She Sells Seashells

[QM2]

http://queenmargot.com/retro51_cioppino1.jpg

 

Retro 51 "Cioppino" LE

Tornado Model with Seashells

 

There have been a few threads recently about raden, abalone and mother of pearl pens. So I am posting a quick

review of my Retro 51 Cioppino, for those who want to try a lower price alternative!

 

The Retro 51 Cioppino is named after an Italian fish stew. The name reflects the medley of abalone shell fragments

with which the pen is decorated. Pieces of shell are arranged around the barrel and cap in a way that best reflects

the light, then covered with several layers of lacquer for a smooth, glossy finish.

 

General Spec Info

 

I have had this pen for just under a year. Like all my other Retro 51 Tornados, it is a smooth, reliable writer. The

dimensions are the same as the standard Tornados: the pen is 5" capped, just under 4 1/2" uncapped, and just

over 6" posted. The lacquer finish is very durable and there is no damage from posting the cap. Under the shells

and enamel, the barrel is brass. The black plastic section has subtle texture for a comfortable grip.

 

Like all Tornados, the Cioppino accepts short international cartridges and mini-converters. The steel nib is the usual

two-tone Tornado nib: large and smart looking, with a vertical pinstripe pattern and copper-colour edging detail.

Of the 4 LE Tornados I own, not one has had any problems with nibs or flow.

 

http://queenmargot.com/retro51_cioppino2.jpg

 

Seashells and Overall Aesthetic

 

The design of the Cioppino is remarkably well executed. Abalone shell fragments appear to be gray or beige when out

of the light, and then light up in shades of violet and turquoise when the light hits them. The tricky thing for anybody

making jewelry or other objects out of this material, is to place the fragments in such a way that a tasteful, attractive

balance is achieved, without the colours of the shells looking either too drab or too garish. With the Cioppino, Retro 51

was able to do this quite successfully. In my photographs I tried to capture the actual real-life look of the pen: The

colours are striking and vibrant, but not overwhelming. The shell fragments are also large enough to observe some

interesting detail in the way they are formed: their curvature, natural colour variations, and unusual shapes.

 

Though I love the way the shells are set on the barrel and cap, I am also a bit frustrated by the discrepancy between

the luxurious feel of this aspect of the pen and the cheap feel of the rest of it. The regular production Tornado is a $29

pen, which is reflected in the look and feel of the hardware materials, and especially in the thin and flimsy plastic

gripping section. The same parts are used to make the Cioppino, and I feel that the combination creates a disharmony.

I would love to see them at least replace the section with one made of nicer resin, and to include a lacquered-shell

inset on top of the cap, in a similar way as they include colour insets on other models.

 

http://queenmargot.com/retro51_cioppino3.jpg

 

Value and Conclusions

 

The Retro 51 Cioppino is priced between $50 and $90, depending on where you purchase it. This creates a great

opportunity for those interested in raden/abalone/mother-of-pearl to give it a try without spending hundreds of dollars.

 

Just keep in mind that this is a playful pen, and not a heirloom investment. No matter how lovely the shell-covered

areas are, the rest of the pen's construction keeps it firmly in the lower-tier category. The Retro 51 Cioppino is a fun,

beautiful, reliable writer with a captivating look and feel.

 

Here it is with my other Tornado LEs (Postmaster, Cherry Blossoms 2007 and Cherry Blossoms 2008):

 

http://queenmargot.com/retro51_all.jpg

Edited November 21, 2008 by QM2

[Russ]

The abalone is beautiful. Thank you for the review!

[FrankB]

Thank you for a good, interesting review - and the reminder. Pens can indeed be playful and we do not always have to be dead serious about them.

[MYU]

Thanks for sharing this wonderful pen with us, QM2. It looks really impressive. Aside from the generous abalone shells, that nib! It's one of the longest ones I've seen (non-inlaid). Is there any spring/flex to it?

 

~Gary

[QM2]

 

Gary, the nib is indeed fabulous! Here is an excerpt from my review of the Cherry Blossom pens, based on the same Tornado model:

 

The steel nib on the Retro 51 Tornado is probably its coolest feature. The nib is huge: it measures one whole inch. On my photos, you can see that proportionally, it is more than a quarter of the total size of the pen’s barrel. This is not a distortion, the nib really is quite impressive. It is elegantly curved, two-tone steel: mostly chrome-coloured, with copper-colored edging. The chrome part is embellished with vertical stripes. “Retro 51” is spelled out in a column down the middle, under the breather hole.

 

The nib has no flex, but it is soft and very, very smooth. Also, I think the fact that it is so large in proportion to the body, gives the user more control. The writing experience feels somehow more direct -- if that makes sense. My camera has no macro capabilities, but here is a closeup:

 

http://queenmargot.com/retro51tornadonib.jpg

 

 

Edited November 21, 2008 by QM2

[Joe in Seattle]

Thanks for the review and great pix.

 

I bought one of these for Herself for Christmas.

 

Since most of the FP's I've bought her end up uninked in the box, I tried the RB. I'm hoping it will be used.

 

I know she loves the looks of the Retro 51 Tornado line and she's nuts about pruple.

[QM2]

Since most of the FP's I've bought her end up uninked in the box, I tried the RB. I'm hoping it will be used.

 

I know she loves the looks of the Retro 51 Tornado line and she's nuts about pruple.

 

 

Good luck! : )