Platinum Izumo

[TinyTim]

Hi All

 

Am going to try and buy a Platinum izumo after hearing so much about it.

I had an opportunity to hold one in my hand when i was in HongKong last month at the Hop Cheong Pen shop. It is a big pen.

 

I am however going to try for the Urushi ( tamenuri) ones and not the Bombay wood (tagayasan).

 

Which websites should i try? I regulalry check ebay but have seen the prices around US 450 to US 500.

 

I am guessing this is around the price.

 

What i was wondering is if i could get this cheaper on a Japanese website? Jsubculture or Rakuten?

 

Or am i being to ambitious and is around US 500 a fair price for such a pen.

 

As a rule i always wait and wait for a a good price, howwver my patience is wearing thin now.

 

Also if you could be so kind as to tell me where you guys bought the pens from it would help.

 

Many thanks in advance as always

[vikrmbedi]

try this...

 

 

engeika... some people have had trouble with them( search engeika on the fpn forum) but generally a good experience

[RayJ]

Rakuten Soratame: http://global.rakuten.com/en/store/penroom/item/16874/

 

Rakuten Akatame: http://global.rakuten.com/en/store/penroom/item/16875/

 

You'll have to purchase the convertor separately. They give some discount after you place the order, that's probably the 8% Japanese consumption tax which you don't have to pay. So it may get to $355-60. Goodluck.

 

PS. Prepare one of your kidneys to pay customs. They don't understate.

[TinyTim]

Thanks I think i will have them shipped to Taiwan

will customs be cheaper there?

 

I have just had a bad experience with Indian Customs

 

Also i notice very few second hand Izumos in the market. is there a reason or just extremely satisfied customers.

[RayJ]

^I don't have any knowledge about Taiwan customs.

 

My experience with indian customs have been pleasant so far. what happened with you? Paying custom duty doesn't count as a negative experience.

 

Ask the seller once if he is willing to understate, if he agrees, go ahead. If he doesn't, evaluate whether you would be comfortable in paying 20% extra. If yes, go ahead. If no, look for another seller.

 

I haven't used an Izumo yet, so I cannot comment. With the price they usually come at, I'd rather buy a Nakaya.

[JLS1]

-- SNIP --

Also i notice very few second hand Izumos in the market. is there a reason or just extremely satisfied customers.

I think RayJ has a good point about the price of a Nakaya being close to that of the Izumo, so if someone is on the fence between the 2, they might prefer the Nakaya's variety of different shapes and styles to the single shape of the Izumo. That said, I think the Izumo is a very good pen, just not that popular...

[jar]

I find the step down between body and section on the Nakaya models I have fondled just feels wrong in my hand. I prefer the feel of the Izumo.

[whichwatch]

I like both the Nakayas as well as the Izumo. I bought the Izumo Yagumonuri because it is the most handsome maki-e I have seen. Nakayas are less expensive, but not if you compare maki-e pieces.

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7B9268EC3E-42BA-4CBA-B2ED-71348802540D%7D/origpict/DSCN8169.JPG

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7BD2E89586-08C1-411A-B101-35A891670204%7D/origpict/DSCN8171.JPG

[TinyTim]

RayJ You make a valid point. though i havent had the oportunity to hold a nakaya as yet the Izumo was rather large and comfortable.

 

I think i would compare it to the 149 size.

 

I dont know the Nakaya sizes actually.

 

But this has been an endless debate as regards the Izumo or the Nakaya

[RayJ]

Shanbo: All izumos are bigger than MB 149. 149 may have more girth than Izumo, but all available izumos (tamenuri, tagyasan and makie) are longer than 149.

Nakaya Neo Standard is more comparable to 149.

 

 

Whichwatch: left 2 naka-ai?

Most expensive Nakaya I saw was for ~$60,000. Beats probably everything Namiki has in their LE range.

[whichwatch]

 

 

Whichwatch: left 2 naka-ai?

 

 

 

Yes. Left to Right are Naka-ai, Naka-ai, Neo Standard, and Portable

[TinyTim]

RayJ - post your post was doing some research on prices of Nakayas, the Izumos can be got for US 350 - 400 the Nakayas on other hand are around US 550 upwards....

 

but now you have opened up an evil door, i have been tempted....

[katanankes]

If I recall correctly Izumo are urushi on plastic body. Nakaya on hard rubber,

[RitchieMac]

If I recall correctly Izumo are urushi on plastic body. Nakaya on hard rubber,

The Izumo Tamenuri pens - Kuro (Black) F, Aka (Red) M and Sora (Green), are urushi on ebonite (ie. hard rubber).

[JLS1]

If I recall correctly Izumo are urushi on plastic body. Nakaya on hard rubber,

There are also Izumos made from ironwood - much heavier I would imagine. I think these have a clear urushi coating, but I'm not positive...

[RayJ]

^the izumo's made from ironwood(Bombay wood) are coated with synthetic lacquer.

 

@shanbo- keep in mind the length of the pen you are comfortable in using. These Izumo pens are quite big.

[rokurinpapa]

I have also got Izumo Yagumonuri. The urushi-lacquer work was made by Yamamoto Shikkiten( urushi-lacquer work studio)

in Matsue city, capital of Shimane prefecture. Izumo is ancient name of present Shimane prefecture that reminds us of a world of Japanese mythology. Mr. Nakata, the presidennt of Platinum co. was born in Izumo. So Izumo series are very important for Platinum.

 

rokurinpapa

[jar]

The Izumo Tamenuri pens - Kuro (Black) F, Aka (Red) M and Sora (Green), are urushi on ebonite (ie. hard rubber).

There is Biwatame (Yellow) as well.

[hari317]

If I recall correctly Izumo are urushi on plastic body. Nakaya on hard rubber,

there is no Izumo which is offered with a plastic body. The bodies are either Ebonite or "Bombay Black wood".

 

Whereas there were some Nakays in the past which were offered with a plastic body with Urushi coated over it. I hope this helps.

[katanankes]

Hi Hari. My source was a Platinum representative that seems to be quite reliable. Who is your source?

 

there is no Izumo which is offered with a plastic body. The bodies are either Ebonite or "Bombay Black wood".

 

Whereas there were some Nakays in the past which were offered with a plastic body with Urushi coated over it. I hope this helps.