Platinum # 3776 And #3776 Century

[TinyTim]

Hi

I wanted to know the diff between the two pens. Are they the same?

Do both of them have slip and seal mechanism ?

 

I have been looking at buying one and I can see the prices vary from USD45 to US245. I realise that the more unique it is the more expensive it gets. Celluloid are more expensive as is the transparent demonstrator. If they all have the same nib and mechanism then I will buy the cheapest one. If there is a diff then I will have to be more careful in what I buy.

 

Rakuten is not an easy site to navigate through. And the prices vary along with the description.

 

One final question. Does it also come in a silver/steel/platinum finish clip ? I have mostly seen the black with gold clip and burgundy and blue a- but all with gold clip. If there a while option? Or is it to match the 14k gold nib - always in gold.

 

Many thanks in advance

[vnnil]

I think the '#3776' is a nib specification, so all the #3776 pens should be the same nib-wise. Pens like the cheap Maestro carry the nib.

 

The Century has a 'Slip and Seal' mechanism though, which prevents the ink from drying for prolonged periods, so factor that in your decision.

 

For the Century, there is indeed a silver trim option, but nib options are pretty standard.

 

My advice is to browse Engeika's site to find the pen you want, then copy the manufacturer's code and use it to search Rakuten.

 

Rakuten tends to be cheaper (specially taking in account the USD exchange rate), but Engeika sometimes has nice deals.

[zchen]

 

I wanted to know the diff between the two pens. Are they the same?

Do both of them have slip and seal mechanism ?

 

The 3776 century is an evolved 3776 Balance model that has a slightly larger body and incorporate the slip and seal system in the cap to prevent ink dry out. The standard 3776 balance does not have the slip and seal mechanism, it is also not incorporated into the Ebonite and Celluloid 3776 models. It is in all the models designated with century in the title.

 

 

I have been looking at buying one and I can see the prices vary from USD45 to US245. I realise that the more unique it is the more expensive it gets. Celluloid are more expensive as is the transparent demonstrator. If they all have the same nib and mechanism then I will buy the cheapest one. If there is a diff then I will have to be more careful in what I buy.

 

There still exist a model of the 3776 Balance model being sold that comes with a gold plated steel nib, that is most likely the model you are seeing at $45 as it retails for 5000 yen. The catalog code for it is PTB-5000B.

 

 

One final question. Does it also come in a silver/steel/platinum finish clip ? I have mostly seen the black with gold clip and burgundy and blue a- but all with gold clip. If there a while option? Or is it to match the 14k gold nib - always in gold.

 

Yes, there exist models with Rhodium Trim for 3776 Century, Current models are: Black Diamond (smoky demonstrator), Black in Black, Chartress Blue, Nice Pure, and Yamenaka (which is a limited edition pen). The rhodium trim pens commands a higher retail price over gold trim pens.

Edited December 18, 2015 by zchen

[jar]

#3776 is simply a branding, like Montblancs 4810. 3776 is the height in meters of Mount Fuji just as 4810 is the height of Mont Blanc.

 

The #3776 pens can vary in many ways, some have steel nibs, others gold nibs. Among the gold nib #3776 pens the older ones have longer tines and slimmer shoulders. Some #3776 pens are slip cap designs and do not have the slip & seal feature. The Century series were totally redesigned and are made on all new machinery. Lengths and weights as well as materials also vary from basic plastic to ebonite.

[Algester]

as far as I know 3776 is the "standard" 3776 model which has the Steel nib (the nib should look like the Gold counterparts) and this model shouldn't be confused with the Platinum Balance with a wingfold nib and or looks like the Platinum Balance Cool

while the 3776 Century is the more of a "flagship" but "not flagship" model of Platinum it bares the spring loaded inner cap and or Slip and Seal call it what you want and sports a 14kt nib (Iconicly this is Platinum's common special edition pen)

 

Ok I'm digging up Platinum's product page

you have 15K yen Platinum Balance

this is the gold nib version of it's 5K counterpart it looks like the Balance in anyway but sports a Rhodium trim no slip and seal and is only in black

5K Balance

comes with a Stainless Steel gold plated nib, gold trims and comes in black and red solid barrels

then you have the 10K yen 3776 Century

at 10K yen you have the standard Solid Black, Bourgogne Red, Charteus Blue,

at 15K yen you have the Black Diamond (Transparent black with Rhodium Trim), Charteus Blue with Rhodium Trim

after that you have the Celluloid

then the lakes series (Yamanaka, Sai, Souji, Motosu) the ones that havent been introduced are Saiko and Kawaguchi

and other shop special editions

were not yet sure if there will be international landmarks as Nice is the first of it's kind

Edited December 18, 2015 by Algester

[TinyTim]

Thanks Guys

 

I thought #3776 were all gold nibs. This is an eyeopener.

 

I was actually tracking this pen http://global.rakuten.com/en/store/penroom/item/2522/

 

Now given the price difference i assume this must be a steel nib? The english description is silent. and cannot make out through the pics.

[howw]

Yes Shanbo, the pen you are tracking has a steel nib. Its trim is also less refined than the 3776 Century with gold nib. As the Japanese Yen is weak, the price difference between the steel and the gold ones is not that great. So I think you should go for the gold one. Besides, the gold nib has more options like extra-fine, soft fine and double bold.

[cellmatrix]

Here is the easiest way to tell century from non-century 3776 pens from photos:

 

Non-century 3776's have a metal ring on the nib end of the pen body

http://thumbnail.image.rakuten.co.jp/@0_mall/penroom/cabinet/platinum/2522.jpg

 

 

http://thumbnail.image.rakuten.co.jp/@0_mall/penroom/cabinet/platinum/19727.jpg

the nib end of the body on Century 3776 is plastic.

Edited December 18, 2015 by cellmatrix

[Algester]

Thanks Guys

 

I thought #3776 were all gold nibs. This is an eyeopener.

 

I was actually tracking this pen http://global.rakuten.com/en/store/penroom/item/2522/

 

Now given the price difference i assume this must be a steel nib? The english description is silent. and cannot make out through the pics.

ahh Pen-House... anyway

yes this one is the steel nib version of the 3776

http://global.rakuten.com/en/store/penroom/item/29514/

http://global.rakuten.com/en/store/penroom/item/29512/

http://global.rakuten.com/en/store/penroom/item/23396/

http://global.rakuten.com/en/store/penroom/item/21258/

check these items if they fancy you

Edited December 18, 2015 by Algester

[KBeezie]

Thanks Guys

 

I thought #3776 were all gold nibs. This is an eyeopener.

 

I was actually tracking this pen http://global.rakuten.com/en/store/penroom/item/2522/

 

Now given the price difference i assume this must be a steel nib? The english description is silent. and cannot make out through the pics.

Balance are c/c just like the rest (not meant to be an ED). Also if you note the model number PTB-5000, All the Centuries are PTB-10,000 or higher (the # after the series label is the MSRP price in Yen, so a PTB-10,000 would be MSRP at 10,000 yen, but retailers often sell for lower than the MSRP)

[TinyTim]

Balance are c/c just like the rest (not meant to be an ED). Also if you note the model number PTB-5000, All the Centuries are PTB-10,000 or higher (the # after the series label is the MSRP price in Yen, so a PTB-10,000 would be MSRP at 10,000 yen, but retailers often sell for lower than the MSRP)

Thanks This is reallly helpful ..

[cellmatrix]

gold nibs can easily be spotted by the 14k inscription on the nib (if you magnify the pictures above you can see it and the placement of the ring on the nib section tells you whether its a century or not.

 

If you are looking for a good deal, look at the japanese sellers on amazon or eBay. They sell Century 3776 with gold nibs for $70-$75 dollars. If you buy from those american fountain pen stores that advertise on FPN, like goulet, penchalet or nibs.com, you are going to pay about $100 dollars more.

 

I bought both a chartres blue and a black century 3776 with extra fine 14k nibs on Amazon each for around $72 a couple months ago and they are great pens.

Edited December 19, 2015 by cellmatrix

[jar]

Buying from stores like Goulet, Penchalet or Nibs.com helps support resources that simply are not available from the "Save the buck and sacrifice service" sources.

[cellmatrix]

Buying from stores like Goulet, Penchalet or Nibs.com helps support resources that simply are not available from the "Save the buck and sacrifice service" sources.

 

Goulet, Penchalet or Nibs.com, and other US retailers like Anderson's pens are nice people and I've bought much from these folks over the years with great service every time. I will continue to buy from these folks in the future. They do offer resources that I value, such as esterbrook nibs that sometimes only Brian seems to be able to have in stock and the nib honing skills of John Mottishaw which are quite amazing. I have gladly paid them for these and other valuable resources. We are lucky to have these folks in our community.

 

These American retailers are not trying to price gouge us. Brian Anderson explained it to me very well that its the Platinum manufacturer who is responsible for the 3776 fountain pen price disparity ($170 for US markets versus $70 to the Japan market). That is unfortunate and unfair to say the least. Still, I decided that I am not going to pay that extra amount

 

Instead, I've chosen to buy my two 3776 pens from perfectly good japanese vendors with good service and and have been very happy with the transactions each time. I feel good about saving $200 dollars and I am enjoying my pens.

 

edit to add: sorry I have a bad habit of editing my posts after posting them. I will try to avoid this in the future.

Edited December 20, 2015 by cellmatrix

[jar]

 

Goulet, Penchalet or Nibs.com, and other US retailers like Anderson's pens are nice people and its not them, its the Platinum manufacturer who is responsible for the price disparity.

But if we do not support the Goulets, the folk a Penchalet and at Nibs.com we will lose all of the valuable resources they provide.

 

Looking for lowest price is often foolish and shortsighted.

[cellmatrix]

Goulet, Pen Chalet and Nibs.com and other American retailers are not going to close shop just because they cannot compete on one particular pen model out of the hundreds they sell. And to me, paying $70 instead of $170 for a pen is not foolish or shortsighted, its quite the opposite. So overall, I've been quite happy with my two 3776 purchases.

Edited December 20, 2015 by cellmatrix

[Algester]

I mean considering the OP is from India I guess it is much more cheaper by a long shot to order from Japan as opposed to ordering half across the globe for a pen...

and perhaps more customs friendly who knows I'm not familiar with India's customs code

plus even though I havent order from pen-house I kinda trust the shop's image

Edited December 20, 2015 by Algester

[KBeezie]

But if we do not support the Goulets, the folk a Penchalet and at Nibs.com we will lose all of the valuable resources they provide.

 

Looking for lowest price is often foolish and shortsighted.

Not foolish when that's about the retail price over in the country of production, and they will still get business on a number of pens you cannot get for less than half the price direct from country of origin, especially for people who are paranoid about purchasing overseas.

 

As Algester said, not everyone who is shopping around are from the same geographic region.

 

Plus, I'm curious as to why certain distributors would mark up a price more than twice the domestic price, that if nothing else would hurt non-domestic sales. Sure I like to support my local businesses... but not for $100+ difference, and we're talking regular prices (the MSRP for the Century 3776 is 10,000 yen, which is about 83 USD presently).

Edited December 25, 2015 by KBeezie

[jar]

Not foolish when that's about the retail price over in the country of production, and they will still get business on a number of pens you cannot get for less than half the price direct from country of origin, especially for people who are paranoid about purchasing overseas.

 

As Algester said, not everyone who is shopping around are from the same geographic region.

 

Plus, I'm curious as to why certain distributors would mark up a price more than twice the domestic price, that if nothing else would hurt non-domestic sales. Sure I like to support my local businesses... but not for $100+ difference, and we're talking regular prices (the MSRP for the Century 3776 is 10,000 yen, which is about 83 USD presently).

We often see posts where people talk about the information put online by the good folk a nibs.com and the Goulets and Richard and other similar merchants. That information took time, energy, expense and enthusiasm to produce. If those of us who benefit from such resources do not help make sure the people that created them get rewarded all that will fade away.

[KBeezie]

We often see posts where people talk about the information put online by the good folk a nibs.com and the Goulets and Richard and other similar merchants. That information took time, energy, expense and enthusiasm to produce. If those of us who benefit from such resources do not help make sure the people that created them get rewarded all that will fade away.

By getting 100% of everything from them or one of them exclusively?

 

You're being quite unrealistic in my opinion, and is also implying that I do not support them in other ways such as referrals, or that I haven't been a patronage for other items except for a very specific model which makes little sense to spend such a huge mark-up on.