, which I couldn't take a picture of (my camera doesn't seem to "see" it).

The size comparison pictures with the 149 were taken with a cell-phone camera, and show a darker overlay than in reality.

Edited March 10, 2012 by olivier78860

[Kyouju]

Appropriate that it should have purple accents.

 

Thank you for clarifying, Sir. Matters of preference and politics aside, it is certainly a pen unlikely to ever be lost in the herd. Ce n'est pas insipide.

 

Now let us simply hope that dragon never turns temperamental on you, as indeed dragons are portrayed to turn in literature.

[yamborghini]

It's a pity the box was chipped. I reckon it looks ok , but the box is amazing.

[Wael El-Dasher]

Congratulations on your new pen. May you use it in good health.

 

cheers

 

Wael

[seoulseeker]

Kind of surprised to see the negative comments on this thread - not because of the design of the pen per se (It looks to be an either love or hate design), but because usually FPN is much more mature than this. If a pen doesn't do it for you, fine... no need to throw a brick through someones window because of it. Just state your opinion politely and be on your way. Different strokes for different folks.

 

That said, I do like this pen. I wouldn't in all likelihood write with it, as I would probably just end up staring at the pen instead of writing, but it is a very neat and unique design all the same. Ignore the labels "forbidden city" and just judge it on the design of the pen, and I find it quite unique, and rather beautiful. Very refreshing.

 

Congrats on adding it to your collection - I'm sure it will serve you well

Edited March 12, 2012 by seoulseeker

[breaker]

nice review

thanks!

[georges zaslavsky]

pretty nice pen congrats

[Pingu]

I think this pen is stunning. The box is awesome too. There is a lot of detail in the design that I think is very rewarding to look at and admire again and again. I enjoyed the review; congratulations and thanks to Olivier for sharing.

[mark e]

Kind of surprised to see the negative comments on this thread - not because of the design of the pen per se (It looks to be an either love or hate design), but because usually FPN is much more mature than this. If a pen doesn't do it for you, fine... no need to throw a brick through someones window because of it. Just state your opinion politely and be on your way. Different strokes for different folks.

 

 

 

i'll be polite---the box is beautiful--elegant, subtle, classic

 

the pen....is...uhh....really...uhhh....beautiful....toooo...in it's....

 

oh fer cryin' out loud-----it looks like something Gaudi would have designed if he'd been commissioned to do a "chinese" pen---from the 'reading room' of his humble abode in barcelona

 

which is lovely, if one admires that sort of intertwining of elegance and over-the-topness

 

on my way