Agnes B Voyage

[GabrielleDuVent]

Review of:

Agnes B Voyage, a freebie from the magazine MonoMax Oct. 2013 Issue.

Japanese magazines quite often include freebies to induce increased purchase, and this one is no exception... I bought the magazine for the pen. It was included in the Oct. 2013 issue of MonoMax, as a tie-up of Agnes B Voyage series for men. Whatever it does, I probably shouldn't complain, because... well, it's free. So...
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1. Appearance & Design (1-10) - Classic, some logo, not much frills. Very reminiscent of a certain well-known line
   The pen itself is black, made of shiny resin, or so I am assuming. The nib is also made of steel. The pen is attractive in design, although it's a clear copy of a Montblanc Meisterstuck series. Agnes B Logo and the name of the brand and the pen series is laser-printed in silver.
   
   http://i.co-site.jp/2013/sep/07monomax/1-s.jpg
   The pen and the magazine...
   
   http://i.co-site.jp/2013/sep/07monomax/7-s.jpg
   
   8/10
2. Construction & Quality (1-10) - The clip doesn't function well, but otherwise it's sturdy
   The build is fairly sturdy, but the clip is clearly not well-fitted; it wobbles. The clip itself is made of steel, and the pen is made of resin. It's not a pen I'm willing to toss into my bag on the go, but it's also not a pen I'd be walking on eggshells to use. The nib certainly can take some beating. The pen was constructed in China.
   
   6/10
3. Weight & Dimensions (1-10) - Long, slender, and HEAVY
   Weight: 28.8g total, cap: 9.7g, body: 19.1g
   Length: 14.1cm total, without cap: 12.2cm, posted: 15.8cm
   Width: Grip: 8mm to 9mm, barrel: 10mm at max, cap: 12mm at maximum.
   
   7/10
4. Nib & Performance (1-10) - Wet and round
   The nib itself is simple. No marking whatsoever, just your plain ol' M nib in stainless steel. It's a fairly wet writer, and unlike Lamy, there is very little traction; I think this is due to the very round bottom. It shades well, but it's a slippery pen. The nib width is probably about 0.6mm.
   
   Posting the pen makes the pen rather heavy on the posted end, and this, in turn, feels as if I'm writing with a very, very long pen, or one of those novelty jumbo pencils. I do not suggest posting.
   http://i.co-site.jp/2013/sep/07monomax/10-s.jpg
   
   7/10
5. Filling System & Maintenance (1-10) - Cartridge system, will take international converters
   The filling system is your regular international cartridge. The package does come with two short international cartridges in black, but I went ahead and just bought a regular international converter. Not much fuss there.
   
   10/10
6. Cost & Value (1-10) - It's free. What can I say?
   Well, it was free. And it works (for now, anyway). I'm not going to complain, unless it decides to explode in my hands while I'm writing. The magazine itself focuses mostly on "the best stuff for dudes", including things like watches, shoes, camera, and outdoors jacket.
   
   10/10
7. Conclusion - You aren't missing out, but it's not a waste of money either
   The magazine itself was 790 yen, tax included. The pen works, and it's a decent writer, if a little on the heavy side. Can't really go wrong with it.
   
   8/10
   

(All images are copyright to kikra review site.)

Edited October 17, 2013 by GabrielleDuVent

[The Good Captain]

That's what I like - FREE!

[Aramchek]

Wish magazines would do that here!

 

Interesting that they picked a heavy pen - seems that would increase shipping costs a fair bit.

[ScienceChick]

I received one as a "look what we have in Japan" gift and I've been impressed with (and envious of) what Asian pen companies produce for very little money.

 

He also sent me a no-name FP from Diaso, also a good, smooth writer for under $1.