Entry level Italian Fountain pen

[sebastien_morissette]

Fellows,

I'm looking at making my entry into the world of Italian Fountain Pens and I need your help. I need to learn a bit before committing to a purchase.

what should I get knowing that :

• My budget is under 150$ USD excluding shipping
• I am open to NOS, used but in perfect working condition, vintage but in perfect working condition, and brand new pens

I do have one question (for now)

How does Italian nib sizes compares to German or Japanese pens (a German M is usually bolder than a Japanese M)

thanks in advance.

[gwgtaylor]

Most modern Italian pens from visconti, delta, stipula and Omas use German made nibs so very comparable. I think Aurora is the only major Italian brand still making their own nibs so that might be a good place to start. Possibly a NOS Aurora 88? Please correct me if I've made any inaccuracies.

[chad.trent]

I own a few Italian pens (none of them high end though). I think my favorite is my Aurora Ipsilon. Great writer right out of the box.

[john]

If don't mind the nib of Ipslon is a nail, then it is good for daily writing.

[Lady Onogaro]

I recently bought a Visconti Rembrandt, and I really like it. It does have a steel nib, but it's a very smooth writer (I am pretty sure the Italian pens would cost more than $150.00 new with a gold nib).

[cwent2]

I recently bought a Visconti Rembrandt, and I really like it. It does have a steel nib, but it's a very smooth writer (I am pretty sure the Italian pens would cost more than $150.00 new with a gold nib).

I did the exact same thing with a bit of enabling from my friends? Visconti Rembrandt Ivory, medium steel nib - also a very smooth writer. I am not quite ready to spend "that much" for the Gold Nib.

[Murfie]

I'll echo Lady Onogaro's and cwent2's sentiments and suggest a Visconti Rembrandt. The Bock steel nib is just about as good as steel nibs go and I am very happy with both of mine, and I have just ordered another one from Novelli in Rome (current price is €75 plus €10 FedEx courier delivery). That's way under your budget, and I'm confident you will not be disappointed.

I have also owned an Aurora Ipsilon with a 14kt gold nib which your budget might just stretch to, but I really consider that the Rembrandt is far better value for money.

[gwgtaylor]

My Rembrandt with a medium nib doesn't write at all. Terrible pen and wouldn't recommend it.

[writingrav]

My Rembrandt has been a dependable pen but the magnetic cap closing device stopped working and the cap now is not secure

[kaisnowbird]

I'm tempted by the new Delta Unica. Certainly entry level price, by Italian standard.

[Waski_the_Squirrel]

I've never used one, but when I saw your thread title, the Delta Serena immediately spring to mind. I hear it writes a bit wide, but I think it's quite an attractive pen. It's on my list of pens I want to buy.

[Bogon07]

I too would recommend the Visconti Rembrandt.
You could pick up a cheaper Delta on eBay there seems to be quite a few older NOS ones with steel nibs around.
In my experience Delta steel nibs appear to produce somewhat finer lines than the Visconti ones.

I would also suggest a Fiorenza Lux with a steel nib if you can find at a good price. They have some very attractive resins.

Do some eBay searches for the brands which interest you and keep and eye out - maybe watch a few to see how the prices are trending.
Good luck in your quest.

My Rembrandt has been a dependable pen but the magnetic cap closing device stopped working and the cap now is not secure

Was it some how de-magnetised or is there a problem inside the cap preventing the magnets contacting ?

[alc3261]

Do check out Novelli, they do good prices on Italian pens.

[Murfie]

Do check out Novelli, they do good prices on Italian pens.

They certainly do, but not on all brands. Their Aurora pricing is nowhere near competitive.

[sebastien_morissette]

Thank you very much everybody for your great respond to this question. I am very tempted by the Rembrandt; I always found Visconti’s very appealing.
Now 2 more Questions:

1) Is the nib reactive to pressure or is it hard like a nail?
2) Would the Rembrandt nib is more on the wet or dry side?

Thanks again !

Having said that, I will also have a look to those Delta's like the Serena or ipsilon

[Alex2014]

Aurora Ipsilon Deluxe

[sebastien_morissette]

Oh... Right: ipsilon is aurora not delta.

[Bogon07]

Thank you very much everybody for your great respond to this question. I am very tempted by the Rembrandt; I always found Visconti’s very appealing.
Now 2 more Questions:

1) Is the nib reactive to pressure or is it hard like a nail?
2) Would the Rembrandt nib is more on the wet or dry side?

Thanks again !

Having said that, I will also have a look to those Delta's like the Serena or ipsilon

1) The steel nibs will react a little to some pressure but they are best used lightly to enhance their smoothness.

2)The Visconti steel nibs generally tend to be wet writers

Murfie has been able to obtain individual Rembrandts with Calligraphy set steel English EF flexible & 1.5mm italic nibs.
The EF flexible nib will respond to pressure, however I find it requires a lot of concentration to use that way and is easier to just use as an extra fine nib.
Murfie's photogaph of the EF Calligraphy set nib from http://fpgeeks.com/forum/showthread....ll=1#post78443


The Girotondo per il Meyer is a Special Edition Rembrandt.

Personally I find the Delta nibs to be stiffer than the Visconti ones.

[sebastien_morissette]

Thank you Bogon07 very instructive.

[sebastien_morissette]

A shop in Montreal sells the calligraphy set in orange for 150$ Seems like a pretty good price...

http://www.stylo.ca/fr/produits/Visc...1913_0001.html