I have previously reviewed the
Platinum #3776 black with a music nib, and while the nib is superb, the black and gold trim finish didn't thrill me. This Bourgogne pen fixes that for me. In fact, any of the other finishes are great.
My pen arrived with super fast service from Pen Chalet, as usual. It was well and safely packaged, at my door in less than two weeks.
ABOUT
Body Material: Resin
Trim: Gold
Nib material: 14KT Yellow Gold
Cap: Threaded
Posts: Yes, friction
Length (capped): 139.7 mm/5.50"
Length (uncapped nib-end): 119.3 mm/4.69"
Length (posted): 153.5 mm/6.04"
Barrel Diameter: 11.0 - 13.1 mm/0.43" - 0.51"
Section Diameter: 10.4 mm/0.40"
Weight (all): 26 G
Weight (cap): 10 G
Weight (body): 16 G
Fill type: Platinum cartridge/converter
Nibs available: EF, F, SF, M, B, BB, Music
Price: $176.00USD
Where to buy:
Discount code: GOURMETPENS
10% off
PACKAGING
The #3776 was packaged in a simple box. The outer sleeve is white with the Platinum logo on it. The hard blue clam shell case slides out, and it has no markings on it. It's on the flatter side, so it looks and feels less bulky than other clam shell cases from pens of a similar price.
The inner lining of the box is white satin. The inside of the lid says Platinum Since 1919 Japan. There's quite a bit of stuff in here: a Platinum fountain pen warranty card from the distributor (Luxury Brands - one year warranty from the date of purchase), a #3776 Century User's Manual (how to insert cartridge/converter, how to fill pen, how to clean pen), a Platinum ink cartridge, and a boxed Platinum converter. The pen itself is in a plastic sleeve.
I don't think this box is beautiful, but I appreciate all that comes with the pen!
APPEARANCE
The #3776 Century in Bourgogne caught my eye ages ago - along with the Chartres Blue, and I could never pick between them. Throw in the beautiful clear versions (Nice, Pur, Yamanaka - which I would really like to get), it's a slippery slope.
The Bourgogne is gorgeous. Actually, all of these are gorgeous. This pen is not too big, with a round cap and barrel, tapering ever so slightly towards the rounded-off back end. The top of the cap is also rounded off. There are no markings on it - it is just a clear, shiny burgundy dome. The clip is attached by a metal band; it is plain and simple, but in an attractive way. It's straight with a rounded bottom, sits close to the cap, and has no engravings aside from a line for decoration. The center band is wide and slightly raised, and is engraved with the P logo, Platinum, Made in Japan, and #3776. The engraving is very tidy and tasteful. I really like these simple details. It looks good and suits the pen well. The only other trim is two thin gold bands - one at the end of the section, and one near the end of the barrel.
The section is round, smooth, and tapers slightly towards the nib. The cap, section, and barrel are all a deep, clear burgundy color - shiny and polished. The gold trim and gold nib perfectly complements the burgundy body. Beautiful. I love the dark color - dark and elegant, but I can still see the insides! The slip and seal mechanism can be seen inside the cap, but it's not horribly obvious or ugly. There is a cone-like inner cap, and a spring near the top of the cap.
Although I have the black #3776, this one is so beautiful, so rich, so attractive. This color is much more enticing and exciting. The black seems to lack the luster this one has. Maybe the black just shows scratches and scuffs more easily, so it seems less polished after awhile. So far, this one still looks bright and polished. Aside from the colors, I love the shape of this pen, along with attention to things like the clip and center band. Overall, the entire thing appeals to me.
NIB & PERFORMANCE
There's a reason I really like these pens - I also recommend these pens to people seeking a nice pen in the $200 range.
This is a 14KT yellow gold soft-fine nib. It has a single slit, a heart-shaped breather hole, and is engraved with the following: #3776, P, 14K, SF, 585, Japan (on the side), and mountain decorations. It's not my favorite in terms of nib design, but at this price, I don't care much. The nib is quite flat with wide shoulders, and it is certainly fine.
I flushed the pen before inking and noted a few things: it's great that the trim on the converter matches the trim on the pen. Second: the snug fit of the converter into the section is both satisfying and secure. It makes me feel like there will be minimal evaporation, and that any ink leakage will be unlikely, too.
The tines of the nib look ever so slightly misaligned, and they are. The right tine is a little higher than the left, and also looks further out. I was surprised, but it doesn't affect the performance. It has some feedback, but that is usually the case with Japanese nibs (Sailor, Nakaya). As soon as the tip hits the paper, enough pressure is applied to align the tines, so it does not feel scratchy.
This is an awesome nib! First of all, it never skips or hard starts, and combined with the slip and seal mechanism, I imagine it will take a lot to make that happen (in that it won't dry out and hard start). As I mentioned, this is not a super smooth nib; it offers a writing experience that is quite enjoyable and tactile. Ink flow is consistent and reliable, not too wet, but it doesn't dry out.
If no pressure is applied, the nib feels firm, drying times are quite fast, and ink flow is dry to moderate. Since the nib is a soft-fine, some pressure can be applied to achieve a small amount of line variation. It's not actually
soft, like a wet noodle nib (which flexes greatly with minimal pressure), rather, it's just not a completely rigid nib. It doesn't even 'yield' like a soft, springy Visconti Palladium nib does, but it has some bounce to it. It snaps back really quickly, and ink flow keeps up well. With moderate pressure, it's possible to squeeze out something like a broad line, maybe even a double-broad, depending on your ink/paper. Really cool.
The nice thing is this is set up as a great daily writer - fine, precise, not too wet, line variation is possible, won't dry out, light and comfortable, can be posted - it's just really pleasant, and the nib performance is great.
IN HAND
This clip is pretty much perfect for me. Aside from liking how it looks, it has just the right amount of tension, so it's easy to operate. It also slides on to pages really easily, and into/out of pockets and pen cases.
The section is short, and the threads and ridge to the barrel are a little sharp, and the ridge before the nib is a bit hard and sharp. The section gets the job done. I don't find it uncomfortable because it's a light pen and is well-balanced.
Unposted, the pen is relatively small, but not too thin. It's pretty close to being perfectly balanced, so it's comfortable. The cap can be posted by friction. It seats deeply and securely, so there's no risk of it just falling off or wiggling around. Not only does it look really good when it's posted, the cap adds some length and weight to the pen. As such, I can grip right in the middle of the section, which I find more comfortable than my lower grip when it's unposted. It's easy to use this way for longer writing sessions.
The pen feels good in hand.
PROS & CONS
OVERALL
This is a lovely pen, and a lovely series by Platinum. The pros outweigh the cons easily for me. The section is not the most comfortable I've ever used, and the tines arrived slightly mis-aligned, but it still writes well. Everything else is a win: design, appearance, clip, converter, well-made, comfortable, pleasant nib, affordable. Thumbs up.
Next, I need the Yamanaka with a broad nib. Or double-broad. Right?
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment