St. Dupont D-Line Fountain Pen

[mabo147]

Hi, I was out today to by a Lamy 2000, but not at stock. The advised a St. Dupont D line, which was around 450 euro. Anyone experiance with dupont pens or the D line? Can't find much Dupont information here with the search engine and would like some advice before buying.

[jar]

What would you like to know. I have a few ST Duponts but none of the D-Line ones.

[mabo147]

How smooth are the nibs, the pen quality and desirebility?

There is no separate domain here so think it is a lesser pen, or an extrodinary pen!

Thanks for reply.

[jar]

ST Dupont, whether we are discussing pens or lighters or luggage, pays attention to the most mundane of details. Those parts that do not show will be finished to the same high standards as the parts that do show. The nibs are among the smoothest of any manufacturer in my accumulation, maybe even better than Sheaffer FT Madison nibs. I have examples of ST Dupont nibs running from EF to double broad and all are superb. They are relatively stiff.

 

The quality will be of the highest possible level.

 

Desirability is a different subject and related more to the individual than the object.

 

Personally I rank ST Dupont considerably higher than Montblanc or Pelikan and certainly equal to the pens from Caran d'Ache or Graf von Faber Castell.

[mabo147]

Thanks for your reply and information. This is very helpfull.

 

The pen is in the store felt like a quality piece and smooth pen,

but at that time I was not familiar with the quality, not knowing these pens.

 

I will need to buy one now, the D line!

 

Thanks for your replies.

[gerigo]

ST Dupont, whether we are discussing pens or lighters or luggage, pays attention to the most mundane of details. Those parts that do not show will be finished to the same high standards as the parts that do show. The nibs are among the smoothest of any manufacturer in my accumulation, maybe even better than Sheaffer FT Madison nibs. I have examples of ST Dupont nibs running from EF to double broad and all are superb. They are relatively stiff.

 

The quality will be of the highest possible level.

 

Desirability is a different subject and related more to the individual than the object.

 

Personally I rank ST Dupont considerably higher than Montblanc or Pelikan and certainly equal to the pens from Caran d'Ache or Graf von Faber Castell.

 

Jar, how did you ever get Duponts in nib sizes other than fine or medium?

[jar]

 

Jar, how did you ever get Duponts in nib sizes other than fine or medium?

I never realized there was any problem getting any nib size I asked for. Here's an EF nib on a Neo-Classique and on a standard size Olympio/Orpheo.

 

http://www.fototime.com/271C7F67CEE2C37/medium800.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/64318F0EEEA1376/large.jpg

a "B" nib on an Ellipsis

http://www.fototime.com/D0E86604B1E74CB/large.jpg

an "FM" on a Fidelio

http://www.fototime.com/D08A081E53452FD/large.jpg

[Tancred]

Hi, I was out today to by a Lamy 2000, but not at stock. The advised a St. Dupont D line, which was around 450 euro. Anyone experiance with dupont pens or the D line? Can't find much Dupont information here with the search engine and would like some advice before buying.

 

The D Line is an excellent pen but given the fact that most people on this board are pen snobs ST Dupont pens don't get talked about much as Dupont is a luxury goods manufacturer rather than a 'traditional' pen company like Parker, Sheaffer, etc.

 

The nibs are 14k gold except for the very expensive limited editions which come with 18k gold nibs. Fit and finish is excellent and the quality of manufacturing superb.

 

In short, you can't go wrong with D line pens.

[Tancred]

Personally I rank ST Dupont considerably higher than Montblanc or Pelikan and certainly equal to the pens from Caran d'Ache or Graf von Faber Castell.

 

I would agree with these sentiments, but I would rate ST Dupont higher than Caran and GVFC as well, with maybe only Omas and a few specialist manufacturers matching the quality. In terms of nibs, Dupont nibs are the smoothest of all, no question about that.

[Sakura FP Gallery]

I agree S.T. Dupont has very high standards and the brand merits much more attention and credits. The nibs are one of the smoothest.

[john74]

I have a S.T. Dupont Line D pen. The quality is very high especially compared to other, more famous pens in that price range and above. The build is solid and it feels like it was precisely machined. The nib is supremely smooth and quite wet on mine. As for desirability, it is subjective.

[owenj]

Hi, I was out today to by a Lamy 2000, but not at stock. The advised a St. Dupont D line, which was around 450 euro. Anyone experiance with dupont pens or the D line? Can't find much Dupont information here with the search engine and would like some advice before buying.

I have a blue lacquer Line D with rose gold trim. The nib is an extra fine and lovely smooth. Duponts are nice pens, beautifully finished, great nibs, and generally a bit weightier in the hand but well balanced.

[Russ]

+1 on every good thing said about Dupont. Wish I had discovered them earlier. Superb craftsmanship.

[Bo Bo Olson]

I was even willing to buy a nail **....because it's a Dupont. Of course it's perfect, it's a Dupont, even used.

 

Well even the counterfeit Duponts are very well made, ... for fakes.

 

** I am allergic to nails.

[jchch1950]

ST Dupont are very good pens.If you ever have a problem service is also first class. You will enjoy it for many years to come.My first one is more than 35 years old and still going without any problems.

[shuuemura]

Personally I think the zenith of ST Dupont pens was reached with their Orpheo/Olympio line. But the current D line doesn't look too bad either. I would recommend getting a D-line with the Chinese lacquer finish for that special feel in the hand.

[wakiva]

Wow, thanks to all the folks who posted their opinions on the STD Line D fountain pens specifically, and the information on DuPont in general!

I am new to this board and one of my initial main objectives was to learn about the DuPont Line D as I am lusting over the blue with rose gold. The newly released Chinese lacquer ones are gorgeous but out of my league for now.

 

It was suggested that I track down Jar as the resident expert so I'm thankful that he/she and all you others chimed in.

[ArchiMark]

For those that have seen both the D Line and the Olympio series pens, is the main difference the shape of the cap?

 

Or are there other differences?

 

Thanks,

 

Mark

[NxTxSv]

Short version:

Besides a weight imbalance towards the end of the barrel in the Line D, Line D is similar to the standard size Olympio, with the XL size Olympio nib in 14K.

 

 

Long version:

Visually, the Line D/Elysee is an evolution of the Olympio, but there are a few differences between the two lines. The Olympio came in 4 distinct sizes in its final iteration (Mini, Medium (orig. Fidelio), Large (orig. Standard). and Extra-Large (orig. Large). The Line D is similar in size to the standard size Olympio. Olympio nibs are 18K while Line D nibs are 14K -- Line D nibs are otherwise the same as the XL nib, with a longer section and more of the nib hidden.

 

The weight distribution of the two models is quite different. Where I would consider the Olympio line balanced posted or unposted, the Line D has a noticeable weight at the very far end of the barrel, which makes the pen top-heavy unposted and even more so posted. Also, the Olympio's cap posts very deeply, to the point where on my XL Olympio, the length is shorter fully posted than when capped. The Line D posts to about half the cap length.

 

In intent, they are the same; however, I would say that while the build quality remains top notch, the Line D isn't as well-built. The section to barrel join isn't quite as precise as on the Olympio, the underside of the clip is less refined than the legendary Olympio and both nib imprint and trim engraving are less fine.

[Pen_Noob]

Which one has a girthier grip? Similar to MB 146 for ex. The S.T. Dupont pens seem to be slimmer pens generally.