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Thread: Pen Review: Kaweco Dia2, Dual review

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    FPG Donor ♕ Chrissy's Avatar
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    Default Pen Review: Kaweco Dia2, Dual review

    Kaweco Dia2 Dual Review

    My friend Laura and I thought it would be fun to do a dual review of a fountain pen. Kaweco loaned each of us a Dia2 with chrome trim. Laura used a steel EF nib, and a 14ct gold BB nib.

    I used a steel M nib. I also tested it with a steel 1.1mm nib and a 14ct gold F nib.

    We posted the full review, with more thoughts and pictures, on Laura's blog Here but we also want to show you highlights from our review here on FPGeeks. We hope you enjoy reading it.

    1. Appearance and Design.

    Laura: It’s based on a traditional design from the 1930s. I love the chrome-colored trim, the shiny black resin and the knurled rings on the end of the cap and barrel that date from the original Dia. And the shape of the clip is gorgeous.

    Chris: The Dia2 is a full length pen based on a classic 1930’s Art Deco design. It comes with either chrome or gold trim. The cap has 2 decorative inlaid chrome bands at the base.




    2. Construction and Quality.

    Laura: The Dia2 feels very nicely built. The barrel screws firmly onto the section and a spring-loaded feature inside assures you that the cartridges are firmly in place.

    Chris: Everything about the Dia2 suggests a high quality pen. It is not a flimsy, lightweight, pen in your hand, as the barrel has inner brass screw threads that give it a good balanced feel. The highly polished black CNC acrylic has cleanly cut and smooth screw threads.

    You insert one cartridge into the section, and a spare inside the barrel. The spring loading is reassurance that the cartridge won’t fall out.




    3. Weight and Dimensions.

    Weight of pen capped: 27.8 grams (inked with cartridge). Weight of body only: 18.6 grams (inked).

    Length: Body only, unposted: 12.5 cm or about 5 inches. Posted: 16 cm or just over 6¼ inches. Capped and closed: almost 13.5 cm or 5¼ inches.

    Laura: I used the Dia2 unposted, and found it to be a nice full sized pen, that feels balanced and comfortable in the hand, even for longer writing sessions.

    Chris: I only used it unposted, and it felt comfortable in my hand. It might feel slightly unbalanced if posted.



    4. Nib and Performance.

    Laura: The Dia2 uses the same nib units as used on the AL-Sport. The steel EF is smooth, with a touch of feedback, and no flex, but it doesn’t feel stiff. It’s excellent for fast writing and just how I like a nib. I tried the gold BB nib, but didn’t find that improved the writing experience for me. I think the Kaweco steel nibs give a lot of bang for the buck, and I’m very happy with them.

    Chris: You can choose from threaded steel calligraphy nibs, black steel nibs, or gold nibs.



    I found my M steel nib had a dry flow. When I swapped in the gold F nib I found the flow was much better with a softer writing experience.

    I found the nib size looked slightly small in the pen, and I felt it could easily have handled a slightly larger nib, but it didn’t make that much difference to me.




    5. Filling System and Maintenance.

    Laura: I used the Dia2 extensively, but with cartridges only because I did not have a converter that fits. I like cartridges but would have liked a converter as well.

    Chris: I used cartridges in the Dia2, because I have been using them in the Sport pens that I’ve been reviewing. However, Kaweco also sent me a KW23846 converter that fits it, as none of my International sized converters would stay in properly. The twist action converter that fits the Dia2 is different to the squeeze converter that fits the Sport pens.




    6. Cost and Value.

    Laura: This is the only rub for me. In the US, the Dia2 in chrome sells for about $100, which puts it up in the highest range among steel-nib pens. The converter that fits the Dia2 is an additional $4. That is around the same price as a Pelikan M200, which is a similar steel-nib German pen. I think the Dia2 looks like more of a premium pen. It has much nicer trim, it feels more solid and it’s a bigger pen. The Dia2 feels like a grown-up’s pen.

    Chris: In the UK, Cult Pens sell the Dia2 Chrome for £72 and the Dia2 Gold for £92. You also need to add £3 for the converter. Pelikan M205’s cost £90 and the M200 costs £120.

    If you wanted to have the Dia2 with a gold nib then you are adding at least a further £99 to the UK price. So the price would then be comparable with the Lamy 2000 Makrolon FP. I actually prefer the shiny black classic and more traditional finish of the Dia2, and feel that it is a higher quality pen overall.

    7. Conclusion.

    Laura: I really liked this pen. It’s a full-size pen with traditional looks, that feels very well-made. I’m a big fan of the steel EF nib. The Dia2’s only drawback, for me, is that it’s on the expensive side. And I think it should come with a converter.

    Chris: I like it’s size and high quality, as well as it’s looks and performance. However, I wouldn’t be able to live with the chrome pen fitted with a yellow gold nib, and the gold trim version or the two-tone gold nib make it significantly more expensive. I also think Kaweco need to include a converter with the pen for the sake of the insignificant additional price.

    N.B. Kaweco kindly sent me their two-tone 14ct nib to try with this pen, and I think it looks much better against the chrome trim than the monotone gold nib. Here are a couple of pictures showing that nib.


    Last edited by Chrissy; December 6th, 2022 at 11:26 PM.

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    Senior Member penwash's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pen Review: Kaweco Dia2, Dual review

    Can the gold nib produce some significant line variation?

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    FPG Donor ♕ Chrissy's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pen Review: Kaweco Dia2, Dual review

    Quote Originally Posted by penwash View Post
    Can the gold nib produce some significant line variation?
    Not really. It isn't a flexible nib.

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    Default Re: Pen Review: Kaweco Dia2, Dual review

    I have just tried out this pen with the Kaweco two-tone 14ct gold nib, and it gets a big thumbs up from me. The nib I was sent is a M that writes like a stub.

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    Default Re: Pen Review: Kaweco Dia2, Dual review

    Given it's design nod to Kawecos old pens I really wish they'd put a piston in this thing, if they had I'd likely own one. :\
    ---
    Current pen rotation: way too many!

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    Chrissy (December 12th, 2015)

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    Default Re: Pen Review: Kaweco Dia2, Dual review

    That's a good point.

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    Default Re: Pen Review: Kaweco Dia2, Dual review

    At this price point, I don't understand why Kaweco doesn't include a converter. Nice looking pen, but I'm not sure I would want to spend that much for something with a Sport nib. Good review format. Thanks!

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    Default Re: Pen Review: Kaweco Dia2, Dual review

    What have I missed here? Wasn't there a Dia a few years ago that was a piston-filler? (Or is my mind playing tricks on me. . . )

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    Default Re: Pen Review: Kaweco Dia2, Dual review

    looks pretty sweet. thanks for the review!

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    Default Re: Pen Review: Kaweco Dia2, Dual review

    Quote Originally Posted by SteveE View Post
    What have I missed here? Wasn't there a Dia a few years ago that was a piston-filler? (Or is my mind playing tricks on me. . . )
    Yes, the original incarnation (decades ago) was a piston filler.
    Sent from my constipated POS computer at work.

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    Default Re: Pen Review: Kaweco Dia2, Dual review

    I would be interested to learn how the price of the Dia 2 has changed within the US. Is it significantly more expensive now?
    Regards, Chrissy | My Review Blog: inkyfountainpens

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    Default Re: Pen Review: Kaweco Dia2, Dual review

    Quote Originally Posted by Chrissy View Post
    I would be interested to learn how the price of the Dia 2 has changed within the US. Is it significantly more expensive now?
    Still around the $100 range. In the interview, Herr Gutberlet says he thinks the reason it doesn’t sell well is that it isn’t priced high enough. There may be some merit to that, and Tag Heuer raised their prices (and marketing budget) with success many years ago.

    I suspect people assume it’s made similarly to the basic sport (i.e.: inexpensively), and therefore not worth 4x the price of the sport. I know I did. The 060 nib also seems disproportionately small. While not uncommon with vintage Kaweco’s, it doesn’t comport with modern aesthetics. The 076 would be a better choice.
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    Default Re: Pen Review: Kaweco Dia2, Dual review

    Quote Originally Posted by dneal View Post
    Still around the $100 range. In the interview, Herr Gutberlet says he thinks the reason it doesn’t sell well is that it isn’t priced high enough. ...
    Well, if Kaweco is going to raise the price on the Dia 2, they better turn it back into a true piston filler.

    You know, like what the original -- to which this version owe the good looks to -- was.

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    Default Re: Pen Review: Kaweco Dia2, Dual review

    I think that the dinky nib is the problem. I put a bigger Bock nib in mine, and it made all the difference in the world.

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    Default Re: Pen Review: Kaweco Dia2, Dual review

    What size nib did you use, Ron, and did you have to change the feed as well?

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    Senior Member dneal's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pen Review: Kaweco Dia2, Dual review

    Quote Originally Posted by penwash View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by dneal View Post
    Still around the $100 range. In the interview, Herr Gutberlet says he thinks the reason it doesn’t sell well is that it isn’t priced high enough. ...
    Well, if Kaweco is going to raise the price on the Dia 2, they better turn it back into a true piston filler.

    You know, like what the original -- to which this version owe the good looks to -- was.

    I’d like to see that too. Supposedly we’ll see piston Sports next year. That said, there are plenty of much more expensive pens that aren’t as well made as the current Dia.
    "A truth does not mind being questioned. A lie does not like being challenged."

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    Default Re: Pen Review: Kaweco Dia2, Dual review

    Quote Originally Posted by Empty_of_Clouds View Post
    What size nib did you use, Ron, and did you have to change the feed as well?
    It’s in Ray-VIgo’s thread. Bock 076. Direct swap for the 060. You can screw in the complete assembly or swap just the nib and feed.

    -edit-

    Ron is correct, feed in 076 is longer
    Last edited by dneal; November 29th, 2021 at 04:27 PM.
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    Default Re: Pen Review: Kaweco Dia2, Dual review

    Quote Originally Posted by dneal View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Empty_of_Clouds View Post
    What size nib did you use, Ron, and did you have to change the feed as well?
    It’s in Ray-VIgo’s thread. Bock 076. Direct swap for the 060. You can screw in the complete assembly, swap just the nib and feed, or even just the nib.
    I forgot the nib number.... You need to swap both nib and feed, because they're longer than the 060. The 076 will safely fit in the cap.

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    Default Re: Pen Review: Kaweco Dia2, Dual review

    Quote Originally Posted by Ron Z View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by dneal View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Empty_of_Clouds View Post
    What size nib did you use, Ron, and did you have to change the feed as well?
    It’s in Ray-VIgo’s thread. Bock 076. Direct swap for the 060. You can screw in the complete assembly, swap just the nib and feed, or even just the nib.
    I forgot the nib number.... You need to swap both nib and feed, because they're longer than the 060. The 076 will safely fit in the cap.
    Oooof. You're right! I remembered that it looked identical to the old feed (before it got the Kaweco logo), but misremembered that it was longer.
    "A truth does not mind being questioned. A lie does not like being challenged."

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    Default Re: Pen Review: Kaweco Dia2, Dual review

    Pens that use converters should be made to fit standard international converters...why Kaweco makes pens that, if they take converters at all, have to use their own ones is beyond me.
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