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Thread: Buying a Visconti- What should I look out for?

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    Default Buying a Visconti- What should I look out for?

    Hi All,
    I have never owned a Visconti before. I have a Nakaya and an Aurora Hastil Cento (the only two expensive pens I have). Recently I came across the Visconti Torpedo. It has a design that either you are going to like or you will hate. I was intrigued by it and there was something about it that spoke to me. However, the price was $1600 and above, so stopped thinking about it. Recently, I came across a well established fountain pen retailer selling one for $1200 (brand new with full warranty). Now, when I bought the Nakaya, I had promised myself that it would be the only expensive pen that I would ever buy. But this Visconti is intriguing at that price point (I promise no more expensive pens after this
    It would be helpful to know if there are any issues I should be considering as I look at potentially purchasing the pen, things such as fit and finish issues etc. Also, I tend to go with Fine nibs (have a fine nib on my Nakaya). Do you recommend me going with a F or an EF nib on the Visconti?
    Any help / advise is appreciated.
    CJ

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    Senior Member FredRydr's Avatar
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    Default Re: Buying a Visconti- What should I look out for?

    If you don't like complex filling systems that are difficult to flush, steer clear of their "double reservoir." If you stick with one ink, then it probably doesn't matter. My experience was with the Wall Street LE.

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    Default Re: Buying a Visconti- What should I look out for?

    Thank you FredRydr. I tend to only stick to one ink usually, so looks like it will not be an issue.
    Thank you!

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    Default Re: Buying a Visconti- What should I look out for?

    I have a Homo Sapiens bronze age. Nothing but a head ache since I bought it. Been to 2 nibmeisters, filling, flushing headaches.
    I would run from another.
    On the other hand, my Mirage with a broad steel nib is great.
    I personally would never own another Visconti

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    Senior Member Robert's Avatar
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    Default Re: Buying a Visconti- What should I look out for?

    Quote Originally Posted by Takasnooze View Post
    I have a Homo Sapiens bronze age. Nothing but a head ache since I bought it. Been to 2 nibmeisters, filling, flushing headaches.
    I would run from another.
    On the other hand, my Mirage with a broad steel nib is great.
    I personally would never own another Visconti
    Interesting. I also own an HS Bronze (maxi with power filler) and love it. I bought it used 7 or 8 years ago from a fellow who received it as a retirement gift and wanted to stick with a Waterman. The pen was fitted with a medium 23k Pd nib and didn't write very smoothly - dry writer, skips and hard starts. I sent it off to Michael Masuyama for a stub grind. Mike worked his magic, and the pen has been one of my favorite writers ever since. I find the filling system easy to use/flush. This is a pen I plan to keep for the rest of my days.

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    Default Re: Buying a Visconti- What should I look out for?

    Wow that sounds painful Takasnooze! What is the exact issue with it?

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    Default Re: Buying a Visconti- What should I look out for?

    That is reassuring to hear Robert. I asked the retailer and they said that they have quality control checked the pen when they bought it, will QC it again before they ship (will include dipping and writing to confirm that the pen writes well). Keeping my fingers crossed!

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    Default Re: Buying a Visconti- What should I look out for?

    I have had quite a number of Viscontis and still do have several. With only one exception I have found them delightful. Great materials, beautiful design, and excellent writing broad and wet for the given nib size, just the way I like it.

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    AzJon (August 10th, 2020)

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    Default Re: Buying a Visconti- What should I look out for?

    Buying a Visconti- What should I look out for?



    IMHO, another maker.

    I have owned four Viscontis and had non writing problems with them all, hard starts, skips and one had a faulty cap. All were bought new, two were gifts.

    I don't want to contradict others who have had good results, perhaps I was just unlucky, I will say that they are easy on the eye.

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    Default Re: Buying a Visconti- What should I look out for?

    Thank you Whichwatch, I am glad to hear this. I think I am going to pull the trigger on the purchase, but gosh have to promise myself that this is my last expensive pen.

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    Default Re: Buying a Visconti- What should I look out for?

    Johnny-S I think the pattern of responses seems to suggest QC issues. I have heard that this has improved over the last 2 years. Hoping that this is the case.

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    Detman101 (September 9th, 2020)

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    Default Re: Buying a Visconti- What should I look out for?

    Quote Originally Posted by cj2020 View Post
    Johnny-S I think the pattern of responses seems to suggest QC issues. I have heard that this has improved over the last 2 years. Hoping that this is the case.

    I have found erratic quality to be an issue with virtually ALL Italian pen brands I have owned except Aurora, whose quality has always been excellent in my experience..

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    Default Re: Buying a Visconti- What should I look out for?

    I completely agree about the Aurora. I have the Aurora Hastil Cento and it is perfect in every way. Beautiful and modern to look at, excellent workmanship, and writes very well.

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    Default Re: Buying a Visconti- What should I look out for?

    Btw, the dealer that I am buying the pen from told me that Visconti is switching to gold nibs because the price of PD has increased and it costs more than gold at this point. The one I will be getting is a new 18 k gold EF nib.

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    Senior Member Robert's Avatar
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    Default Re: Buying a Visconti- What should I look out for?

    Quote Originally Posted by cj2020 View Post
    Btw, the dealer that I am buying the pen from told me that Visconti is switching to gold nibs because the price of PD has increased and it costs more than gold at this point. The one I will be getting is a new 18 k gold EF nib.
    That is very interesting - - especially since the principal reason Visconti went from gold to palladium some years back was cost - Pd then much cheaper than Au. Now Pd is about 10% higher in price than Au.

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    Default Re: Buying a Visconti- What should I look out for?

    I've had three Viscontis. Two with gold nibs, one with steel. The steel F nib wrote perfectly out of the box. The Medium (on a voyager - power filler) had a bit of baby's bottom, but that was easy to fix. The most recent had been sent to a nib meister before I got my hands on it and it writes like a dream.

    I'm sure there are bad experiences with Visconti, but I seem to have only good luck with finicky pen brands.

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    Default Re: Buying a Visconti- What should I look out for?

    Thank you Az Jon. I am hoping that I have similar luck with Visconti.

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    Default Re: Buying a Visconti- What should I look out for?

    Good luck with finding your perfect Visconti. I've never owned one but had the pleasure of trying two or three different ones at last year's Pelikan hub. They wrote beautifully and felt very well made.
    Regards, Chrissy | My Review Blog: inkyfountainpens

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    Senior Member Freddie's Avatar
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    Default Re: Buying a Visconti- What should I look out for?

    Have a few Visconti pens ... no problemo except Anniversary Voyager in Lapis Blue 1998 {known issue with celluloid and Ag clip}
    Bakers12oVNe.jpg

    Fred
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    Default Re: Buying a Visconti- What should I look out for?

    Quote Originally Posted by Freddie View Post
    Have a few Visconti pens ... no problemo except Anniversary Voyager in Lapis Blue 1998 {known issue with celluloid and Ag clip}
    Bakers12oVNe.jpg

    Fred
    Words are like chameleons, which reflect the
    color of their environment.......
    Learned Hand
    I bought the pen and the Torpedo works beautifully. The Iroshizuku ink was too wet but after I switched to Pelikan 4100,it is working wonderfully.

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