What Do You Think Of Parker Sonnet Laque Moonbeam?

[itskato]

So I saw this this parker sonnet at my local book/stationary store. I didn't see any finish resembling the finish on that sonnet on parker official website. After googling for a while I found out that that was a parker sonnet laque moonbeam! It's a 1994 edition and it's still brand new, the price tag is $150. Is laque moonbeam a rare collector item now? I'm wondering if I should get that pen, if it were you would you take it?

[Mr.Rene]

Nice pen and design but defective cap ...a factory failure design turns this model problematic...

[pajaro]

Price seems high. I have two Laque Moonbeam pens. They are in two different shades. Neither cost more than forty dollars. They were not new, so you can make your own decision as to whether this pen would be worth $150. Both of my pens are in beautiful condition, and I am keeping both color varieties.

[pajaro]

Nice pen and design but defective cap ...a factory failure design turns this model problematic...

 

I believe this should be qualified that the defect is supposedly in production of earlier Sonnets in that the inner caps were apparently broken causing air leaks causing the pens to dry out. Some owners say their pens are not affected. My pens were generally affected and dried out. I fixed a few so that they work and don't dry out.

[itskato]

Nice pen and design but defective cap ...a factory failure design turns this model problematic...

oh is it the drying up problem like what pajaro mentioned?

[itskato]

 

I believe this should be qualified that the defect is supposedly in production of earlier Sonnets in that the inner caps were apparently broken causing air leaks causing the pens to dry out. Some owners say their pens are not affected. My pens were generally affected and dried out. I fixed a few so that they work and don't dry out.

how long does it take for the pen to dry out with defective caps?

[Aysedasi]

For me with all the Sonnets I've ever owned - minutes..... I vowed years ago never to buy another. Personal experience - others will no doubt have different views....

[AlexLeGrande]

I bought this model as a new pen way back when and experienced the rapid dry-out problem. The 18K medium nib was soft and springy and laid down a juicy line of ink, but the dry-out was a killer. I tried the paraffin fix, unsuccessfully, and finally resorted to using epoxy in the cap. Success!

[pajaro]

how long does it take for the pen to dry out with defective caps?

 

I have not measured the time closely, but a couple of hours usually suffices.

[itskato]

For me with all the Sonnets I've ever owned - minutes..... I vowed years ago never to buy another. Personal experience - others will no doubt have different views....

 

 

I bought this model as a new pen way back when and experienced the rapid dry-out problem. The 18K medium nib was soft and springy and laid down a juicy line of ink, but the dry-out was a killer. I tried the paraffin fix, unsuccessfully, and finally resorted to using epoxy in the cap. Success!

 

 

 

I have not measured the time closely, but a couple of hours usually suffices.

Good news guys! I've bought it (can't resist the temptation ). Probably this one has been fixed since it didn't dry out even after more than 1 days without writing! It's a beautiful pen and the nib is amazing! I hope it can stay wet even after more than 1 week without writing.

[itskato]

Price seems high. I have two Laque Moonbeam pens. They are in two different shades. Neither cost more than forty dollars. They were not new, so you can make your own decision as to whether this pen would be worth $150. Both of my pens are in beautiful condition, and I am keeping both color varieties.

Seems like you've owned those sonnets for quite some time now, pajaro. I'd like to ask about the cap. Sonnets are snap caps. How's the cap after such a long time of snapping in and out? Has it wear to the point where it's very loose when you snap it in and out?

[pajaro]

All of the couple of dozen or so Sonnets I have have tight caps. They snap on and hold tight. Pens made from the 1990s to about 2007.

Edited July 28, 2019 by pajaro

[itskato]

All of the couple of dozen or so Sonnets I have have tight caps. They snap on and hold tight. Pens made from the 1990s to about 2007.

Glad to hear that!

[Samskara]

My Sonnets (3) don't dry up any faster than other pens (Platinum 3776 excepted), but I have a different problem with the Sonnets -- when I write with them posted which is all the time, there are traces of ink left on the barrel, which can come off on my hands, and possibly my pockets. This is a problem I haven't had with other pens. Is it just me?

[itskato]

My Sonnets (3) don't dry up any faster than other pens (Platinum 3776 excepted), but I have a different problem with the Sonnets -- when I write with them posted which is all the time, there are traces of ink left on the barrel, which can come off on my hands, and possibly my pockets. This is a problem I haven't had with other pens. Is it just me?

inside of the barrel that holds the converter? or inside the cap? I'm suspecting that the ink is actually inside the cap then when you post it, some of the ink inside the cap stained the outside of the sonnet's barrel which cause the ink to come off on your hands and pockets, is that correct?

Edited August 6, 2019 by itskato