I admit I used to dislike the appearance of this pen. It did nothing for me. I didn't understand what was so appealing about it and I didn't care for it. I didn't want one. After about two years, all of a sudden and completely out of the blue, that changed. I was looking at it online and I had started to appreciate the minimalist design and sleek appearance. I have no idea what happened. I don't know what I didn't like about it before, and I don't know why I suddenly like it now. But here I am. Thanks to Massdrop for making this review possible!
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ABOUT
Body Material: Stainless Steel
Trim: Stainless Steel.
Length (capped): 5.44"
Length (uncapped nib-end): 4.88"
Length (posted): 6.05"
Barrel Diameter: 0.52"
Section Diameter: 0.26" - 0.44"
Nib material: 14K Gold
Weight: 50 g
Fill type: Piston-filler.
Price: ~ $270.00USD
Where to buy:
Amazon
PACKAGING
The packaging of the Lamy 2000 is pretty straight forward - just a firm cardboard box that opens to one side, revealing the pen in a cardboard nest. It comes with the pen guarantee, the warranty policy, a polishing cloth, and the usual pen booklet. I like the simple packaging, and it's either recyclable or relatively easy to store because of the shape.
APPEARANCE
The Lamy 2000 is Lamy's flagship fountain pen; this is with a modern matte stainless steel finish. The pen has a gorgeous finish and recognizable shape, with a round body that tapers towards the blunt ends. The cap clicks on, with tiny little nubs that stick out of the barrel, which the cap clicks on to. This is a love or hate thing - some love it, some hate them. I love them. I think they're cute and I like how they look and feel.
The piston-turning knob is flush with the body and it looks meticulous and tight; you can barely see the line. It looks clean and professional. There is no ink window (unlike with the Makrolon version), although the seamless appearance looks very sharp and sleek. Lamy is written in brushed writing on the top of the cap. The section is smooth steel, tapering towards the nib completely, with just an angled cut on the bottom by the nib where the pen fills with ink. It's a seamless appearance that, as I mentioned, never use to appeal to me for some reason, and then all of a sudden it did.
The clip is straight and industrial, with no bells and whistles on it. It matches the rest of the pen.
NIB & PERFORMANCE
The nib is a 14KT gold nib, only partially exposed from the section. There are no visible details on the nib, which adds to the very seamless, clean look of the pen. While I don't care for hooded and semi-hooded nibs, this medium nib was perfectly tuned out of the box and I have to give Lamy a thumbs-up for that. More expensive pens have needed work out of the box so I was happy to have this write immediately.
The medium is on the fine side, and wrote consistently and reliably during my writing tests. There were no hard starts or skips, even when I sat with the pen uncapped for awhile. It's not a particularly wet writer, but the ink flow is more than sufficient. There is some softness to the nib, so a little line variation is possible with pressure, but the feed doesn't keep up well with this. However, this offers a pleasant writing experience.
IN HAND
Lamy 2000 Stainless Steel.
The Stainless Steel version of the Lamy 2000 is slightly thicker than the Makrolon. The section is also slightly smoother than that on the Makrolon, although I still don't find it slippery. The shape and weight combination may lead to fingers slipping on to the nib, especially in longer writing sessions. I prevented this by writing at a low angle.
Unposted, it's a heavy pen but it isn't too long, so it's usable and comfortable. I also like that the weight of the pen puts enough pressure on the nib to allow for steady ink flow and a smooth writing experience; as such, a death grip isn't needed! Posted, the pen is top heavy and not usable for me.
I like the clip - it's springy and fun to pop, but it's sturdy and thick as well.
The pen can be disassembled for maintenance - greasing the piston, a proper cleaning, etc.
PROS & CONS
OVERALL
I prefer the stainless steel version of the 2000 to the
Makrolon
version, although I miss the ink window. The steel is heavier, but with a properly tuned nib, it also makes it easier to write with as the weight of the pen sits on the nib and "writes itself". The medium nib writes reliably and consistently and did not disappoint my whatsoever in its performance. If the appearance appeals to you, the two main issues I could see someone having would be fingers slipping on to the nib (though I was able to get around this very easily), and the weight of the pen body itself. If the weight is an issue, you can always check out the Makrolon version.
Used in these writing samples:
Diamine Apple Glory (80 ml)
Diamine Apple Glory (30 ml)
I received this pen free of charge for the purposes of this review. I was not compensated monetarily for my review. Everything you've read here is my own opinion. Do a gal a solid and if you fancy any of these and want any item of your own, use my affiliate links :)
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5 comments:
I'll have to say that the looks of the Lamy 2000 are growing on me, too. Especially the stainless steel version.
Hello Azizah! Nice review! The L2K (in Makrolon) has been my favorite pen for years, and ever since it came out, I lusted for the stainless steel one. Your review might just put me over the edge to hunt one down... Keep up the good work!
...keep in mind that this design is going to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2016! What an ageless classic!
P.S. - surprised at how you nib performed - my two medium L2k nibs both are broader than average (Pelikan-ish) and wet (about 7 on the 0-10 scale).
Wow! That's impressive.
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