To Add Or Not To Add: Platinum

[Mech-for-i]

As one who had all the major 3 Japanese brands and quite a few different models. One thing I would say is that people tend to generalize too much on a brnad's name regarding the association with how a nib feel. But in almost all cases, its just a matter of different nib feel different to different people ; and that also brand do made different nibs and those different nibs feel different, some time vastly different in fact. This is most apparent as this thread had shown. In fact I would not doubt any of the fellow members observation as I've encounter similar but equally I do know that smoothness , and toothy-ness as well as feedback can all happen on same brand and sometime even on similar nibs and models.

 

Ever try Sailor's steel nib its even more toothy than like of Pilots which many already say are too toothy to the point of scratchy. And then there's Platinum, surprise surprise, actually their steel nib is not tat toothy at all but its go positive feedback alright. A pilot 823 with a F nib might feel like pencil but the same pen when paired with a B would feel totally different. Sailor and Platinum no difference here. Its about a certain combination, not a certain brand.

 

Of course I would also advice getting a Platinum it offers something the other two do not provide.

[invisuu]

Isn't the 3776 Century slightly more expensive than the "normal" 3776?

I can find the 3776 Century for 70USD on Amazon. I wouldnt pay 200EUR for a 3776 again, but at 70$ its a steal.

[Claud]

I can find the 3776 Century for 70USD on Amazon. I wouldnt pay 200EUR for a 3776 again, but at 70$ its a steal.

Bought a medium nib one for my travel pen. Delivered in 2 days from Amazon for a bit less than $80

[stan]

As a long time user and collector of Platinum pens, the newer plastic models do not appeal to me. Some have remarked they look cheap and, I suspect, production costs are lower. I have no idea how they make acrylic with the lines and facets. Assume this is a one-time production cost that is amortized over the 1000 or 2500 pens in the run.

 

To me, the costs are for something uniquely beautiful and symbolic. It may not be possible to appreciate the pens without acquiring several in the series. Whether this is worth the cost depends on the buyer/user. For me, it is not.

 

Of real value are the sometimes LEs made by Platinum. Some use the Chartes as a platform. I've seen another use the red plastic. They require additional steps in marketing, design and production. And, being Limited Editions, justify the additional costs. Same for the Izumo models.

 

As I noted earlier, the celluloids are great, as are the LE/SEs and Izumos. If you can find any of their very short runs or one-off models go for them. You may not see them again.

[MuddyWaters]

Why isn't the platinum president spoken of more? You'd think that people would prefer and be ready to pay a bit more for the body size increase it had over the 3776, especially those with big hands, no?

[JonSzanto]

Why isn't the platinum president spoken of more? You'd think that people would prefer and be ready to pay a bit more for the body size increase it had over the 3776, especially those with big hands, no?

 

One reason (by my reading of reviews and opinions from friends) is that it is a very different nib and a good number of people have been disappointed in it's performance.

Edited June 19, 2018 by JonSzanto

[mongrelnomad]

Why isn't the platinum president spoken of more? You'd think that people would prefer and be ready to pay a bit more for the body size increase it had over the 3776, especially those with big hands, no?

It's got a (slightly smaller) 18k nib whereas the 3776 has a more characterful 14k nib available in a plethora of different widths and unusual permutations. The President isn't bad, it's actually very good (I love the Izumo which uses the same nib), it's just that it is thoroughly overshadowed by the pointy end of its sibling.

Edited June 19, 2018 by mongrelnomad

[Olya]

I think that almost everyone has some of the more popular, "cheaper" pens, esp those who buy from many brands and try new things or have had opportunities to try them, the 3776 Century fits into that profile. I think fewer people have a President, incl me, so can't say much about it. Also the President has a metal ring at the end of the grip section, which is why some won't buy the model.

[stan]

Have been using an Izumo daily for almost two months. Granted, it is a LE for Kingdom Note and have not compared whether the nib is different from a standard President nib. Using the pen for more than two weeks means I like it.

 

Recently acquired a smallish (compared to a current 3776 celluloid) black 3776. It is an older model as evidenced by the circular vent hole and ebonite feed. Has an VERY FINE (writes like an Ultra Fine) nib. Bought the pen for the nib and feed only. Am surprised how well and how smooth it writes and I had ultra fine nibs.

 

Outside of my anecdotal comments, thoughts, and comparisons, Platinum nibs and performance has changed since the introduction of the 3776 in the late 1980s. I've been avoiding purchase of newer Platinums outside of the Izumo and LEs. Have used my Isetan 3776 LE with MEDIUM nib extensively. Very smooth writing pen that felt good in my clunky hands. Stopped using when I realized it was collectible.

 

Am not an apologist or shill for Platinum. Anything but. Actually, had avoided them for almost fifteen years. My focus is not on their current plastic pens, only the older models, LEs, SEs, and Izumo. There may be slightly different nibs in some models. Don't know.

 

A number of years ago I had the wonderful fortune to spend an evening with Mr. Nakata who shared computer images of some of the SEs recently made by Platinum. They were NOT Nakayas. Some of these pens are worth the time scanning Yahoo Japan daily. The few I have seen go for very hefty prices. Someone out there in pendom knows what they are looking for.

[zchen]

Well I for one wish Platinum would reissue those Piston Fillers they only did as anniversary pens a long time ago.

[penzel_washinkton]

Definitely add.

 

In my experience having Pilot, Platinum and Sailor all in the same price range and same nib size, the Platinum does have a unique writing experience than the other two.

 

I also believe that their material color is the best out of all Japanese pen in the price range of $100 ish, best example being the 3776 Century line (Bourgougne Red and Chartres Blue).

Edited June 19, 2018 by penzel_washinkton

[gistar]

Up until recently I only had a single 3776. OK nib, classic body, nothing extraordinary. There was not much interest to try something else in the line before going up to an Izumo. 3776s in different colours and the President didn't seem that different. And I think this is the main problem with Platinum. The line is not very exciting.

[gistar]

Up until recently I only had a single 3776. OK nib, classic body, nothing extraordinary. There was not much interest to try something else in the line before going up to an Izumo. 3776s in different colours and the President didn't seem that different. And I think this is the main problem with Platinum. The line is not very exciting.

[TheDutchGuy]

 

 

The line is not very exciting.

Aesthetically, I agree with that. Many people seem to like the (sometimes translucent) colours that Sailor and Platinum put on the market, such as the recent Kumpoo, the Chartres Blue, the Sailor Wancher colour that almost everybody wants but almost nobody can get, etc. Personally, I don't care much for that. It all looks very plastic-y to me and I'm not prepared to pay extra for that. I'd rather have two boring black cigars with extraordinary nibs, and my two Sailors are precisely that. Whether or not Platinum has nibs that really excite me, I don't know yet. I'm still coming to grips with the fact that since my two Sailors came along, I've basically never held another pen that excited me as much. Which is good news as well as bad news, I guess.

[penzel_washinkton]

Aesthetically, I agree with that. Many people seem to like the (sometimes translucent) colours that Sailor and Platinum put on the market, such as the recent Kumpoo, the Chartres Blue, the Sailor Wancher colour that almost everybody wants but almost nobody can get, etc. Personally, I don't care much for that. It all looks very plastic-y to me and I'm not prepared to pay extra for that. I'd rather have two boring black cigars with extraordinary nibs, and my two Sailors are precisely that. Whether or not Platinum has nibs that really excite me, I don't know yet. I'm still coming to grips with the fact that since my two Sailors came along, I've basically never held another pen that excited me as much. Which is good news as well as bad news, I guess.

 

To each their own I guess, for me somehow the colors excite me. I also own a "boring" black cigar pen in Sailor 1911 Profit, but I might give a slight edge on the nib for the Platinum 3776 (mind you both are F nibs).

 

That's why these questions will always have a variety of responses and will not find a definitive result.

[rutherfordr]

... since my two Sailors came along, I've basically never held another pen that excited me as much.

 

Ha! Good for you - I feel the same way about the Pilot Custom 74.

 

But I'd still like to try the Platinum Izumo, just to see how it writes!

[jar]

 

Ha! Good for you - I feel the same way about the Pilot Custom 74.

 

But I'd still like to try the Platinum Izumo, just to see how it writes!ly

I have more Platinum fountain pens than any other Japanese brand. The Izumo is a favorite. It doesn't write significantly differently than any of the others but does feel significantly different.