Opinions About the OMAS Paragon

[Ron C]

I would appreciate any and all information and opinions from forum members about the OMAS Paragon or any other quality Italian piston filler pens.

I know there are some differences in size and piston systems between the pre 2005 and later versions of the Paragon. What I'm interested in is information about nib performance and quality control and the writing experience itself. I'm trying to decide whether to get a Pelikan 800, Pelikan 1000, or an OMAS Paragon--or some other high quality piston filling pen. I'm interested in quality and writing experience. I'm not as interested in fancy materials such as celluloid or gold or silver.

Thanks much.

Ron

[greencobra]

Alright, I have a new Paragon in black with the stainless section. This pen is super. I can olny speak from experience of the pen I own. The nib is what you'd expect from Omas, smooth, no issues such as skipping or drying. Mine is med. wet, not too juicy. I have a FINE nib and I think my written line is close to a true fine compared to other European nibs. The nib flexes a bit but I'm not saying it's a "flex" nib, just not nail stiff as we've come to expect from most modern FP's.

 

The facets line up on my pen where I want them, nothing completely out of line. Both the cap and the piston knob. So as far as asthetics go, my pen is pretty much perfect. I don't mind the facets being a little bit out of true on the cap, it compensates for wear over time, much like the lock bolt on a fine breakopen shotgun. These bolts are machined oversize for that purpose. Eventually, the cap will come to true with use.

 

This is a huge pen. Some can handle it, some can't. I can. Some don't like the metal section, I don't mind it. I would rather it not be there but it is. I use this pen for the majority of my writing and I use it comfortably. I don't find it hard to manage or control.

 

I'm using Noodlers Red Black in it at the moment and it handles it well. It's the first ink I put through the pen when I got it and see no reason to change right now. The combination is a good fit for the pen and ink.

 

This Paragon holds a huge amount of ink. I don't know how the Omas piston system works but it takes up every last bit of ink that fits. There's no ink view window but when the pen starts to get low you can tell, it gets balky. You may try to cross a T and you have to do it twice, or a dot on an i doesn't happen. These are the beginning signs the pen is telling you "feed me" and it's time to load up again. It's kind of like the fuel light on your car. It comes on but you can still drive for a while...same thing...but if you don't heed the signs, you'll run out of ink.

 

I own only one Pelikan, a Shanghai City with a fine nib. A 605 series? I can never remember. How does the writing experience compare between the two? Close, but I'd go with the Pelikan. And I'm a big Italian pen supporter. I've said in many posts here my Pelikan is my best writer, but this Omas is a close second. Pelikan 800 or 1000? Never even held one so I can't compare. If I didn't have the Pelikan to experience, I'd say the new Omas Paragon, to be sure.

 

Edit: spelling error

Edited March 18, 2008 by greencobra

[Ron C]

Alright, I have a new Paragon in black with the stainless section. This pen is super. I can olny speak from experience of the pen I own. The nib is what you'd expect from Omas, smooth, no issues such as skipping or drying. Mine is med. wet, not too juicy. I have a FINE nib and I think my written line is close to a true fine compared to other European nibs. The nib flexes a bit but I'm not saying it's a "flex" nib, just not nail stiff as we've come to expect from most modern FP's.

 

The facets line up on my pen where I want them, nothing completely out of line. Both the cap and the piston knob. So as far as asthetics go, my pen is pretty much perfect. I don't mind the facets being a little bit out of true on the cap, it compensates for wear over time, much like the lock bolt on a fine breakopen shotgun. These bolts are machined oversize for that purpose. Eventually, the cap will come to true with use.

 

This is a huge pen. Some can handle it, some can't. I can. Some don't like the metal section, I don't mind it. I would rather it not be there but it is. I use this pen for the majority of my writing and I use it comfortably. I don't find it hard to manage or control.

 

I'm using Noodlers Red Black in it at the moment and it handles it well. It's the first ink I put through the pen when I got it and see no reason to change right now. The combination is a good fit for the pen and ink.

 

This Paragon holds a huge amount of ink. I don't know how the Omas piston system works but it takes up every last bit of ink that fits. There's no ink view window but when the pen starts to get low you can tell, it gets balky. You may try to cross a T and you have to do it twice, or a dot on an i doesn't happen. These are the beginning signs the pen is telling you "feed me" and it's time to load up again. It's kind of like the fuel light on your car. It comes on but you can still drive for a while...same thing...but if you don't heed the signs, you'll run out of ink.

 

I own only one Pelikan, a Shanghai City with a fine nib. A 605 series? I can never remember. How does the writing experience compare between the two? Close, but I'd go with the Pelikan. And I'm a big Italian pen supporter. I've said in many posts here my Pelikan is my best writer, but this Omas is a close second. Pelikan 800 or 1000? Never even held one so I can't compare. If I didn't have the Pelikan to experience, I'd say the new Omas Paragon, to be sure.

 

Edit: spelling error

 

Hi Greencobra,

Thanks for the comments and for taking the time to give me some factual data. Can you articulate what it is about the Pelikan that makes it your best writer and why then you use the OMAS for the majority of your writing, and not the Pelikan?

Thanks. Ron

[greencobra]

Hi Greencobra,

Thanks for the comments and for taking the time to give me some factual data. Can you articulate what it is about the Pelikan that makes it your best writer and why then you use the OMAS for the majority of your writing, and not the Pelikan?

Thanks. Ron

Good question, Ron. I find the Omas Paragon more to my liking as to weight and feel. It talks to me too, so to speak. The Pelikan remains in my rotation but I never "keep it out" like I do the Omas. Just no personality. The Omas has that.

 

 

[Juan in Andalucia]

I have 3 milords, which is a smaller model than the paragon. They're the same quality. Since you're considering a pelikan m800 and m1000 I assume you want a big pen, so the paragon is a good choice.

 

My opinion is based on the pens I own: they're all pre-2005. The milords are mid 80s, mid 90s and 2000 (75th anniversary. Then I have 3 more Omas.

 

There's one thing about Omas pens which some people would consider heressy: "inconsistency". I like that. All my Omas write great, but different from each other. They were made when Omas was a small company and the pens were nearly hand made, so differences were part of the deal.

 

Juan

[Ron C]

I have 3 milords, which is a smaller model than the paragon. They're the same quality. Since you're considering a pelikan m800 and m1000 I assume you want a big pen, so the paragon is a good choice.

 

My opinion is based on the pens I own: they're all pre-2005. The milords are mid 80s, mid 90s and 2000 (75th anniversary. Then I have 3 more Omas.

 

There's one thing about Omas pens which some people would consider heressy: "inconsistency". I like that. All my Omas write great, but different from each other. They were made when Omas was a small company and the pens were nearly hand made, so differences were part of the deal.

 

Juan

 

Thanks Juan. Were the inconsistencies related to actual nib size versus the nominal size or did they relate to other features as well? Also, did you find any real problems with them such as leaking or ink starvation, etc.?

Ron

[omasfan]

I would find variation in Omas nibs on my eight old-style Paragons. There are fine nibs that are a bit on the medium side and then there are truly fine nibs. This variation, however, has also happened with my Pelikan nibs for instance and is not exclusive to Omas nibs.

The resin old-style Paragon is a wonderful and robust utilitarian writer. The new Paragon is too large and heavy for my taste.

As you don't look for the fancy material, you should get an old-style resin Paragon. It'll be one of the most reliable writers in your stable and won't break the bank either. Also, the old-style Paragon is just a classic and an icon that was produced for almost 70 years without major changes. The new style has not proven to aspire to that status yet. And it probably never will. If you like truly heavy and fat pens, I'd go for the new style, but only then. The old-style Paragon is about the size of the M800 but a tad lighter (pleasantly and not cheaply so). You can't go wrong with either, Omas or Pelikan.

 

Regarding the inconsistencies with respect to the hand-tooling, I fully agree that each of my celluloid Paragons feels a bit different. For some reason, however, I think that the resin Paragons are more uniform. I have only one old-style Milord in resin and have handled a couple of other old-style resin Paragons, so don't ask me why I precisely think that. It's just my experience. There seems to be more hand crafting involved with celluloid as a material. Also, the resin feels differently, not as warm and "close" to my skin as the celluloid. But this might only be the private notion of a crazy Omas celluloid fan like me.

Edited March 18, 2008 by omasfan

[handlebar]

Everything written above has merit to me.I can express same sentiments on all points. My Omas collection isn't as large as most but the Paragons ii do have are great writers yet different in each their own way.So yes,there are inconsistencies.

It's like expecting every apple or piece of fruit you pick to be exactly the same every time you eat it. Maybe it's different for others but i have different tastes and textures for each apple i eat or banana i have for breakfast. This is similar to my pens.

I have two older style Paragons and three Milords.Also have two newer Milords in the Arco celluloid. All writer slightly different.

I have only used a Pelikan three times(different models-800,600 and an unknown)and i was not impressed.

But that does not mean that all pelikans are bad.

 

One thing many appreciate with a well made pen,in addition to writability,is appearance,construction and even history of the company.Thats the way people are.Nostalgia plays a large role to some of us. Omas does that to me.I'm willing to also put up with a wee bit of aggravation with some (like my celluloid Arco) when such a stunningly beautiful pen is in my hand.That warm celluloid!!! mmmmm.

 

Jim

[omasfan]

... Also have two newer Milords in the Arco celluloid...

 

Jim, glad you're back and posting again. I hope you're alright and doing fine.

May I ask if I missed something? When did you get your second new-style Arco? And why? Just curious...

By the by, this is called bigamy and is punishable. Trust an old Paragon polygamist like me.

[handlebar]

... Also have two newer Milords in the Arco celluloid...

 

Jim, glad you're back and posting again. I hope you're alright and doing fine.

May I ask if I missed something? When did you get your second new-style Arco? And why? Just curious...

By the by, this is called bigamy and is punishable. Trust an old Paragon polygamist like me.

 

 

Hehe Well you didn't miss anything at all as i bought it just a week before my father died.And it is a rollerball,not a fountain pen. I have not had much of a chance to look at it or use it.

It was an Arco listed here on the Marketplace at $250 and i just could not resist.I like rollerballs for work and my check book due to ink issues and some at work that grab my pen without asking! LOL The Arco is a smasher whether FP or RB.Normally i would never pay that much for a rollerball,but this was too tempting.

The rollerball is the HT version.

Here is a quick pic of both:

 

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h93/n7myw/Pens/Arco1.jpg

 

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h93/n7myw/Pens/Arco2.jpg

 

 

Jim

[Juan in Andalucia]

 

Thanks Juan. Were the inconsistencies related to actual nib size versus the nominal size or did they relate to other features as well? Also, did you find any real problems with them such as leaking or ink starvation, etc.?

Ron

 

Maybe unpredictability is a better word. Apart from one pen which leaked at the section, and another problem with the feeder (which was my fault), I've had no problems with my Omas. They write great, but different. My favorites are the old ones with the 14k nibs.

 

The nib width is more or less consistent, but each has its personality: some have better line width variation, others have a nice shading... It's hard for me to pick one favorite.

 

 

 

[helian]

My Paragon writing experience has my M800 gathering dust. I do enjoy the beauty of the materials, but I'd prefer the Paragon for its feel (and its much larger ink tank) even if it were made of the same clear green acrylic as the Pelikan. I haven't tried the M1000. Centuries ago for graduating from college I got myself a Montblanc 149, which I've long since lost. It too was a great pleasure to write with, more so than the M800, but it always seemed fragile to me (don't know if it really was--it just felt plasticky and brittle).

 

The Lamy 2000 is a superb pen in every respect and would probably be my "desert island pen." The OMAS is my favorite as long as I am on-grid and have backups in case of a problem, but the Lamy 2000 has a more durable build -- tougher materials and a more solid clip installation. You can take it apart easily to clean the insides. It has an ink window. The finish is designed to age well, including the unplated metal parts. (The celluloid version of the Paragon with "high tech" trim also has unplated metal parts -- "high tech" appears to mean rhodium plating for some pens, sterling for others.) Like the 149 and Paragon, the 2000 feels good to write with, smoother and better-balanced than the M800. It's a great value, and the design is a bauhaus-revival classic, as beautiful as the Paragon but in a much more understated way. Mine has served as a workhorse note-taker for years. I've had two problems with it: one the result of loaning it to a twentysomething who falsely answered "yes" when I asked if he knew how to write with a fountain pen (nib completely destroyed, had to be replaced), and the other a leak at the section-barrel join, very small (my skin would draw out a bit of ink, probably a bad O-ring). Lamy fixed both for their nominal shipping/handling/service fee (less than $10 if I recall right), promptly, even the first problem, which was my fault and obviously so. I wish it were fatter or came in a "magnum" version. (On service, I also snapped the barrel of my M800 in two in a freak accident, and Pelikan's repairers in Tennessee at the time promptly replaced it, even though it was the unusual green demonstrator barrel. More recently they swapped the nib to a fine for me, somewhere not in Tennessee.)

 

No service from OMAS yet (I've only had it a month or two), but they do not enjoy a good reputation in this area, if I may understate. Nina Simone is supposed to have said to some official something like, "I don't need ID papers, I'm a genius." Maybe OMAS feel that the aesthetic refinement of their pens should make someone feel lucky to own a broken one. Maybe this ethos has a lot to do with a lot of their customers being collectors, which probably is not true of Lamy or Pelikan. Why would getting it fixed be a rational investment of your time, if your "use" for it is keeping it in a display case and fondling it occasionally?

 

Pelikans of the last few decades are just ugly. I've owned several since 1995 (since years before that, if you count my first fountain pen, a Pelikano). I've tried to like their looks, because they're well-made, but.... Apart from the green and blue demonstrators and a few other designs, they look somehow both garish and frumpy. The "classic" green and black scheme looks like a pen with the wrong cap on (if the cap were in the same striated colored acrylic, it might be much nicer.) The 149 is elegant when considered in itself, but it has become a visual cliché; the logo might have been discreetly worked into the design originally, but now it's just another label on the outside, in league with Aberzombie garments and the new direction Coach is taking toward gaudy "look it's Coach!" accessories with the logo all over their visible surfaces. Assuming you carry it in your pocket, you can't avoid conspicuous consumption with the 149 even if you bought it to sign away all your other possessions before entering a monastery. The Paragon has a simple silver or gold circle. The Pelikan solution of branding through the clip shape is cute, but does not integrate into the design to create a beautiful whole, in any example I've seen.

 

Look, it's a triangle! You might give a 360 a try. Mine has given me no trouble and is a great writer, but I dislike the awkwardness of posting. Posting is how I don't lose my cap! These pens are very beautiful and of sound design, but watch out for the ink capacity of the "Vision" versions -- a stingy 1 mL or so. This may not be true of other 360 piston-fillers.

 

Oh, just go nuts and buy them all! Having more pens causes people to write great novels and poems. It does not cause people to put off work by writing on Internet boards about fountain pens, I promise.

[BurkStar]

My experience may not go back as far as some others, but over the past couple of months I have come to some conclusions. I've owned 3 Pelikans, a 200 and two 400's. They were great pens, fit and finish were excellent and they all wrote well. During this same period I picked up several Italians, an Omas Mezzo Paragon, a Montegrappa, 2 Stipula 22's, a Stipula Etruria Nuda, a Visconti Midnight Voyager, a Visconti Opera and an Aurora Optima. As of right now, the Pelikans are gone and the only Italian thats gone is the Montegrappa that I traded for a Krone. The biggest difference to me was that the Italians, probably because they're a bit wetter, are noticeably smoother writers. That and there's just more personality in the writing experience with Italians. The main complaint with the Italians is that, partially I'm sure because they lay a wetter line, I need to use a fine nib because they just lay too thick of a line. The only two Italians that I now own that aren't fine nibbed are the Omas with a medium nib and the Stipula Etruria with 1.1 Italic nib. I'd probably trade/sell the Omas but just can't bring myself to do it, its just so damn smooth, comfortable to hold and dependable, I'd hate to lose it. And at least right now, I'm holding on to the Stipula because I occasionally like to write with the Italic. If you're looking for a pen that close to the Omas in size, I'd recommend the Aurora Optima as this is the one pen that I can find absolutely nothing to improve on, for me at least its the perfect fountain pen or for less money, the Stipula 22's are a great pen. If it comes down to an Omas and a Pelikan, my vote would still be Omas as you can't go wrong with an Italian.

[lterry]

I have a number of Omas paragons (old style in celluloid/new style Arco and resin), not to mention a host of other pens by Montegrappa, Pelikan, Stipula and Montblanc. I like big pens, but after owning both sizes of the new paragon in arco celluloid, I must say that I find myself using the milrod model far more frequently, as I prefer the size, weight and feel. I will likely get a new black resin milrod if I come across a deal on one so I can have a good travel pen - celluloid is much to precious to take on business trips.

 

I went through hell with a number of issues with my new arco milrod, but after a couple of all expense paid trips to Bologna, it came back like the six million dollar man and now ranks in my top ten. After owning more than 30 Omas pens, the repair and customer service issues with this pen truly annoyed me, so inspect the pen well (test the nib, piston, and make sure the tines line up between the cap and barrel) before leaving the store and don't buy from a store that doesn't allow you to test with ink. Most good pen stores understand this. Omas nibs have always been wonderful and the new paragon pens hold a ton of ink.

 

I recently tried the new 360 and was disappointed to find that it is now a cartridge converter pen; however, the new holding section is an improvement. I have already seen cheap knock-offs of the new Omas 360.

 

As for my Pelikan 1000, it is a great pen, but I find its design to be rather dull.

 

 

 

 

 

[slimnib]

I have four Omas pens. Two of them needed to be return for adjustment. One of them twice, until they got it right. That is a eight week trip and thirty dollar to the distributor for handling. They are really good looking pens but none of them write great. They dry up if not used for a few days. I my opinion, Conway- Steward and Visconti's are much better writers. I have two inexpensive Pelikins that preform just as well as the Omas pens. Personally, I do not think they are worth the prices I paid.

 

Harv

[jkrewalk]

I would appreciate any and all information and opinions from forum members about the OMAS Paragon or any other quality Italian piston filler pens.

I know there are some differences in size and piston systems between the pre 2005 and later versions of the Paragon. What I'm interested in is information about nib performance and quality control and the writing experience itself. I'm trying to decide whether to get a Pelikan 800, Pelikan 1000, or an OMAS Paragon--or some other high quality piston filling pen. I'm interested in quality and writing experience. I'm not as interested in fancy materials such as celluloid or gold or silver.

Thanks much.

Ron

 

If you are truly interested in the writing experience, then I would suggest you go with a Pelikan and buy it from the great nibmeister Richard Binder. Richard tests every pen he sells to ensure that it meets his super high quality standards. You will not get this from any OMAS dealer and, to be honest, you may - or may not - get an Omas that writes to your satisfaction. With a Pelikan from Richard, you are GUARANTEED a great writer. His motto is that he only sells pens that "write right"!

 

I have 6 Pelikans - all from Richard and each was an absolutely perfect writer out of the box (and I am extremely hard to please when it comes to nib performance!). By contrast, I have had a lot of issues with Italian pens as far as nib quality is concerned.

 

JK

[omasfan]

If you are truly interested in the writing experience, then I would suggest you go with a Pelikan and buy it from the great nibmeister Richard Binder. Richard tests every pen he sells to ensure that it meets his super high quality standards. You will not get this from any OMAS dealer ...

 

Sorry, but I disagree. If you buy your Omas from John Mottishaw, you'll get exactly that: a superbly writing Omas pen.

Omas and Pelikan are incidentally both my most favorite brands.

Edited April 7, 2008 by omasfan

[jkrewalk]

If you are truly interested in the writing experience, then I would suggest you go with a Pelikan and buy it from the great nibmeister Richard Binder. Richard tests every pen he sells to ensure that it meets his super high quality standards. You will not get this from any OMAS dealer ...

 

Sorry, but I disagree. If you buy your Omas from John Mottishaw, you'll get exactly that: a superbly writing Omas pen.

Omas and Pelikan are incidentally both my most favorite brands.

 

Yes Omasfan - I stand corrected and admit that I did forget about the other great nibmeister Mottishaw who sells OMAS and also tests all the pens he sells. JK

[FriendAmos]

The Omas Paragon is an absolutely wonderful pen and, because of the ink capacity, it is my everyday pen. I have a large hand, so the size suits me perfectly. With the cap off, I find it doesn't balance well but is perfect with the cap on. For those who think it is too heany, I have a Mezzo Paragon--no longer made but it has a vermeil top (i.e. all metal). The nib is a beauty. The only nibs I think are better are those from Delta, which unfortunately is not big into pistons. If you want a really large, stylish, excellent writer, I'd go for Delta Napoleon (piston), Delta Jubilaeum (sac but low capacity), or any of the large LE Deltas. Otherwise, the Paragon is a dream of a pen.

[goodguy]

I would appreciate any and all information and opinions from forum members about the OMAS Paragon or any other quality Italian piston filler pens.

I know there are some differences in size and piston systems between the pre 2005 and later versions of the Paragon. What I'm interested in is information about nib performance and quality control and the writing experience itself. I'm trying to decide whether to get a Pelikan 800, Pelikan 1000, or an OMAS Paragon--or some other high quality piston filling pen. I'm interested in quality and writing experience. I'm not as interested in fancy materials such as celluloid or gold or silver.

Thanks much.

Ron

I never got to try the new Paragon but it doesnt look like a pen I would buy anytime soon.

My old style Paragon is simply a treasure.

I wrote a review comparing the Paragon and the Pelikan M800.

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/in...showtopic=38850

Another wonderful Omas with a piston filler is the Ogiva.

It is like it sibling (Paragon) a wonderful pen.

These 2 pens are my only everyday writers.

 

There pistons are not as smooth as Pelikans pistons but other then that they are very reliable and overall fantastic pens.

 

Here is also the review I wrote on the Ogiva

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/in...showtopic=59898