I love ST Dupont pens and will try to explain what I find to be "The Deal" with them.
Just as with their lighters, luggage and other products, when it comes to the ST Dupont pens you find they paid attention to even the most mundane details. The insides of one of their pens are finished to the same standards as the outside. Their nibs are super smooth, like any ink you can throw at them, are super reliable and responsive. Fit an finish including the care that went into the basic designs are better than on any other pen I have owned.
I have examples of almost every model they made from the early 70s introduction of their fountain pens through the introduction of the Neo-Classique.
Here are some examples of the different models they have made.
From left:a Classique, a slim Gatsby (there is also a larger Gatsby), a standard and XL Montparnasse, an Ellipsis (this is the first model that used the International Standard cartridge/converter, the earlier ones used the Parker/Aurora standard), a Fidelio, standard Olympio/Orpheo, XL Olympio/Orphio.
the Larger Gatsby below a standard Gatsby
a Neo-Classique
Many of their pens feature Laque de Chine, Chinese Lacquer (called Urushi in Japan). The quality and detail of ST Duponts laque is every bit as fine as found on my best Japanese Urushi and Maki-e pens. Here are a couple examples.
In this review I cover the ST Dupont Classique (pen on the far left in first picture). The Maki-e on the ST Dupont is certainly the equal of any Japanese Maki-e. Another example is the ST Dupont Vertigo (and Vertigo 2).
detail of the Laque
All that is hand done, each color added individually by hand, each pattern built up over time to add depth to the image, each layer sanded and polished until the final coats are added.
Another example is Olympio/Orpheo "Medici" patterned after the Florence Cathedral, the Duomo.
Lets take a closer look at that example.
"The Deal" is that ST Dupont offers a broad range of superbly crafted pens that are also extremely functional, reliable and responsive.
If you want I can provide links to some of the ST Dupont reviews I've done in the past.
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