East-West 2: Platinum Modern Cranes over Mt Fuji - ST Dupont Columbus Commemorative
For this comparison I chose two celebratory pens but near opposites in many ways.
A traditional Japanese art subject is the image of cranes against Mount Fuji and celebrated at least since the woodblocks of the Edo period. Platinum chose this as one subject for its Modern pen series. The series is an unlimited run and done in "Maki-e style" hand finished silk screening on the body.
In 1992 ST Dupont commemorated Columbus voyage with the image of three vessels done in classic maki-e style on the cap. The series was limited to 2000 fountain pens and this one is 0091/2000. St Dupont uses a Laque de Chine as opposed to the Japanese urushi but traditional hand applied hiro-fun maki-e.
The two pens are both slim, about the same length, best used unposted and with 18K nibs.
Both pens use a slip cap and are cartridge/converter filled. The Platinum uses their proprietary cartridge and converter while the ST Dupont uses a Parker standard and can use Parker, Aurora or the ST Dupont Parker based cartridges and converters.
There is no doubt that the Platinum is the brighter, more flamboyant of the two; the ST Dupont is definitely far more subtle and subdued.
As mentioned above the ST Dupont uses traditional maki-e hand techniques and depicts all three vessels stretching around the cap.
The design and execution of the nibs is very similar in size and shape with the Platinum running a little wider than the ST Dupont but both equally wet and smooth.
The ST Dupont nib does sing but softly and sweetly.
Which do I prefer? Tough question. There is a big difference in costs and availability. The former is open stock while the latter is a somewhat limited edition. There are still examples of the ST Dupont Columbus being sold but for considerably more than the Platinum Cranes over Mount Fuji. The clip on the Platinum is more user and shirt friendly than the one on the ST Dupont. The ST Dupont does feel like you have always been using it even at first use though and is almost like those somewhat worn jeans you should replace but nothing else feels quite as good.
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