Getting Closer And Closer (Divina Proporzione)

[Raskolnikov]

Yeah, I've almost reached my dream pen... so many casualties on the battlefield (pens I had to sell) but it's getting closer...

It's the first time I open a thread like this, but I'd like to have an opinion from you guys about this ebay listing:

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/141013865881?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1426.l2649

 

Things that unsettled me a bit: in the picture, the box is a generic one, not the peculiar DP's. It wouldn't be an issue by itself, I want the pen and not necessarily that box too but it just raises an alarm.

The seller suddenly has many gorgeous pens for sale, but the most recent sales are from the last year and he used to sell low to medium grade watches.

 

Things that comfort me: the price. It's quite realistic.

The brands he sells: usually scammers attract people with Montblanc or other known names.

The insertion is well made, no typos and such.

PayPal payment ... well, to a certain extent at least.

 

What I did: I asked if he could take more pictures, no matter the quality of them, of the box and the pen. He told me he'd do it as soon as he gets in the office.

Basically all I have to do is wait now, so... why to open such a thread?

Well, cause ... if you were me, the listing itself and all its "surroundings" would raise some alarm in you?

 

I don't want to seem insisting with the seller, I wouldn't want to "offend" him making him think I don't trust him but also it's quite a noticeable sum

 

I hope I didn't make a (too much) fool of myself

 

Have a good week's start:

 

Edited July 15, 2013 by Raskolnikov

[Chopper88]

I don't see any particular problem at first glance, except for the original packaging not being there.

Definitely not a fake in any case.

 

But, however if I was you, I wouldn't buy it...

The presentation and packaging is just something that makes this pen what it is in my opinion. If you don't care about that, I think you're in the clear. If you do care, I don't consider this such a great deal.

[Raskolnikov]

Hi Chopper88,

I wasn't worried about a fake (it's close to impossible to make such "replicas" so to speak or not rewarding anyway), just that the account might have been shifted hands...but I reckon it might be a slight form of paranoia

You're right about it not being a great deal, the box and all is part of the product itself. Let's see if he manages to send me the pictures of it

[Mkim]

I don't think there were any fakes of Visconti DPs out there...at least not to my knowledge.

The pen itself looks good to me.

 

One thing I should warn you about as a DP owner...

 

The silver inlay within the cap has a tendency to come off (I think it was the original glue formula that had issues). If you are getting a pre-owned DP this would be the first thing you should ask: "are there any silver inlays that have come off/tarnished or loose?" Many DPs have been sent back to factory to have this fixed which will only cost you shipping, but you will have to be departed from the pen for around 3 months after you purchase it! (It might be done sooner since you are in Italy already? )

 

With mine, one of the cap silver inlays started to become loose but it is not all that bothersome or distracting from the design...so I didn't bother sending it back to Italy, didn't think the 3-4 month wait was worth it...

[Chopper88]

Hi Chopper88,

I wasn't worried about a fake (it's close to impossible to make such "replicas" so to speak or not rewarding anyway), just that the account might have been shifted hands...but I reckon it might be a slight form of paranoia

You're right about it not being a great deal, the box and all is part of the product itself. Let's see if he manages to send me the pictures of it

 

I too get paranoid at this type of deals, so I definitely understand what you mean. All types of questions run through your head; "Does the seller know anything about pens??", "How did he get such a pen? And what happened to that box??"..

All I can say is that pen itself looks to be in great shape

 

It doesn't particularly strikes me, so I'm not sure how many times one of these is being offered, that might also be a factor in your decision.

Also, did you notice (but you've probably done so ) that the auction ends in 8hrs from this message? Wonder if the seller will respond within time, and where the price goes.

 

Anyhow, good luck on making your decision, please let us know

[dmcdonald]

I don't have much to add regarding the legitimacy of the sale, but this pen is one of those on my wish list too!

 

Good luck!

[Raskolnikov]

@ Mkim: Hi, I think you hit a soft spot there, the silver inlays. Couple of years ago I had a tour in Visconti's factory with some friends from the italian fountain pen forum, and we were also told about this issue they had. It would seem that the problem only affected the first that were made; there were immediately reports of what you say, and , as far as I can remember, instead of glued the silver stripe sort of goes through a chute and buttonholes which should firmly hold it in place.

I'm not sure that what I'm saying is technically accurate, but what I know is that they ... well, did something

 

I understand you don't want to send it for repairs in Italy, actually must be painful to have the pen with those stripes loose so if you want I can release you from this curse and take it from you... of course I would do it for free, I'm a good samaritan!

 

 

@ Chopper88: Your post made me laugh cause I actually thought about every single doubt you mentioned

Anyway the auction's about to end, no reply so far but it's ok , it's not even 11AM in Santa Ana (yeah, I keep on checking his timezone...talk about stalking!)

 

@dmcdonald: Thanks, good luck to you too

[karmakoda]

^{Congratulations, Raskolnikov, assuming the winning bid was, indeed, yours?}

^{Visconti is creative, wonderful attention to materials, true artisans. That is a stunning pen.}

^{Cannot wait for writing samples!}

[Raskolnikov]

Hi, thanks

Yes it was me, he sent me more pictures showing the box and some other details (I had somehow to make sure he really had the pen... you know, paranoia and all).

I'll write a review or something like that as soon as it arrives, crossing fingers for the long way it has to go through.

[Chopper88]

Congratulations on getting one of your grail pens!

 

I hope it reaches you as it is pictured in the auction, looks like it's in great condition.

Have fun with the wait, fantasising about holding it in your hands, and enjoy it when it arrives!

[Mkim]

Wonderful news!

 

I love it when I hear a grail acquisition story!

I am actually about to finish my grail list this week (last one flying over)...

It is quite the journey of chasing dreams and persistence!

[Chopper88]

Wonderful news!

 

I love it when I hear a grail acquisition story!

I am actually about to finish my grail list this week (last one flying over)...

It is quite the journey of chasing dreams and persistence!

 

Then your grail list isn't/wasn't really a 'grail' list

J/K, this intrigues me, which pen is the one pen completing your list?

[Mkim]

 

Then your grail list isn't/wasn't really a 'grail' list

J/K, this intrigues me, which pen is the one pen completing your list?

 

lol you're right let me change that to my *realistic* grail list...it took I think around... 4 years to complete!

Mostly they were pens that I felt in my opinion resemble excellence in their design intention and spirit.

 

Of course during this journey there were few pens here and there that I did not originally intend to own...lol

 

List included:

 

1. Lamy 2000

 

2. MB149

 

3. Visconti Divina Proporzione LE

 

4. Visconti Opera Master Demo LE (clear+colour stripes)

 

5. MB Agatha

 

6. Danitrio Fellowship pen (1of2 with silver clip)

(this was an impossible task...very difficult to find anyone willing to let go of the original fellowship pen)

 

7. Porsche Tec-Flex

 

8. Namiki Royale Vermillion Urushi

 

9. Sailor King of Pen - flying over to me as we speak!

Edited July 16, 2013 by Mkim

[Raskolnikov]

Yeah, the DP is definitely my grail pen... it's so long I'm after it, although it's not exactly in my "economic league" (well, it's "grail pen" for a reason).

 

Other grail pens:

 

Montblanc Dumas

Nakaya decapod twist in heki tamenuri

 

But I think that after the DP (provided it'll ever arrive) I'll calm down for a while...

 

[Chopper88]

 

lol you're right let me change that to my *realistic* grail list...it took I think around... 4 years to complete!

Mostly they were pens that I felt in my opinion resemble excellence in their design intention and spirit.

 

Of course during this journey there were few pens here and there that I did not originally intend to own...lol

 

List included:

 

1. Lamy 2000

 

2. MB149

 

3. Visconti Divina Proporzione LE

 

4. Visconti Opera Master Demo LE (clear+colour stripes)

 

5. MB Agatha

 

6. Danitrio Fellowship pen (1of2 with silver clip)

(this was an impossible task...very difficult to find anyone willing to let go of the original fellowship pen)

 

7. Porsche Tec-Flex

 

8. Namiki Royale Vermillion Urushi

 

9. Sailor King of Pen - flying over to me as we speak!

 

Nice list, a lot of diversity on there!

Congratulations on completing it, on to the next list!

 

Yeah, the DP is definitely my grail pen... it's so long I'm after it, although it's not exactly in my "economic league" (well, it's "grail pen" for a reason).

 

Other grail pens:

 

Montblanc Dumas

Nakaya decapod twist in heki tamenuri

 

But I think that after the DP (provided it'll ever arrive) I'll calm down for a while...

 

 

I'm sure the DP will arrive!

About the calming down part, I'm not so sure I've also agreed to this a couple of times with myself, but it just never happens... I seem to be incapable of keeping such an agreement.

 

I also like the Dumas, that's also on my list as well as the Verne and some others which have a little less priority.

And then theres also the list of pens above that, Hemingway, 139...

And if I ever win the lottery, theres also a list above that, Skeletons...

[Raskolnikov]

 

I'm sure the DP will arrive!

 

Thanks, the problem is I keep on finding myself refreshing the "tracking status" page.

I can almost see the package traveling through the american cities, about to take a plane to me...

I try working, reading, working more, doing sports, working harder, but I can't stop myself from hitting that damn refresh button

 

In the meantime I'll ask the owners here: did you have issues with microscopic cracks in the cap lip? I've read that someone did. I myself noticed some very microscopic cracks in that area, on my Desert Springs. Needless to say, the cap was promptly replaced and the problem never happened again (+1 to assistance!).

Did it happen to any of you?

[youstruckgold]

Congratulations!

[Chopper88]

Thanks, the problem is I keep on finding myself refreshing the "tracking status" page.

I can almost see the package traveling through the american cities, about to take a plane to me...

I try working, reading, working more, doing sports, working harder, but I can't stop myself from hitting that damn refresh button

 

I know how it feels haha, I find myself doing exactly the same...

The funny thing is, we're from Europe, and buy all these European pens from throughout the entire USA for some reason.

 

Just hang in there!

[Raskolnikov]

Mind you, I live more or less thirty minutes away from Visconti's Headquarters... and order some of their pens some continents away

 

Anyway, after traveling through Santa Ana, Anheim, Cincinnati and Latonia...

 

"Customs Documentation and Labeling

Jul-21-13, 15:26 PM, Erlanger"

 

Sounds promising....

 

<--- me hitting the refresh button

[Mkim]

Wohooo! almost in your hands!

 

(by the way you live 30min away from Visconti headquarters?!? I would be visiting there every weekend for a chat if that was the case lol)