Opus 88 Koloro Demonstrator Fountain Pen Review @GoldspotPens

Thanks to Goldspot Pens for sending this pen over for a review! I had my eye on it for awhile because I really like clear pens but it has really impressed me!

ABOUT

Body material: Acrylic resin
Trim: Metal
Cap: Screw on
Posts: No
Nib material: Steel
Filling system: Eyedropper + shut off valve
Ink capacity: 2 ml
Length (capped): 147.30 mm/5.80"
Length (uncapped): 136.6 mm/5.38"
Length (posted): N/A
Length (section): 22.46 mm/0.88"
Diameter (barrel): 14.16 - 14.97 mm/0.56" - 0.59"
Diameter (section): 11.05 - 12.86 mm/0.44" - 0.51"
Weight (all): 30 g
Weight (cap): 10 g
Weight (body): 20 g
Price: $120.00 USD
Where to buy: Goldspot Pens

  

PACKAGING

The Opus 88 Koloro Demonstrator is presented in a black box with a brown protective sleeve. The sleeve has the Opus 88 logo and 'Fine Writing Instruments' printed on it in gold. The black box is marked with 'Opus 88 Fine Writing Instruments' and 'Since 1977' in white. The box is a little annoying because the lid opens but does not stay open on its own. The pen and a glass eyedropper are nestled in a snug foam bed and there is a small booklet included. The extent of packaging actually surprises me considering the price of the pen.

APPEARANCE

The Opus 88 Koloro Demonstrator is a large, round pen with flat ends. It is all clear acrylic, well polished for that yummy clear look we love demonstrators/clear pens for and it has a small amount of really cool matte black trim. Both ends of the pen have clear polished blocks of resin and it looks so neat - this is one of my favorite features on clear pens! The matte black clip is attached by a thin metal ring around the top of the cap. It is simple with a round ball at the end.

'Opus 88' is printed on the pen near the end of the cap but there are no other markings otherwise. The end of the barrel is a turning knob to operate the shut-off valve. The section is round and smooth, tapering slightly towards the nib before a small flared ridge. The ink chamber is visible through the section.

I like the design and look of this pen a lot. I love clear pens and I love how this pen showcases the clear acrylic. Super cool! I also love how the ink looks moving around in the barrel.

NIB & PERFORMANCE

The pen comes with a #6 steel nib. It has a single slit, a round breather hole, and is engraved with some flourishes (JoWo-style) and the nib size (B). It is laser-engraved with 'Opus 88' which looks cute and tidy.

This nib is a joy to write with. It is a smooth, wet steel nib that glides across the page when writing. On most papers, I did not experience any skips or hard starts but I did find it sensitive on smooth papers. It was also sensitive to hand oils on paper so that was probably the bigger issue. For the most part, it was well-behaved and totally worth the small amount of skippy behavior. That was easily tuned out with some quick loops on micro mesh. It's just such an enjoyable nib overall that I was pleased to have it.

The filling system is cool - it holds a lot of ink, it's easy to fill, operate, maintain, and clean. The shut-off valve is ideal for eyedropper pens because it helps to prevent ink burping if you are carrying the pen around, for example. It is such a simple system that I think all eyedropper fillers should have.

IN HAND

The clip is snug but can be lifted with one hand. I like how snug it holds the pen. The round ball makes it easy to lift the clip on and slide it off pockets, pages, and pouches. The section is smooth and comfortable to hold and write with, even for longer writing sessions. It does not feel slippery.

Unposted, the pen is large - definitely a full size - and it is comfortable and balanced. It does not post but I think it should suit many users unposted. The cap does not post but I really don't think it is necessary.

Top to bottom: Pineider Avatar, Opus 88 Koloro Demonstrator, Opus 88 Koloro Ebonite, Lamy Safari.

PROS & CONS

OVERALL 

I love it. I have the smaller ebonite Koloro as well, which is great, but I am a bigger fan of this Demonstrator. It has a simple yet very useful filling system, it holds quite a bit of ink, it looks cool, it is a large and comfortable pen, and the #6 nib is a very pleasant writer. I think the price is decent at $120. Highly recommended.



I received this item 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.