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View Full Version : ST Dupont Fidelio - with writing sample



drgoretex
May 18th, 2013, 02:30 PM
http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd231/kcavers/IMG_7797_zps44073963.jpg

Some time back, I seized the chance to pick up a new ST Dupont Fidelio when I saw one priced nicely. I had been wanting to see what all the fuss was about over ST Dupont, so had been watching for an opportunity to get one at a decent price. This one came up a good $100 below list, so I jumped. I have been meaning to review this one for some time. So, rather than go back upstairs to the ward right now and get back to work like I should, I will sit here and do a pen review. :lazy:

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd231/kcavers/IMG_7784_zps3b27923e.jpg

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd231/kcavers/IMG_7800_zps3f83411e.jpg

First Impression: 10/10 - It came in only an 'inner box' (I don't know if these have any other outer box etc.), which is simple, functional, and beautiful. The lining is purple/royal satin, and the indent for the pen is perfect. The pen itself is quite lovely - glossy finish with underlying scored gunmetal barrel and cap, rhodium trim, and the trademark black square on the clip. The cap trim ring is etched with 'ST Dupont' and 'Paris'. Good first impression. A beautiful pen with a beautiful presentation.

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd231/kcavers/IMG_7801_zps67e35750.jpg

Quality of Construction: 10/10 - Actually, some might score it lower, as the glossy coat over the scored gunmetal is a plastic coat, not lacquer (some sellers advertise this as 'lacquer', but I contacted ST Dupont US and they confirm that it is a plastic coat). I did not take any points off for that, as ST Dupont never claimed that it is a lacquer coat. And in fact, it feels incredibly durable, very pleasant to grip, and appears to be nicely scratch-resistant. The metal cast parts are excellent, as is the rhodium plating (I believe it is rhodium), with not the slightest flaw that I can find. Fit is perfect. Threading is perfect (nib section-to-barrel). The cap is snap-on to the barrel, and feels secure. The nib section has a plastic/rubber coat for excellent grip (which is very nice, as I often dislike metal grip sections).

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd231/kcavers/IMG_7803_zps7036f9f5.jpg

Filling System: 9.5/10 - well, this of course is a bit subjective, and being I prefer converter fill over other fill systems, and being this converter is a pretty good one, I scored high. Not much else to say here. The converter is also engraved with 'ST Dupont'.

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd231/kcavers/IMG_7812_zpsd2f9d925.jpg

Nib: 9.5/10 - Ooooo, now this is where it gets really sweet. For starters, the nib is a bit different, wrapped around the feed - almost like some of the hooded nibs out there (only bigger). The rhodium-plated 14K nib has no breather hole, and looks just lovely - clean, simple, with the trademark 'D' on it. This is one of the very few nibs that was nearly perfect right out of the box. OK, yes - I played with it a bit anyway, smoothing and perfecting it, but I'm not sure it really needed it. And what a writer! It is smooth, wet side of moderately wet, and just a pleasure to write with. As I said on my writing sample, "I love this pen!" I wanted to score this as '10/10', but the only fault I could find is that this nib and feed would not be easy to pull apart to clean.

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd231/kcavers/IMG_7841_zps6d2edd71.jpg

Price and Value: 8/10 - I think I could have scored lower here, as the prices on the ST Duponts are so often on the high end of really high, but this one seems to have been pitched to a 'we don't have endless wads of cash' crowd more than some of their pens. The list price appears to be a little over $300, which honestly, is still not bad for a pen of this one's excellent quality. I picked it up for a bit over $200, which makes it a 'bargain' (if there really is such a thing in the FP world). Sometimes, you get what you pay for. When you pay the big $ for this pen, you get an excellent, high-quality pen with a great nib.

Overall: 9.5/10 - a very good pen, and a reasonable price. If you see one up at a lower price, grab it.

Thanks for looking +/- reading. :)

Cheers,

Ken

jar
May 18th, 2013, 02:42 PM
I've always like the Fidelio, it's a near perfect size and still retains that marvelous smooth amazing feel when capping or uncapping. It's like for the last quarter inch or so there is a force field centering the cap as it docks.

drgoretex
May 22nd, 2013, 02:01 PM
I've always like the Fidelio, it's a near perfect size and still retains that marvelous smooth amazing feel when capping or uncapping. It's like for the last quarter inch or so there is a force field centering the cap as it docks.

I actually never planned to have a snap-on cap pen, as I have always thought of them as something that will easily wear out and scratch up etc. But I have been pleasantly surprised with this one, enjoying the smooth, non-abrasive capping and uncapping, the ease of doing so, and the precision, quality feel you alluded to above. Very nice indeed.

Ken