Pilot Namiki Vanishing Point

[truphae_inc]

I can't get enough of this Namiki Vanishing Point!! Do you guys like the more intricate designs in Namikis such as this, or prefer the solid colors?? This one is probably my favorite by far. Feel free to vote in the poll above!

 

 

Edited August 22, 2018 by truphae_inc

[Maurizio]

This is my favorite Pilot Vanishing Point pen the Cherry Bamboo, which is actually nicely stained beechwood. It is slightly wider in circumference which is comfortable and satisfying for me.

Edited August 23, 2018 by Maurizio

[LizEF]

I voted solid colors not because something more intricate wouldn't appeal to me, but because of all the available options, the solid ones have appealed to me the most - Stormtrooper and blue & black. I prefer the black trim to silver or gold.

 

I do think the ones like you posted are pretty, just not my thing and not pretty enough to make me spend extra - the only pen that has managed that so far was a London Fog.

[truphae_inc]

This is my favorite Pilot Vanishing Point pen the Cherry Bamboo, which is actually nicely stained beechwood. It is slightly wider in circumference which is comfortable and satisfying for me.

 

Ahhh that one is gorgeous!!!

[truphae_inc]

I voted solid colors not because something more intricate wouldn't appeal to me, but because of all the available options, the solid ones have appealed to me the most - Stormtrooper and blue & black. I prefer the black trim to silver or gold.

 

I do think the ones like you posted are pretty, just not my thing and not pretty enough to make me spend extra - the only pen that has managed that so far was a London Fog.

 

OOO London Fog is one of my all-time favorites!

[A Smug Dill]

I almost bit the bullet a couple of months ago, just before Engeika shut down shop, and ordered the one with the cherry-coloured wooden barrel, but with ten Vanishing Point pens already between myself and my fiancée, and another about a thousand dollars' worth of various other pens on order at the time, it didn't seem wise. In retrospect, maybe I should have ordered it from Engeika while Taizo was prepared to sell it at a good price and ship it to me in Australia.

 

Yes, we love those pens. Between us, we have three of the raden (with mother-of-pearl inlay) ones, but not in three different designs; we have the one you showed in the photo, and two of the ‘galaxy’ ones (because I was relieved of the first one with a simple, “Look! Shiny!” by my fiancée). I'm not so taken with the other design in which the stripes are longer but spaced further apart.

 

My most used (although not exactly an EDC) is a matte black one, in which I have installed a black ion-plated replacement nib. She has the metallic purple one with the black nib, and the black ‘carbonesque’, and a number of the more lightweight ones in the Decimo range. I have a couple of the limited edition ones in the classic shape.

 

I don't think the raden (mother-of-pearl inlay) ones count as maki-e, though, but these two do:

https://plus.google.com/106897958629756343598/posts/QiES9cF6QLF

[Katduffy]

I voted maki-e, but I have mixed feelings. I only have one VP, a raden galaxy VP. A VP is about practicality and I don't want the added worry of scratching my raden VP because it is more expensive than solid colors. I try not to worry as much about potential scratches and use a case when I carry the VP instead of just clipping it into my purse or backpack. If I was buying the VP over again I'd probably get a carbonesque VP instead of the raden,

[A Smug Dill]

Oh, but the raden galaxy is just so pretty, it's almost in a class of its own, and I wouldn't want to not have one of my own, haha! More so than the Platinum Izumo soratame of which I was also relieved by She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed in the same manner, because I bought a Platinum Izumo akatame on the same order.

 

The first time there was a slick ‘scratch’ on the barrel of my matte black VP that left a glossy line (without otherwise removing the black finishing) on it, it made me feel a little sick; but then that's really no different from getting the first scratch or nick on any other shiny ‘fine’ object, whether that is the strap/bracelet on my wristwatch or a lacquered wooden box. I'd get over it in a few hours or a few days and just accept its ‘well-loved’ look.

 

(Yes, that's quite hypocritical of me to say, actually, considering I cannot bring myself to ink or use the 50th anniversary edition VP at all!)

[Misfit]

I wish I would have bought the Raden Galaxy back when they were $304 and readily available. Sigh

Edited October 23, 2018 by Misfit

[A Smug Dill]

I wonder if I should, or would, have bought the raden 'water surface' design (with the long but sparse stripes of mother-of-pearl) back then, if I'd known that its price would go up far more than that of the raden galaxy. However, I wasn't really taken by it then, and am not any fonder of that look now.

 

I did succumb and buy a VP with the deep red (resin-injected) birch barrel since my previous post in this thread, though. It's a joy to behold.

[ekc976]

Had no idea Engeika shut down. Glad I was able to snag a Raden before they did. Such a beautiful pen!

[AltecGreen]

Raden is not maki-e.

[truphae_inc]

I almost bit the bullet a couple of months ago, just before Engeika shut down shop, and ordered the one with the cherry-coloured wooden barrel, but with ten Vanishing Point pens already between myself and my fiancée, and another about a thousand dollars' worth of various other pens on order at the time, it didn't seem wise. In retrospect, maybe I should have ordered it from Engeika while Taizo was prepared to sell it at a good price and ship it to me in Australia.

 

Yes, we love those pens. Between us, we have three of the raden (with mother-of-pearl inlay) ones, but not in three different designs; we have the one you showed in the photo, and two of the ‘galaxy’ ones (because I was relieved of the first one with a simple, “Look! Shiny!” by my fiancée). I'm not so taken with the other design in which the stripes are longer but spaced further apart.

 

My most used (although not exactly an EDC) is a matte black one, in which I have installed a black ion-plated replacement nib. She has the metallic purple one with the black nib, and the black ‘carbonesque’, and a number of the more lightweight ones in the Decimo range. I have a couple of the limited edition ones in the classic shape.

 

I don't think the raden (mother-of-pearl inlay) ones count as maki-e, though, but these two do:

https://plus.google.com/106897958629756343598/posts/QiES9cF6QLF

 

Ahh, would love to see the matte with your new nib!

 

Right, the raden isn't maki-e...meant to infer maki-e/other specialty designs in the poll vs. just plain solid colors

[truphae_inc]

Raden is not maki-e.

 

Correct. Maki-e was meant as an example of all their intricate designs (maki-e/raden/crossed lines) and have it compete against people who just like the solid colors. My bad on that!

[PAKMAN]

The Radens are beautiful but I will probably never own one. I have a carbonesque and a capless stealth and that will probably be the extent of my VPs.

[CrimsonM]

Is it too late to buy radens for reasonable prices?

[A Smug Dill]

Ahh, would love to see the matte with your new nib!

Sure thing.

 

[mke]

@A Smug Dill

Your fiancée observed correctly that 90% made the poor fox jump. I also thought that this is extremely boring.

[truphae_inc]

Sure thing.

 

 

This is amazing!!

[truphae_inc]

Is it too late to buy radens for reasonable prices?

 

$600 range, if that is reasonable to you!