Gourmet Pens: Iguana Sell

Showing posts with label Iguana Sell. Show all posts

Thursday, June 7, 2018

Review: Aurora 88 Satin Fountain Pen @iguana_sell @Iguanasell_ES

Thanks to Iguana Sell for lending me this pen for a review! I have reviewed a different nib but it was so long ago that I figured a full review wouldn't be a bad thing.

ABOUT

Body material: Resin
Trim: Rose Gold
Cap: Screw on
Posts: Yes, friction
Nib material: 14 kt gold, rose gold plated
Filling system: Piston-filler
Length (capped): 135.9 mm/5.35"
Length (uncapped): 129.2 mm/5.08"
Length (posted): 155.0 mm/6.10"
Diameter (barrel): 12.2 - 13.9 mm/0.48" - 0.54"
Diameter (section): 10.5 - 11.8 mm/0.41" - 0.46"
Weight (all): 22 g
Weight (cap): 6 g
Weight (body): 16 g
Price: $515.00 USD
Where to buy: Iguana Sell

PACKAGING

The Aurora 88 is presented in a large black clamshell box with an Aurora-branded outer cardboard box. The side of the outer box has the nib and pen details. The clamshell box has a leathery feeling to it and has the Aurora logo on top. The inside is a cream colored leather-like material. The removable bed holds the pen in place. There is a small plaque on the bed that says:

Pennino oro massiccio

14 kt

Solid gold nib

There is an Aurora booklet under the bed with company details/history, pen information, instructions for best use, filling ink, etc. If you are new to fountain pens, this is worth reading through. There's a lot of box for this pen.

APPEARANCE

This is a good looking pen that ticks all the right boxes for me. It is a regular sized pen with a cigar shape - a round body with smoothly rounded off ends. The finial is a black satin dome but it is unmarked. The clip is attached to a metal ring around the top of the cap. I love the shape of the clip! It's smooth, curvy, and ends in a teardrop.

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Review Aurora 88 Satin Fountain Pen @iguana_sell @Iguanasell_ES 10

There is a center band located at the end of the cap. It is engraved with "Aurora" and has two thin black rings in it. It's a simple but attractive center band. There is also a thin metal band at the end of the piston-turning knob. The section is fairly long, tapering slightly towards the nib and ending in a flared ridge. There are resin threads at the back of the section, and a clear, double walled ink window. The ink window is not visible when the pen is capped, and the cap band connects smoothly with the barrel. The cap, section, and barrel are all black satin resin - black with a matte finish, that is. The clip, center band, and all other trim is a polished rose gold. I love the warmth of the rose gold against the matte black resin. The pen appears well finished and well made. I observed an evenly-spaced, very small gap between the finial and cap ring but that's about it. Minor detail because it looks like it was intentional.

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Review Aurora 88 Satin Fountain Pen @iguana_sell @Iguanasell_ES 12

One thing I really like about this satin black finish is the material holds up really well for regular use. It doesn't pick up or show micro scratches as easily as a polished resin pen so it looks its best for a long time!

NIB & PERFORMANCE

This nib is a solid 14 kt gold nib with rose gold plating, and an ebonite feed. The nib has a single slit, a round breather hole, and is engraved with some flourishes, 14 K, 585, and Aurora. The feed is dark red and has a B printed on it to indicate the nib width.

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Review Aurora 88 Satin Fountain Pen @iguana_sell @Iguanasell_ES 14

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The nib performs quite well and its only real downside is that it writes finer than I would expect from a broad nib! It offers a fair amount of feedback that feels like writing with a pencil. It's not at all scratchy but you can definitely feel the nib on the paper. I actually like that feeling and it's different from most of my super-smooth nibs. Drying times with this nib are quite fast and it's not a gusher. Ideal for daily writing, note taking, journaling, etc. The nib is firm and does not yield much when writing. You can squeeze out a little line variation with pressure but I don't think it's ideal for this pen. The feed keeps up well with fast writing

IN HAND

The clip is snug but it can be lifted. The teardrop ball at the end is angled underneath so it can be slid on and off papers, pockets, and pouches. It's tight enough to hold the pen in place as well. The piston-filling mechanism has an interesting design - a hollow piston that houses some extra ink. It's great if you run out of ink but requires some attention when you're cleaning.

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Review Aurora 88 Satin Fountain Pen @iguana_sell @Iguanasell_ES 8

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Unposted, the pen has a comfortable length and is on the light side. It feels well balanced. I think if you have larger hands, you'll have to post it to give it more length. The cap can be posted snugly by friction and it gives the pen a bit more weight and length, which feels right and more comfortable for me. I love that it isn't a super heavy metal body. It's lighter and doesn't tire out my hand.

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Review Aurora 88 Satin Fountain Pen @iguana_sell @Iguanasell_ES 16

PROS & CONS

OVERALL

Another beauty from Aurora. I'm a rose gold person - I know it's all in and trendy right now, but for me, it works. I love the black and rose gold theme and the shape of the pen is elegant and the trim is warm. I prefer the rounded ends of the 88 than the flat ends of the Optima. The nib performed well but my favorite nib remains the stub and italic. The pen is not inexpensive but I do appreciate the quality and especially that Aurora makes their own nibs in-house!

I was loaned this item for the purposes of this review. I was not compensated monetarily for my review. Everything you've read here is my own opinion.

Thursday, June 29, 2017

Review: Nakaya Piccolo Cigar Kuro-Tamenuri Fountain Pen @Iguana_Sell

Thanks to Iguana Sell for lending me this fountain pen to review and share!

Review Nakaya Piccolo Cigar Kuro-Tamenuri Fountain Pen @Iguana_Sell 18

ABOUT

Body material: Ebonite, Urushi lacquer
Trim: None on this model
Cap: Screw on
Posts: No
Nib material: 14 kt yellow gold
Filling system: Platinum cartridge/converter
Length (capped): 129.4 mm/5.09"
Length (uncapped): 115.8 mm/4.56"
Length (posted): N/A
Length (section): 25.6 mm/1.00"
Diameter (barrel): 11.7 - 14.9 mm/0.46" - 0.58"
Diameter (section): 10.4 - 11.3 mm/0.41" - 0.44"
Weight (all): 26 g
Weight (cap): 6 g
Weight (body): 20 g
Price: $ 830.00 CAD
Where to buy: Iguana Sell

PACKAGING

Like the pen itself, Nakaya's packaging is interesting, functional, and classy. The pens are safe in a little fabric kimono on a soft, velvety blue bed. The box is a solid softwood box with a removable lid. Included in the box is a box of ten Platinum ink cartridges, and a Platinum converter. I really appreciate that you get a full box of ink cartridges - not just one or two, as well as a converter. The pen kimono is very useful, and it's attractive. I like the simple packaging. It's clean, tidy, and not excessive. Very useful! Good stuff, easy to store if you want to keep it. The pen also comes with some writing preference information and details.

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Review Nakaya Piccolo Cigar Kuro-Tamenuri Fountain Pen @Iguana_Sell 2

APPEARANCE

The Piccolo Cigar is a small, cute, cigar-shaped pen with pointed ends. This model has no clip, no other trim, and no other markings on the pen. The barrel tapers slightly towards the back end, and the cap does not taper. The finial is simply a smooth point at the top of the cap. The section is, for some odd reason, one of my favorite parts of Nakaya pens. It starts with a small step down from the barrel, continues to some smooth threads, and then has a round portion that tapers slightly before ending in a flared ridge before the nib.

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Review Nakaya Piccolo Cigar Kuro-Tamenuri Fountain Pen @Iguana_Sell 11

The pen is quite simple. No bells or whistles with this model or finish. The Urushi lacquer is a deep red base that glows through the black lacquer at the edges of the pen - the ends of the barrel and cap, and especially on the section. It's hard to capture the depth and beauty of Urushi because it's a unique look and the beauty is subtle. I love it. It's not flashy and bright.

NIB & PERFORMANCE

This nib is a 14KT yellow gold broad. It has a single slit, a heart-shaped breather hole, and is decorated with quite a few engravings: some symmetrical decorations, the Nakaya globe logo, 14K, 585, and some (nib size) characters. The feed, as far as I can tell, looks like plastic.

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Review Nakaya Piccolo Cigar Kuro-Tamenuri Fountain Pen @Iguana_Sell 14

This nib is excellent! It is a smooth writer and performs flawlessly. It's nice and wet, ink dries pretty fast, it does not skip or hard start, it keeps up with fast writing and long writing sessions, and although the nib is firm, one could squeeze out a tiny bit of line variation. It shows some ink shading, it sails through the free weight test, and it can be used for reverse writing. It's a solid, reliable, pleasant performer. It's a superb nib for daily writing, journaling, taking notes, writing letters, and pretty much anything else you'd need your fountain pen for!

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The cartridge/converter system works well and is easy to maintain.

IN HAND

This is a clipless model. The last Nakaya I reviewed, I was sure I preferred the clip. Now I'm not so sure. The section is smooth and comfortable. The threads are super smooth to the touch so even if you grip higher up, they won't bother you. The ridge at the front is hard but is only an issue if you grip right on it. This is not a slippery, wiggly section, so I think it's great for long writing sessions and daily use.

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Review Nakaya Piccolo Cigar Kuro-Tamenuri Fountain Pen @Iguana_Sell 9

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As this cap cannot be posted, the Piccolo Cigar can only be used unposted. It is a rather light pen with a comfortable length to use unposted. If you have larger hands, it's probably going to be on the small/short side for you. The widening of the barrel fits well between my thumb and index finger - nestling comfortably into my hand. It's made for comfort.

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One more thing I love about Urushi lacquer pens is how they feel in hand. They warm up and have such a smooth finish that it's so pleasant to use.

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PROS & CONS

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OVERALL

The Piccolo is not my preferred model but the finish, beauty, and stellar performance of this nib makes it easy to give it two thumbs up. Nakayas are not inexpensive pens and they are offered in a huge rang of models, finishes, and with a variety of nibs/nib modifications. There's plenty to please everyone.

I think this one in particular is a beautiful pen. The Urushi lacquer work is really pretty, but is not excessive or flashy, the nib is exquisite (although I don't care much for the design on it) and all together it is a wonderful experience. I wish they weren't so difficult to get. The waiting times can be long. I guess it's worth it in the end, but it would be nice to be able to see more of these before buying one.

I received this item on loan for the purposes of this review. I was not compensated monetarily for my review. Everything you've read here is my own opinion.

Sunday, March 12, 2017

Sunday Reads: March 12. 2017

Stuff I Looked At Elsewhere

Not so many links and doings this week as we are in the middle of a move, but I hope you enjoy this little selection!

Meowmallows - Bakerella.
DIY melted crayon art - Shutterbean.
Old news but it looks cool: Drone Captures Lake Berryessa Glory Hole Spillway Overflowing for First Time in a Decade - Twisted Sifter.
Pike found frozen in ice while trying to eat a bass - Twisted Sifter.
Moist yellow cake - Bakerella.
Clown motel - Bored Panda. NO.
Dreamland decay - CNN.
Creamy cashew butternut squash soup - NY Times Food.
Japanese milk bread - NYTimes Cooking.
The extreme changes of Antarctica - Matador Network.
Guide to nibs and nib holders - JetPens blog.
SBREBrown's Nakaya nib overview.
MY FEELINGS. I couldn't NOT share this - Miss Thundercat reveals a new art piece and leaves a sweet note for yours truly. My heart! My feelings!

Stuff I Apparently Did This Week

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