Pilot Prera

[Sandy1]

I've been looking for a bright yellow fountain pen to give as a graduation gift for a friend (it will be her first fountain pen, and she will be using the pen as a graduate school student). I had my heart set on finding a yellow Pelikan m200 since it seemed to fit the bill perfectly (small & lightweight pen, large ink capacity, a good daily writer and still a nice graduation gift), but I can't seem to find one anywhere, and I'm wondering if the Prera would make a nice enough gift pen?

 

I personally love Pilot nibs (a Metropolitan serves as my daily writing pen), but I'm worried the Prera would look or feel too cheap as a graduation gift. Any thoughts?

 

Hi,

 

I think the Prera would make a very nice gift: very personal yet practical, a comfy good writer, and not so ostentatious that it would be left at home.

 

Along with a pot of Blue Pilot/Namiki ink would make a great workhorse combo, or with a jar of kon-peki would be a real treat.

 

And no, my Yellow M200 is not for sale.

 

Bye,

S1

Edited March 3, 2015 by Sandy1

[Gloucesterman]

Although I agree with the above sentiments on the Prera, my concern would be that of the two converters that fit that pen one - the CON-50 has a small ink capacity (.9ml, I think) and the other, the CON-20 doesn't allow one to see how much ink remains.

 

Other than that issue it's been a good pen.

[indigoskye]

I've become a Prera convert. I own a lime green (CM), Dark Brown (CM), and a Dark Blue Demonstrator (CM). To put CM nibs on the two solid Preras, I purchase a pair of plumix pens and swapped the nibs. All three have a CON-50 converter. The CON-50 is very small, but since my Preras remain at my desk it has not been an issue for me.

 

The Preras are easy to clean. They dissemble completely and I can just pop them in for a cycle in my ultrasound cleaner and they pop back together without a problem. The CM nib is around a .9mm. It is a fine cursive italic nib. I tend to write small, so this has proven to be the perfect calligraphy nib for me. Finally, I love that the caps go on tight, but are easy to take on and off. I find that my Preras do not dry up due to loose caps.

 

I was glad to see a review on the light blue color. The Prera colors are all so bright and cheerful. That light blue is really calling to me.

[brunico]

I've not found the CON-50's capacity noticeably smaller than that of any similar converter, and it's easier to fill completely than the CON-20. I use my CON-50s with broader nibs - some of them up to 6mm - and the capacity isn't an issue for me. Some people, though, are more sensitive than others to differences of fractions of a millilitre.

 

And yes, the Prera would make a lovely gift. It doesn't feel or look cheap at all, and the plastic and finish are clearly of a much higher quality than pens like the Plumix and Penmanship. Mine gets a lot of use because the slip cap makes it more convenient for writing notes intermittently.

[Opus105]

Great little pen that writes well. I just wish for about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch more. Just a smidge too short (I don'tost).

[sidthecat]

I have a fair number of lovely, flexy vintage pens but I find myself returning to my Prera Green Demonstrator with the medium nib. A great calligraphy pen.

[comixfan]

 

Hi,

 

I think the Prera would make a very nice gift: very personal yet practical, a comfy good writer, and not so ostentatious that it would be left at home.

 

Along with a pot of Blue Pilot/Namiki ink would make a great workhorse combo, or with a jar of kon-peki would be a real treat.

 

And no, my Yellow M200 is not for sale.

 

Bye,

S1

 

HA! Don't worry, Sandy--I'm not coming after your yellow M200.

 

And thanks for your input. I hadn't thought of combining the Prera with a really nice bottle of ink--that would definitely help to make it a decent graduation gift.

[comixfan]

I've not found the CON-50's capacity noticeably smaller than that of any similar converter, and it's easier to fill completely than the CON-20. I use my CON-50s with broader nibs - some of them up to 6mm - and the capacity isn't an issue for me. Some people, though, are more sensitive than others to differences of fractions of a millilitre.

 

And yes, the Prera would make a lovely gift. It doesn't feel or look cheap at all, and the plastic and finish are clearly of a much higher quality than pens like the Plumix and Penmanship. Mine gets a lot of use because the slip cap makes it more convenient for writing notes intermittently.

 

Thanks, brunico. That was my biggest fear--appearance. Because though I might personally really enjoy a pen that writes well, when I'm planning on gifting one to someone else, it needs to look as good as it writes. And I was looking at other pens (such as the Sailor 1911) but I really do think the slip cap is far more practical for a student.

Edited March 4, 2015 by comixfan

[Sandy1]

 

HA! Don't worry, Sandy--I'm not coming after your yellow M200.

 

And thanks for your input. I hadn't thought of combining the Prera with a really nice bottle of ink--that would definitely help to make it a decent graduation gift.

 

Hi,

 

Kindly consider adding an aspirator bulb for pen maintenance and a 5ml syringe with a blunt tip for a multitude of tasks.

 

A box of cartridges for a back-up ink supply might come in handy too. (Anything but Black ink - its a gift!)

 

Oh, for flushing the Prera with an aspirator bulb, I find that a Pilot cartridge with the back end cut off makes a great adapter for the aspirator bulb tip to form a good seal on the section nipple.

 

Wheee!

 

Bye,

S1

 

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