Visconti - Upgrade? (Il Magnifico)

[truphae_inc]

So everyone knows about the changes with Visconti this year, but do you feel like they are on the right track with some of the actual pen changes too?

 

The new Il Magnifico is super weighty and just seems to be a much more solid/sturdy pen all around (solid sterling silver cap, Italian red marble body), etc.

 

This is one new piece that makes me think they are heading in a positive direction. Your thoughts?

 

 

[mulrich]

I'm not sure how much a LE pen signals changes to the brand as a whole. The Il Magnifico looks like a nice pen but I'm a big Visconti fan. The most unique thing may be the silver carved cap but they could have other silver carved pens I'm not aware of. They produced a line of marble pens a year or two back though those had round barrels, not faceted.

 

Is the section also made from silver? I've seen other Visconti's that used a plastic section that matched a higher-end barrel material.

 

Visconti may be moving in new directions but it's hard to know from one LE pen.

[zaddick]

Looks like a desk accessory to me, but I have always found their designs hot or miss for my tastes.

[Driften]

I am not sure. The nib on the Vertigo says they are going in the wrong direction and this one does not do it for me. I like the standard Medici better. It's strange they so quickly discontinued the first model Medici and replaced it with the Rose Gold model so fast. Also discontinuing all of the midi models signals they are trying to focus the line on what sells better at that price level. It seems like they need a mid sized pen with a 14k gold nib to replace all of the midi's. The Vertigo could have been that pen.

[Ghost Plane]

I'm not a fan of midi sizes, so I like their direction. Don't like steel nibs, even tho' theirs are really good, so I don't experience the bottom tier of the line.

[zaddick]

Another thing that drives me a bit nuts is how they often chose myriads where the pattern significantly effects which pens in a batch are the most desireable. Like all the swirl pens, some have barely and swirls and look odd with a few. With a marble body, the veining affect's desirability to me. The example above has barely any where I would want more otherwise it looks like my resin OMAS pens.

 

Maybe it is just me.

[Driften]

I love my maxi sized HS, but I also need more of a Pelikan M600 size pen for carrying around easier so I ordered my Medici as a midi. I hope I like it. If the size does not feel good I will return it for the maxi before I ink it, but since I can handle Pelikan m200 - m800 sized pens easy I don't expect it will be an issue.

[truphae_inc]

I'm not sure how much a LE pen signals changes to the brand as a whole. The Il Magnifico looks like a nice pen but I'm a big Visconti fan. The most unique thing may be the silver carved cap but they could have other silver carved pens I'm not aware of. They produced a line of marble pens a year or two back though those had round barrels, not faceted.

 

Is the section also made from silver? I've seen other Visconti's that used a plastic section that matched a higher-end barrel material.

 

Visconti may be moving in new directions but it's hard to know from one LE pen.

 

Well, I've played around with some of their standard models (like the Vertigo) and it seems like even those are becoming sturdier as well, in terms of overall build quality. Plus lots of changes with the "look" of the brand in terms of other new pens coming out, new packaging, etc.

 

I believe the section is also made of silver, although haven't confirmed. It's certainly a metal that is consistent to the cap and end cap...

[truphae_inc]

I am not sure. The nib on the Vertigo says they are going in the wrong direction and this one does not do it for me. I like the standard Medici better. It's strange they so quickly discontinued the first model Medici and replaced it with the Rose Gold model so fast. Also discontinuing all of the midi models signals they are trying to focus the line on what sells better at that price level. It seems like they need a mid sized pen with a 14k gold nib to replace all of the midi's. The Vertigo could have been that pen.

 

Not a fan of the new nibs? Yeah, it seems like people are pretty split on that! Will be interesting to see if they keep that or change back...

 

I do love the new rose gold, though...

[truphae_inc]

I'm not a fan of midi sizes, so I like their direction. Don't like steel nibs, even tho' theirs are really good, so I don't experience the bottom tier of the line.

 

Yeah, I like the new nibs, even though I understand the people who prefer the original too!

[truphae_inc]

Another thing that drives me a bit nuts is how they often chose myriads where the pattern significantly effects which pens in a batch are the most desireable. Like all the swirl pens, some have barely and swirls and look odd with a few. With a marble body, the veining affect's desirability to me. The example above has barely any where I would want more otherwise it looks like my resin OMAS pens.

 

Maybe it is just me.

 

Hmmm, good point! It does make each one unique, but yeah, hard to tell if you'll end up with one you really like or if there could be a better one!

[Driften]

 

Not a fan of the new nibs? Yeah, it seems like people are pretty split on that! Will be interesting to see if they keep that or change back...

 

I do love the new rose gold, though...

 

 

I think the Vertigo would sell better for a lower price with the standard steel nib. I have actually seen a seller on eBay doing that. Or even better would be to bring back the 14k nib for the price they want now. The Vertigo actually got me looking at the brand but I was able to buy a NOS Opera Club Limited Edition with 23k pd nib for less money.

 

I think the rose gold looks really nice on the Medici it goes well with the brown body. I just happen to like silver finish better on pens, but I hope the rose gold does well for them.

[truphae_inc]

 

 

I think the Vertigo would sell better for a lower price with the standard steel nib. I have actually seen a seller on eBay doing that. Or even better would be to bring back the 14k nib for the price they want now. The Vertigo actually got me looking at the brand but I was able to buy a NOS Opera Club Limited Edition with 23k pd nib for less money.

 

I think the rose gold looks really nice on the Medici it goes well with the brown body. I just happen to like silver finish better on pens, but I hope the rose gold does well for them.

 

That makes sense! The 14k is/was definitely a great option too.

 

And I think it will do well, although I know a few people prefer the silver finish as well...