Nakaya Neo Standard In Ama-Iro

[Lady Spencerian]

Up until today, I would have vehemently denied having any robin's egg blue or country turquoise in my decor. It took me less than 2 minutes to gather the items in this photograph; the intent of which is to show that Ama-iro is more turquoise than blue.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7264/7598815566_ee0c40f6de_z.jpg

005 by Lace Lunatic, on Flickr

If you are at all curious about the lace in progress: it is tatted lace.

 

"Tell us about the pen!" you scream. It is a Nakaya Neo Standard in Ama-iro, with 'cherry blossoms in the stream' roll stopper, 'mono no aware' (the pathos of things) in hiragana script, a and a rhodium-plated firm fine tip. I ordered it mid-February, through CFP, and it was delivered yesterday evening.

 

First up, the whole pen, displayed on a purpleheart pen rest made by geoduc

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8024/7598821448_f7eb7a594b_b.jpg

016 by Lace Lunatic, on Flickr

 

The roll stopper:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8287/7598825402_8d23fd6404.jpg

015 by Lace Lunatic, on Flickr

I have coveted this roll stopper since first I spied it at the Nakaya website, but I didn't think it looked quite right on a portable or a piccolo. The larger size of the Neo Standard carries it well. One surprise about the roll stopper is that it is quite heavy; to the point where the cap will not sit upright on its rim. As a general rule, I put the cap down that way to avoid any possibility of it getting scratched. In this case, I shall have to place it on the pen rest while I write.

 

I had heard that Nakaya prefers the roll stoppers to be installed by them, and that a retrofit would involve sending the pen back to the factory. Now that I have a Nakaya with a roll stopper, I see why. The roll stopper is very firmly attached to the pen.

 

The Kanji

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8002/7598829208_80495ed40a.jpg

019 by Lace Lunatic, on Flickr

It was the people at Nakaya who suggested hiragana script. In my ignorance, I had simply requested a kanji that represented 'mono no aware', with the expectation that it would be 4 characters. I had some concern that this version might overwhelm the pen, but it doesn't at all.

 

The tip

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8004/7598836994_292794f327.jpg

020 by Lace Lunatic, on Flickr

 

How does it write? Like a Nakaya Neo Standard with a firm fine tip, tuned for medium ink flow. Actually, I like this pen a little better in the hand than my Kuro-tamenuri Neo Standard, but that may be an entirely subjective response to the color, and have little or nothing to do with the balance of the pen itself. The helicopter blade balancer that I use to locate the CG of my pens is not currently available.

 

Special thanks go to AltecGreen, for persuading Nakaya to try this color of urushi; and to geoduc, for the pen rest.

Edited July 19, 2012 by Lady Spencerian

[Painterspal]

Fabulous. It might not be a combination I'd order myself, but it truly exemplifies the Nakaya motto 'for your hand only'. I think it's a wonderful custom pen. The stopper really suits the size of the Neo Standard and the urushi colour and script is very simple, harmonious and elegant. The script on the Danitrio Fellowship Pen looks a bit like this - I wonder if that's hiragana script too?

 

Thanks for sharing Lady Spencerian and I hope you really enjoy it! The photos are beautiful too. Wow, what a treat to behold!

Edited July 18, 2012 by Painterspal

[da vinci]

What a magnificent pen. Exceptional colour and the roll stopper is a work if art in itself.

 

Even though I am looking at a 2d picture the pen "projects" an aura of calm and thoughtfulness. I am sure you will enjoy using it.

 

Regards

Da Vinci.

[Uncle Red]

Wow, that's custom work at it's best.

[Hex]

Spectacular is not the word for this pen and I struggle with how to describe how I feel when I see it.

Calm, peaceful, all is at rest and simply stated, uncluttered.

It is haiku in art form.

 

What a treat.

[ethernautrix]

That is lovely, Lady S.

 

The ruthenium-plated F is probably my favorite Nakaya nib, but that's only because I haven't tried the ruthenium-plated M nib (which I should receive eventually, sigh).

 

Not to detract from your pretty sakura, but I can't help envisioning the airplane stopper with that color blue. (Smiley)

[Mattishme]

That is lovely, Lady S.

 

The ruthenium-plated F is probably my favorite Nakaya nib, but that's only because I haven't tried the ruthenium-plated M nib (which I should receive eventually, sigh).

 

Not to detract from your pretty sakura, but I can't help envisioning the airplane stopper with that color blue. (Smiley)

 

If I end up with an airplane stopper I am so going to blame you!

Edited July 19, 2012 by Mattishme

[Joe in Seattle]

Absolutely wonderful

[dannyboy]

That is a unique and beautiful Nakaya! Love that roll-stopper!!

[Physalis]

Thanks for sharing! What a beautiful color. Your roll stopper looks great too. You said you composed the first picture in two minutes... it's great.

[raging.dragon]

My girlfriend is asking for more photos of the lace! She also tatts lace and was impressed with your work.

[Siv]

That's a really elegant and unique pen. Congratulations!

[Lady Spencerian]

Heartfelt thanks to all of you who have taken the time to leave thoughtful comments about the Ama-iro Neo Standard. Ordering such expensive items on the basis of photographs alone is an anxiety-fraught gamble. I have had five months in which to second guess my choice, and flip-flop over which tip I wanted. Even though I intellectually knew that Ama-iro is a light turquoise and corresponds to sky color only at dusk at certain latitudes, I was still expecting the postcard sky blue that I see on my monitor when at the Classic Fountain Pens site. As a result, I was temporarily underwhelmed when I slid the pen out of its kimono; unsure about my choice of furniture, which suddenly seemed very blingy on the muted and understated color. Now that I have had a little time to get used to it, I am happy, and very much enjoying writing with the pen.

 

As enticing as the concept of 'for your hand only' may seem, I am not sure that we actually can choose wisely for ourselves on the basis of photographs alone. Occasionally, there is disappointment because a color or adornment did not come out as anticipated. My very favorite Nakaya is one that came to me 4th hand - another FPN member's custom order that got shuffled around a bit before finding its rightful home. I adore that pen! but it is not one that I would have ordered for myself.

[Bringiton]

That really is a very unique pen. Enjoy it

[sadiemagic]

Wow, that is one breathtaking pen. I can't believe how beautiful the roll stopper is too. Stunning! Congratulations, may you enjoy many years of writing with it!

[PenandDesign]

That's definitely a well-realized custom pen. I knew that Nakaya did custom orders, but I had no clue that they could materialize ideas this well! Congrats!

[reprieve]

That is a gorgeous Neo Standard! I am not a fan of the roll stoppers, generally, but I think the cherry blossoms stopper was a good choice--it really does suit that color, shape, and overall theme of your pen. Congratulations!

[larsbj]

That's a really elegant and unique pen. Congratulations!

 

Siv,

Please excuse my ignorance, but may I ask which pen it is you got in your signature?

 

LBj

[Dillo]

Hi,

 

That roll stopper is very nice. I was originally thinking of having one on my Nakaya which has a cat theme on it, then I decided against it since I like the simplicity of the cigar shape of my pen.

 

Dillon

[Siv]

Siv,

Please excuse my ignorance, but may I ask which pen it is you got in your signature?

 

LBj

It's the Danitrio Fellowship pen - a limited run a few years ago that was made possible by Winedoc.