Platinum (Company) Nibs Made With Platinum (Material)?

[steve50]

http://www.platinum-pen.co.jp/products/fountain/PP-100000H/PP-100000H_440.jpg

So this high-end pen by Platinum has a platinum nib, as you can check from their official website: http://www.platinum-pen.co.jp/products/fountain/e_fountain_metal.html

 

Has anyone got an experience with this nib? This pen is way out of my budget but I'm very curious!

[Drone]

I have not used a Platinum nib made of 'Platinum' alloy before, but the nib looks like a standard Platinum nib in design, which from my experience will be quite stiff with little or no flex or springiness. Platinum as a metal is harder than gold, but softer than steel. New Platinum nibs often require some minor adjustment out-of-the-box in order to get them writing smoothly, especially with the finer size nibs.

Since the pen is made of solid silver, there is a good chance it will be rather unbalanced (top-heavy) when posted. But it shouldn't be too bad as the pen is rather small to begin with, about the same size as a Platinum 3776 Century pen. Expect a pen made of silver to tarnish.

If you buy the pen, buy it direct from Japan, otherwise you will be paying far too much for it. Don't forget to ask if the pen comes with a converter, or if you need to buy the converter separately.

Good Luck, David

Edited August 21, 2017 by Drone

[PabloAU]

I have the shiny (i.e non-antiqued) version of the pen you've posted above. I call it "Mister Sparkle" in reference to the gleaming silver finish that affects a mirrorball-like refection and to the Simpsons episode where Homer is mistaken for a famous Japanese dishwashing detergent mascot.

 

Platinum's platinum nib is quite rigid and has the pencil-like feedback typical of the brand. It's the same size and shape as the nibs used on the 3776 line of pens and feels very similar in use. If you've used a 3776 gold nib, you know what to expect of the platinum Platinum nib.

[jar]

I think there may be a translation issue here. I wonder if the nib really is Platinum or simply Platinum coated. When it says "the base is #3776" I think it means that it is a gold #3776 nib that is Platinum coated.

[Drone]

I think there may be a translation issue here. I wonder if the nib really is Platinum or simply Platinum coated. When it says "the base is #3776" I think it means that it is a gold #3776 nib that is Platinum coated.

 

You might be right, and that crossed my mind too - maybe the nib is platinum-plated gold to better match the rest of the pen. But if it's just a finish color issue, why not simply drop in one of their existing rhodium-plated gold production nibs - like on the #3776 Century Shungyo for example. Also, it is quite reasonable to make a solid platinum alloy nib, especially since Platinum stamps their own solid gold nibs in-house. Finally, it is so appropriate for a high-end Platinum brand pen to have a solid platinum nib

 

* Here's the rhodium-plated 14K gold nib on the #3776 Century Shungyo:

 

http://www.platinum-pen.co.jp/e_fountainpen_century_shungyo.html

 

http://www.platinum-pen.co.jp/fountain_img/shungyo/century_shungyo_04.jpg

 

Of-course this is all just speculation...

[jar]

 

You might be right, and that crossed my mind too - maybe the nib is platinum-plated gold to better match the rest of the pen. But if it's just a finish color issue, why not simply drop in one of their existing rhodium-plated gold production nibs - like on the #3776 Century Shungyo for example. Also, it is quite reasonable to make a solid platinum alloy nib, especially since Platinum stamps their own solid gold nibs in-house. Finally, it is so appropriate for a high-end Platinum brand pen to have a solid platinum nib

 

* Here's the rhodium-plated 14K gold nib on the #3776 Century Shungyo:

 

http://www.platinum-pen.co.jp/e_fountainpen_century_shungyo.html

 

http://www.platinum-pen.co.jp/fountain_img/shungyo/century_shungyo_04.jpg

 

Of-course this is all just speculation...

Marketing is one possible reason. Also Platinum has more of a silver tone than rhodium which is more of a chrome tone. But I still think a Platinum coating or Gold Platinum alloy are more likely. Translations always present challenges.

[benbot517]

They list it in the specifications as being made of Pt-20. The way I interpret this is 20 karat (roughly 83%) Platinum, but I could be wrong.

[PabloAU]

They list it in the specifications as being made of Pt-20. The way I interpret this is 20 karat (roughly 83%) Platinum, but I could be wrong.

 

19 karat by my calculations.

 

[jar]

Neat. that solves it. 79% Platinum.

[Drone]

19 karat by my calculations.

 

So that's "Mister Sparkle" - pleased to meet you fine sir!

 

The nib mystery appears to be solved:

 

Pt-20 => 790 millesimal fineness = 79.0% Pt by weight = 0.79 * 24 Karat = 18.96 Karat fineness.

 

The nib is 79.0% solid platinum alloy. The platinum is probably alloyed with silver.

[steve50]

Thanks for input everyone, mystery solved indeed!

[mitto]

Right now I am using a semi vintage Platinum Sterling Silver Vermeil pen and the nib is silver color with the inscription '18kWG'. Does that mean white gold?

[Honeybadgers]

 

You might be right, and that crossed my mind too - maybe the nib is platinum-plated gold to better match the rest of the pen. But if it's just a finish color issue, why not simply drop in one of their existing rhodium-plated gold production nibs - like on the #3776 Century Shungyo for example. Also, it is quite reasonable to make a solid platinum alloy nib, especially since Platinum stamps their own solid gold nibs in-house. Finally, it is so appropriate for a high-end Platinum brand pen to have a solid platinum nib

 

* Here's the rhodium-plated 14K gold nib on the #3776 Century

 

Of-course this is all just speculation...

Very easy to explain. Not all silver metals look alike. Nickel, silver, platinum, Palladium, titanium, cobalt chrome, aluminum, all have completely different kinds of luster. A rhodium nib in a platinum trimmed pen would be immediately dissimilar. Edited August 24, 2017 by Honeybadgers

[Bo Bo Olson]

I assume WG = white gold.