Monteverde Artista Crystal Hand Written Review

[KrazyIvan]

First off, I want to apologize. I thought I had taken photos of the pen already and it turned out I did not. I am trying a different camera setup so I am not totally comfortable with it yet. I messed up the focus on the nib shot but I lost my light for today. I'll try again tomorrow. This also means that Darth will not be in the pictures. That is my office setup and this is my home setup. Darth is at the office and I won't be in the office until Tuesday. :D

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8287/7722337444_4df80125d0_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivan_romero/7722337444/)
Artista Crystal1 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivan_romero/7722337444/) by IvanRomero (http://www.flickr.com/people/ivan_romero/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8287/7722337554_0f6dc0e3c3_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivan_romero/7722337554/)
Artista Crystal2 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivan_romero/7722337554/) by IvanRomero (http://www.flickr.com/people/ivan_romero/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7124/7722337676_663fbc3a2e_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivan_romero/7722337676/)
Artista Crystal3 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivan_romero/7722337676/) by IvanRomero (http://www.flickr.com/people/ivan_romero/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7112/7722080460_d068fd9a4e_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivan_romero/7722080460/)
Monteverde Artista Crystal (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivan_romero/7722080460/) by IvanRomero (http://www.flickr.com/people/ivan_romero/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7118/7722118930_c4bed4d684_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivan_romero/7722118930/)
Monteverde Artista Crystal (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivan_romero/7722118930/) by IvanRomero (http://www.flickr.com/people/ivan_romero/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8286/7722056844_4763920c48_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivan_romero/7722056844/)
Monteverde Artista Crystal (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivan_romero/7722056844/) by IvanRomero (http://www.flickr.com/people/ivan_romero/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8427/7722199646_b88b91ff18_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivan_romero/7722199646/)
Monteverde Artista Crystal (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivan_romero/7722199646/) by IvanRomero (http://www.flickr.com/people/ivan_romero/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7108/7722179908_3abf151e64_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivan_romero/7722179908/)
Monteverde Artista Crystal (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivan_romero/7722179908/) by IvanRomero (http://www.flickr.com/people/ivan_romero/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7112/7722141350_76766e50b1_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivan_romero/7722141350/)
Monteverde Artista Crystal (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivan_romero/7722141350/) by IvanRomero (http://www.flickr.com/people/ivan_romero/), on Flickr

[writingrav]

Great review, KI. And the ink looks super too.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

[KrazyIvan]

Thank you writingrav. :)

[liapuyat]

Good ink flow on the Artista is a plus. Slippery metal section would bother me, though. Thanks very much for the review!

[BK_Starkey]

Give it some time. My older MV dries out quickly. Not sure why exactly but I have heard the same complaint from others. Once you get it writing thought they are usually a dream to write with.
Great review!

[GourmetPens]

Oohh.. I have been eyeing these for a few weeks now.. tempting! Again, love the handwritten review!!

[KrazyIvan]

Good ink flow on the Artista is a plus. Slippery metal section would bother me, though. Thanks very much for the review!

It is really going to depend on how you hold the pen. My fingers rest partly on the sections threads and it works out fine.


Give it some time. My older MV dries out quickly. Not sure why exactly but I have heard the same complaint from others. Once you get it writing thought they are usually a dream to write with.
Great review!

I suspect it may be a pen hygiene issue. I flush my pens at each fill so I am not sure it will happen to me but I will report back if it does.


Oohh.. I have been eyeing these for a few weeks now.. tempting! Again, love the handwritten review!!

Thank you!

[goldiesdad]

Great review ... now I want one ... love that ink ...

[KrazyIvan]

Thank you. That Diamine Red Dragon is pretty good. I don't know how much of the smoothness to attribute to the ink or the nib. I am definitely going to get a bottle of Red Dragon.

[jor412]

Thanks for the review. I was given this pen by a former student. It's beautiful and I like the attention to detail that you mention. The writing is smooth and decently wet. Unfortunately, I can't seem to hold the pen right. I've attempted to use it more than three times now but I guess the balance doesn't quite work for me.

[Bogon07]

KI, usual great review. The picture of the ink in the feed section is great. I wouldn't mind a photo of the pen uncapped showing the metal grip in more detail. The red ink looks nice with the transparent plastic and chrome.

The ink and paper appear to go well together too. A couple of pages of a red ink that is easy on the eye too.

Maybe its time for Darth to think about cloning himself.

[ddustinn]

Excellent review. The pen is beautiful, and I really like the ink - I've been looking into getting a nice red ink Red Dragon is now on the list.

[KrazyIvan]

Thanks for the review. I was given this pen by a former student. It's beautiful and I like the attention to detail that you mention. The writing is smooth and decently wet. Unfortunately, I can't seem to hold the pen right. I've attempted to use it more than three times now but I guess the balance doesn't quite work for me.

Is that posted or unposted?


KI, usual great review. The picture of the ink in the feed section is great. I wouldn't mind a photo of the pen uncapped showing the metal grip in more detail. The red ink looks nice with the transparent plastic and chrome.

The ink and paper appear to go well together too. A couple of pages of a red ink that is easy on the eye too.

Maybe its time for Darth to think about cloning himself.

Thanks Bogon. The feed is what drew me to the pen. SBREBrown mentioned it in his review and I had to have a closer look! I have flushed the pen. I went through that Diamine Red Dragon quick but I need to take that grip section photo.


Excellent review. The pen is beautiful, and I really like the ink - I've been looking into getting a nice red ink Red Dragon is now on the list.

Thank you. Red Dragon is my first red ink and I am pleased.

[jor412]

Is that posted or unposted?

Unfortunately, whether I post it or not, I'm unable to hold it properly. Posted it feels heavier. I think my problem is the shape and the slippery polish of the section. :( I do want to find a way to hold it because it's a beautiful pen and writes quite decently.

[wiz9777]

As cool as the clear feed is... It only comes in medium. Not that I couldn't use another medium, I would love to see a bit more variety. Maybe even the 1.1 stub that they have.

Having said that... After reading your review and re-watching SBREBrown's video I almost ordered it on the spot. Your writing sample looks great, and the red ink looks killer in your pics. It's just the nib.... :lazy2:

[KrazyIvan]

As cool as the clear feed is... It only comes in medium. Not that I couldn't use another medium, I would love to see a bit more variety. Maybe even the 1.1 stub that they have.

Having said that... After reading your review and re-watching SBREBrown's video I almost ordered it on the spot. Your writing sample looks great, and the red ink looks killer in your pics. It's just the nib.... :lazy2:

I agree that this pen needs more nib choices. A 1.1 would be the ultimate combo for this pen. My 1.1 in my Invincia Stealth is just amazing. I am surprised at how wet it writes even with a cartridge.

[KrazyIvan]

Unfortunately, whether I post it or not, I'm unable to hold it properly. Posted it feels heavier. I think my problem is the shape and the slippery polish of the section. :( I do want to find a way to hold it because it's a beautiful pen and writes quite decently.

It would be a shame if you could not use the pen. Have you thought about possibly de-glossing the section like I did with my Pilot 78G. (http://fpgeeks.com/forum/showthread.php/1037-Pilot-78G-with-a-matte-finish)

[fountainpenkid]

What an ink! Nice pen too. Sad that its a c/c/

[KrazyIvan]

Oh well, people like me that are ink ADD appreciate a pen that can switch inks often.

[jor412]

It would be a shame if you could not use the pen. Have you thought about possibly de-glossing the section like I did with my Pilot 78G. (http://fpgeeks.com/forum/showthread.php/1037-Pilot-78G-with-a-matte-finish)

That's a great idea. Thanks :) I'll try practicing with a disposable pen first to see how to work the paper right. Will post again when I've actually gotten it done.

[southpaw52]

I had a earlier Monteverde, that horrible flow issues. I hope these newer models they are correcting the problems. Your review indicates that have possibly has put the issue behind them.

[KrazyIvan]

Don't go too deep on the metal, I would just do the plastic. I read that someone tried it on the metal and the plating came off quick.

[KrazyIvan]

I have not had any flow issues with it as of yet.

[jor412]

All right. Will keep that in mind :)

[Glennhkc]

Mine has a strange flow issue that I've been unable to resolve. It starts out nice and wet and then goes dry with intermittent return of good flow. Shaking ink down into or priming the feed will return flow, but not for long. I've cleaned everything thoroughly, flossed the ink channel of the feed and slit of the nib, and tried several positionings of the nib to feed and a different ink as well as a ink cartridge. I think it may be an air exchange problem, but don't know how to determine that. Has anyone had similar issues with this pen? If all else fails I suppose I could contact the manufacturer, but would just as soon fix the issue myself if possible. All suggestions are most welcome.

[KrazyIvan]

Mine has a strange flow issue that I've been unable to resolve. It starts out nice and wet and then goes dry with intermittent return of good flow. Shaking ink down into or priming the feed will return flow, but not for long. I've cleaned everything thoroughly, flossed the ink channel of the feed and slit of the nib, and tried several positionings of the nib to feed and a different ink as well as a ink cartridge. I think it may be an air exchange problem, but don't know how to determine that. Has anyone had similar issues with this pen? If all else fails I suppose I could contact the manufacturer, but would just as soon fix the issue myself if possible. All suggestions are most welcome.

It sounds like you have done everything you can do. I would say double check the feed to make sure it has no obstructions. The breather hole should be aligned properly to the ink channel. Next step I would do would void the warranty so you are probably better off sending back. I would widen the ink channel.

[Sailor Kenshin]

Mine has a strange flow issue that I've been unable to resolve. It starts out nice and wet and then goes dry with intermittent return of good flow. Shaking ink down into or priming the feed will return flow, but not for long. I've cleaned everything thoroughly, flossed the ink channel of the feed and slit of the nib, and tried several positionings of the nib to feed and a different ink as well as a ink cartridge. I think it may be an air exchange problem, but don't know how to determine that. Has anyone had similar issues with this pen? If all else fails I suppose I could contact the manufacturer, but would just as soon fix the issue myself if possible. All suggestions are most welcome.

Mine does the same thing, but I'm not the original owner.