Most aesthetically pleasing nibs - EDITED VERSION

[Bisquitlips]

Forgive me if this has been discussed before, but as I am a new member I feel I am allowed some redundancy.

 

I have decided I am an nibomaniac or a nibophile (what ever the term). When I look at a fountain pen, one of the first things I look at is the aesthetics of the nib. The more ornate, the better! I know this is rather shallow of me, but I just can't help it. Before I buy a pen its nib must be beautiful. At least beautiful to me!

 

I am partial to Montblanc Limited Edition nibs because of the gold and platinum two toning and the engraving. For example the snake on the MB Agatha Christie, or the roach or beetle on the Kafka.

 

On a simpler note, I really like the masculine look of the Sheaffer triumph nibs. Again the two tone with the conical wrap around design. I also have to admit that I am very close to shelling out hundreds for the Water Edson in Sapphire blue because I love that nib. No engraving, but there is just something about that beautiful inlaid nib!

 

I was wondering what your opinions are?

 

http://www.montblanc.com/media/edition/christie_H_02.jpg

 

http://www.montblanc.com/media/edition/kafka_H_02.jpg

 

http://www.montblanc.com/media/edition/dickens_H_02.jpg

 

http://www.penwa.com/waterman/images/11001.jpg

 

http://www.richardspens.com/images/ref_info/triumph_nibs/SecondCrest.jpg

 

 

[Cloud]

I am really a fan of Montblanc nibs on their limited edition. The Kafka edition is my favorite pen from MB.

 

I like two tone nibs, some I particularly like:

 

Older visconti model (a little like a star pattern)

Danitrio blazing sun

Pelikan

Dragon pen the squid

 

Some I don't like in two tones (design only not performance):

 

Omas

Parker

(seems to be a arrow theme I don't like in two tones)

 

[Doug C]

The mask on OMAS pens are beautiful for their simplicity. FC Porsche Design nibs have a very unusual shape that I find attractive.

[sam]

the mont blanc skeleton 75th anniversary pen is one of my favorites.

can be see here:

http://www.fountainpen.de/skeleton-anniversary.htm

Edited October 17, 2007 by sam

[Col]

The insect on the Kafka nib looks like a stylised hybrid. In The Metamorphosis, Gregor Samsa is described as a 'dung beetle' IIRC. I suppose that wouldn't sell so many pens though!

[George]

Montblanc nibs in general are some of the nicest nibs out there (Vintage and Modern)

 

George

[sleek_lover]

Well...two out of five ain't the best, but at least you came to some semblence of sanity at the end. The first three are pure (bleep). Hunks of metal on the end of explosive plastic.

 

Number four is pure artistic bauhaus and number five is the pinnicle of conical.

 

Okay...dump the first three in the recycling bin...

 

Number 1...the Edson

Number 2...the Snork/TD conical

Number 3..the Carene/Sheaf Inlaid armada...Imps, Valors/PFMs

Sharing number four..the P51 and the Waterman C/F

Number 5..the Esterbrook Phaeton

 

No more of this hunk of tin on the end of a plastic tube (bleep)....They all look pretty much the same...blob of stuff, wingidigs and the feed. Hooded, semi-hooded, conical, inlaid...this is the stuff of class...

 

Bill

[Bisquitlips]

Well...two out of five ain't the best, but at least you came to some semblence of sanity at the end. The first three are pure (bleep). Hunks of metal on the end of explosive plastic.

 

Number four is pure artistic bauhaus and number five is the pinnicle of conical.

 

Okay...dump the first three in the recycling bin...

 

Number 1...the Edson

Number 2...the Snork/TD conical

Number 3..the Carene/Sheaf Inlaid armada...Imps, Valors/PFMs

Sharing number four..the P51 and the Waterman C/F

Number 5..the Esterbrook Phaeton

 

No more of this hunk of tin on the end of a plastic tube (bleep)....They all look pretty much the same...blob of stuff, wingidigs and the feed. Hooded, semi-hooded, conical, inlaid...this is the stuff of class...

 

Bill

 

Geee Bill. Why don't you tell us how you really feel?

 

It's amazing to me that the name Montblanc cannot be mentioned on this board with some puerile drivel hijacking the thread.

 

The question was what do you find aesthetically pleasing? It was not an invitation for you to puke on the question.

 

I am sick of the Montblanc bashing.

 

 

 

[Cloud]

motion supported

Edited October 17, 2007 by Cloud

[gylyf]

Amen, Bisquitlips. I don't even like Montblanc and I'm tired of this constant vitriol surrounding the brand: it serves no purpose and comes off as childishness. As for the original question, I love the classic look of the Tibaldi nibs and the OMAS Lucens nibs. I also love the inlaid Carène nibs. Best,

David

Edited October 19, 2007 by Stylo

[Tricia]

For 'stock' nibs - not special editions - the one on my Bexley Sheherazade is just gorgeous. Two-toned, with a beautiful scrolled capital 'B' on it. A lovely nib on a spectacular pen.

 

I have several regular MBs (no special editions) and the nibs are all beautiful (well, except for the one that's been eaten through ). In my case, at least, they are all single-color (gold), not two-toned.

 

 

[Bisquitlips]

Well...two out of five ain't the best, but at least you came to some semblence of sanity at the end. The first three are pure (bleep). Hunks of metal on the end of explosive plastic.

 

Number four is pure artistic bauhaus and number five is the pinnicle of conical.

 

Okay...dump the first three in the recycling bin...

 

Number 1...the Edson

Number 2...the Snork/TD conical

Number 3..the Carene/Sheaf Inlaid armada...Imps, Valors/PFMs

Sharing number four..the P51 and the Waterman C/F

Number 5..the Esterbrook Phaeton

 

No more of this hunk of tin on the end of a plastic tube (bleep)....They all look pretty much the same...blob of stuff, wingidigs and the feed. Hooded, semi-hooded, conical, inlaid...this is the stuff of class...

 

Bill

 

Geee Bill. Why don't you tell us how you really feel?

 

It's amazing to me that the name Montblanc cannot be mentioned on this board with some puerile drivel hijacking the thread.

 

The question was what do you find aesthetically pleasing? It was not an invitation for you to puke on the question.

 

I am sick of the Montblanc bashing.

 

Amen, Bisquitlips. I don't even like Montblanc and I'm tired of this constant vitriol surrounding the brand: it serves no purpose and comes off as childishness. As for the original question, I love the classic look of the Tibaldi nibs and the OMAS Lucens nibs. I also love the inlaid Carène nibs. Best,

David

 

Thanks for the direction to the Tibaldi nibs. The OMAS I have seen before and I do like them.

 

I have looked extensively for a photo of the Tibaldi nib, but can't Google one up. I found some rather plain ones and saw a very small one lacking in detail here: Tibaldi

What I can see of it is very nice.

 

Do you have a more detailed (larger) photo or a link you could post?

 

Thanks!

 

[wednesday_mac]

the mont blanc skeleton 75th anniversary pen is one of my favorites.

can be see here:

http://www.fountainpen.de/skeleton-anniversary.htm

 

When you get a pen like this, do you actually write with it or is it the sort of pen one never inks but only sets on display? Pardon my ignorance....

 

Edited October 19, 2007 by Stylo

[Bisquitlips]

Back to the subject as I am really interested to learn about other aesthetically pleasing nibs.

 

 

 

Another question comes to mind. As I stated in my initial post, I won't purchase a pen (an expensive one) unless the nib gives me a "gotcha!". I have seen and fondled some gorgeous fountain pens only to be turned off by their seemingly dull nibs. I am mostly referring to modern day issues.

 

Anyone else have this characteristic in their fountain pen natures?

[OboeJuan]

I vote for my MB 149 two toned nib. It's really big and bold and beautiful. I also like my Visconti Van Gogh Steel nib when it is all nice and polished and the Bexley Stub on my Americana is very pretty as well. As far as nibs I don't own yet, anything that winedoc has is tops.

 

Kath

[gylyf]

Actually, I have in mind the very plain 90's era Tibaldi nibs, particularly the rhodium-plated nibs. They're just very simple and tasteful. If you take a look at the reviews section, you'll find plenty of pictures of them. Best,

David

Edited October 19, 2007 by Stylo

[Lloyd]

While I agree that MB's are fragile and I could come up with a loooong list of pens I'd prefer for that sum of $$$, there is no way that $20 is the cost. This type of exaggeration is one of the reasons that your comments are seen as bashing. Find me a decent to great large gold nib for $20. Look at the typical upgrade in cost from steel to gold that pen manufacturers charge.

I actually agree that MB makes some of the most photogenic nibs out there. This doesn't justify their astonomical cost for me though.

Edited October 19, 2007 by Stylo

[DrPJM1]

I believe the topic is the esthetics of different nibs.

 

I have to agree that the Limited Edition Montblanc nibs have very interesting designs augmented by the gold masking. The dove on the music series, the snake on Agatha Christie's, the different dragon heads on the dragon and Return to the Motherland series, etc.

 

I also love the simplicity of a Tibaldi, the arrow on Omas and Parker, the 2-tone Lifetime, the Triumph and Inlaid Sheaffer nibs, ...I could go on.

 

And finally, Yes, I would not buy a beautifully barrelled pen with an ugly poor writing nib, and will never buy a beautiful nib that does not write well.

[Nellie]

Besides, I don't knock MBs per se. I knock a pen that is worth, at best $20 bucks that sells for 15 to 50 times that price. A pen that has all the inherent design features of a Sheaf School pen...

 

Hey, no insults to the school pens here - love them and (personal preference here!) am able to write MUCH better with them than with any MB I've tried in a shop!! Do think the 'Writers MBs'-nibs look very cool, though.

 

I really like the looks of most Sheaffer nibs (especially found myself admiring the comparatively simple open two-tone nib of my Saratoga after reading this thread and know I partly bought my Nostalgia for its two-tone nib (same as the Connaisseurs'). Although I really like my PFM and agree the inlaid nib is special it's not as beautiful as open nibs in my opinion) . . . and I'm a real sucker for all heart shaped breather holes.

[Bisquitlips]

I believe the topic is the esthetics of different nibs.

 

I have to agree that the Limited Edition Montblanc nibs have very interesting designs augmented by the gold masking. The dove on the music series, the snake on Agatha Christie's, the different dragon heads on the dragon and Return to the Motherland series, etc.

 

I also love the simplicity of a Tibaldi, the arrow on Omas and Parker, the 2-tone Lifetime, the Triumph and Inlaid Sheaffer nibs, ...I could go on.

 

And finally, Yes, I would not buy a beautifully barrelled pen with an ugly poor writing nib, and will never buy a beautiful nib that does not write well.

 

 

Excellent advice that I am learning to follow. Just because a nib is lovely, doesn't mean it writes as lovely as its appearance!