I'm so pleased you reviewed this pen, adding that this Visconti 'Homo Sapiens' is your favourite. Likewise, this same pen with its bronze rings has been my constant friend for a good 8 years. My daughters tease me saying one day I may become surgically attached to it. 😊 A saying by an author I forget now: "A perfect pen falls in love with a single hand" is so true. This Visconti of mine remains true and faithful. A wonderful review, for which I thank you ~Wendi 🌻
@@writerlywitterings Hahahaha! Noo, and anyway I'm a trauma surgeon so would extract it myself! 🤣 Btw, I also have the Traveller's inkwell, one of my other Great Purchases, bless you.
What a marvellous pen! I usually prefer a medium nib, however, the handwriting produced by this one does tempt me to try a thinner nib. These pen reviews really encourage me to write!
I always used to buy only broad nibs, but the Visconti palladium medium really delighted me - and now the fine nibs from Visconti are my standard for long writing. Just lovely to use!
Haha, fancy seeing you here! I was looking for reviews for this pen, just as you answered my question on the Conway Stewart! I guess I’ll have to hold off the latter, given their price, to get this one instead.
The easy way to consider the choice is, do you want to write solidly for long stretches, in which case the extra capacity of the Visconti may make sense, or do you want to change ink more often, in which case a CS cartridge convertor may be better. Best of luck with your choice!
Hello, first off, I really like how calm and in depth your reviews are. And secondly, could it be that you wrote a review on thefountainpennetwork? because if so, then I would like to thank you a lot for clearing up a ton of questions I had involving purchasing this pen. Thank you for making these quality videos.
I certainly did write a review for FPN. I loved the pen so much, I was keen to share - and I have to admit, I still love my two HS Viscounts as much today as I did then! I'm really glad you liked the video - and I hope the pen, too!
Yes, without a doubt. I love mine and keep it filled almost full-time. I have a medium Palladium nib, which I think is about the best nib I own when I want to have some variation of line and shading. This pen show shading better than any other, and the nib is just a joy to use. Hope that helps! Happy 2020!
I was considering this pen, but first disadvantage was being unable to see how much ink's left inside and the second problem, which I was most worried about is the ergonomics. The grip seems to be very short and everyone on all videos is holding it pretty much right where the locks are. Isn't this uncomfortable when using it for some half an hour? Anyway, I went for the Faber-Castell Classic after days of searching and comparing ...
I have to admit, I find the Homo Sapiens to be one of my most comfortable pens. It's got a decent weight, but perfect balance, and the material it's made from is always dry to the touch and slightly warm. However the big thing for me is that it's impervious to scratches and marks, so even after many years' use it looks like new. The locks give a good reference point, without being uncomfortable, too. And I have to say that my current one has two windows so you can see the ink level - which is very useful, I agree!
Hi, Peter - and no, I'm afraid. I mention it in a couple of books, but because most of my stories are set in the early 1300s, and are based around the poorer classes, there would have been little ability with quill or reed and ink. The main mentions come from Coroners and their clerks (which occur from about book 21, The Death Ship of Dartmouth) onwards.
Had to come back to this video 👍🏻🙂 I think I’ve found my next pen. Now I’m always writing with fine nibs, however I may go medium for this one. I really like your writings with the medium and it being so wet. That appeals to me. I may even end up preferring the wider nib. We’ll see. Ahh, one day, one day indeed. Brilliant 👌🏻🙂 Visconti inkwell - you got the metal version! I can’t find that anywhere. I got my plastic ones years ago and still couldn’t find the metal one. I don’t think they make them anymore.
I have to say, I love my medium. The fine is really, really useful for so much, and means I can fill the pen once in a week, and it'll still hold a lot. But the medium on my original HS is so wet, lays down such a beautiful line, and means I get fabulous shading, outlining and sheening, depending on the ink I'm using. Since you have a lot of fine bibs, I'd really recommend a medium Visconti - but do make sure it's a 24 kt palladium nib. The inkwell - sigh. I wanted the plastic version, and hunted high and low, but the only one I could get was the metal one. Which I was happy with, except it doesn't have the separate compartment for the stick of felt to clean the nib. And now you can't get the metal ones like mine! Hey ho - from experience, both work extremely well, and that is all that matters! Good luck getting your HS. Mine were from Cult Pens - very good, quick service always - and no, they don't pay me!
writerlywitterings, I’ve been doing a bit of research on the Homo Sapiens. In 2019 they fazed out the Palladium 23Kt nibs due to a lot of quality issues with poor writing and many returns and such. They are now supplying 18Kt Gold nibs from Bock which, from what I see in reviews, have nigh on made them perfect out of the box, ergo, better quality for the majority of folk. I would also guess that they are saving money by doing this as well I would have thought! Happy writing my friend 😀👍🏻
@@Richard_Barnes I had heard that they were moving to gold - and I had heard that some people had horrendous problems with quality and issues with the nibs, and I daresay the new gold nibs will be very good (German engineering), but I really adore my Palladium nibs. They seem to give me more feel, but somehow don't have any sense of friction. It is almost as if the nib is moving over the paper without quite touching it. One day, when you have yours, we will meet with William Hannahs at the ready and perform a write off where we test all three together! Take care!
This is my ultimate grail pen. Do you still write with it everyday? It will definitely be my everyday carry, safely snug with the inkwell in a Visconti 2-pen case. I'm attempting to write longhand, to keep myself away from too many online distractions. Laptops are notorious for that.
I know what you mean - but although I have two Homo Sapiens pens, only one is inked at a time, and I don't write with them every day now. I've found that I write so much better with a keyboard, and reluctantly I've had to accept that writing my books longhand means writing at less than a quarter of the speed I should - so missing deadlines. But yes, I still adore my HS Viscontis. They are just lovely.
This was my first Visconti, and the nib is a lovely medium. Never had a day's problem with it. Smooth, wet, works every day, and the Palladium is just fabulous. Wonderful feel and spring. Thanks for the comment - my writing doesn't look so good when compared to others, sadly!
It might have been either Saddle Brown (Diamine) or Waterman's Havane - I can't remember now, it was so long ago. However, if you're keen on browns, this video might help? ruclips.net/video/Qm0nIotpdwc/видео.html Hope that's useful!
Really? I love the clip - especially since it's got a strong spring in it, and I've never lost a Visconti - unlike the ridiculously expensive Faber Castell that fell from my shirt!
+jpavlvs This Visconti is a pen I've been using for several years now, and it basically took over all my writing. It's smooth, reliable, medium nib, unbreakable, has a good ink capacity and basically I love it. I've now got a newer Visconti that is a one-off they made for me, which has a larger reservoir and fine nib which is better for journals, notebooks, and generally for writing novels (which is why they made it for me). The fine nib is just amazing. I love my old one, but it does put down a lot of ink when making short notes. The fine is a little more practical. In short, though, Visconti has replaced my standby pens, which were always Cross and Conway Stewart. These two are my daily users now.
Sorry to take so long to respond - ill health and deadlines! No - the HS will work fine with the back wound in. There's a cut off on the Pineider Avatar Traveller, the Visconti Crystal Dream and other pens, which shut off a massive reservoir from a smaller one, so that the pen will write only a page or two unless the back is unscrewed to allow ink to flow from the larger. The HS is just a straight from reservoir to nib design, and very effective! Sorry to take so long to respond - ill health and deadlines!
I have never had any problems with the filling mechanism. Always works like a dream and I absolutely adore my two Palladium-nibbed Viscounts. The best pens and best nibs, in my opinion. However, if you want to look at one, I HIGHLY recommend buying a Visconti Travelling Inkwell to go with it (I have videos talking about these elsewhere), because it's only when you use one that you get a true, fully inked pen. If you fill from an ink bottle, the suction works against gravity, and you will only get a 1/2 to 2/3 full pen. If you use the Visconti inkwell, you will get it absolutely full. Thanks for the question, Mudit - and good luck!
@@writerlywitterings Thank you so much for such a detailed reply Mr Jecks! But I'm sure you must be sticking to only 1 or 2 inks since it must be so difficult to clean this pen while changing inks?
No, I've never had any problems cleaning the pens, and tend to change inks at least twice a week. Just flush the pen in a cup of clean water, fill, empty, fill, empty, and watch the water coming out. When it's looking clean, the pen's clean. It takes little time to clean a vacuum pen. They're easier and faster, I find, than cartridge converters, for example.
Not at all. The nib is very wet, but I love that. My other Visconti HS has a fine nib, which is wet for a fine, but on the right paper and with a good ink, it shouldn't give any problems. I find that both work fine in my Midori and on Clairfontaine papers with a reasonably fast drying ink. And I wouldn't change either of them. The medium Visconti has worked fine from day one, beautifully smooth and always starts fine. The fine nib is perfect, although it's a little different because the Palladium nib means it's a little flexible, and I can get interesting results with that! Hope that helps?
@@writerlywitterings yes :) thanks a lot. By the way, visconti with ink window, it was a personal model for you or a serial pen ? I couldnt find same pen in online shops.
Yes, it was a personal one for me. Dante del Vecchio had it made for me for a book I was writing, but sadly he left the company before I could finish the book. A wonderful man, and a genius when it comes to pens and pen design. @@luter7777
@@writerlywitterings pls, let me know, the pen material is hydroscopic, does it make troubles after inking ? Seems it should absorb some inks in to grip section and stains your fingers a bit during writings.
@YP I know that has been said on the internet, but I've been using these pens since, I think, 2013 or so, and I've not had a problem. It could be because I tend to flush the pens after every use, so I get the section very wet as I flush the pen, and that way the section absorbs water before it gets near to ink. But I have filled it often enough without time for a flush, and I've never noticed it being any more "inky' than even my Conway Stewart Drake, which is solid silver and wipes clean very easily. There is a possible risk, I guess, but I would have to say that it's such a minimal potential downside that it doesn't compare with the beauty, the great ink capacity, the sheer indestructibility of the material, the lack of finger prints and marks, and the wonderful experience of writing with a nib that is, in my experience, unbeaten. Oh, and I have no affiliation with Visconti and don't get paid for making comments about the pen. This is my honest opinion of it! Hope that helps!
Can you tell me what paper you used for this writing sample? It didn’t look like anything optimized for fountain pens like Claire Fontaine, or Rhodia, or Tomoe River. But there is no feathering and it look like great writing on everyday paper.
This is a terrible confession, but that was a dirt cheap pad from Office Depot! It was, from memory, 70gsm, and although it was really, really cheap, the paper was fabulous. Over here in the UK I bought it from Viking Direct, which was bought up by OD. I can highly recommend it, if they haven't changed their manufacturing processes! Best of luck!
+Allan Engelhard This was using Waterman's Havana, which I've had for ages and basically I need to empty that bottle! Looking forward to diving into some Diamine inks very soon. How do you find the fine nib? I'm tempted to try one with my next pen. I love my medium Visconti, but it is not ideal for writing a whole book. A smaller nib would give me more words per fill, after all!
+Allan Engelhard That is a really kind offer, Allan, but I'd be petrified of losing or damaging it! There's a great little mail-order store up the road from me here, Cult Pens, who have the various nibs and I'll nip in there to test the different nib types, but I am hugely grateful for the offer. If I have any problems, I may well get back to you on that. Meantime, I'm looking forward to finishing this edit and getting back to writing a new story!
Hi, Atul, I'd love to, but I'm not sure that Pilot would want to loan me one of their pens - they are very expensive - and I certainly can't afford one on my writing income! I'll ask around and see if it's possible.
luxury pen vs metal zip... pen wins. Jokes aside, I decided to go for it after watching and reading multiple reviews (including this one) and all I can say is that I absolutely love it.
Hi - the magnet is fixed in the top of the high-end Viscontis. All you have to do is choose whether to keep the Visconti logo, or buy your own initials, birthstone, star sign, whatever. The Visconti dealers all have stocks of them. Look up Homo Sapiens at Cultpens.com and you'll find them.
+Roger Vilà For this one I was using Waterman's Havana - I do like the dark brown colour, but I have to admit I find that it gives little shading, which for me makes for a better appearance. Think I'll be going back to Diamine Oxblood shortly!
+writerlywitterings Thanks, Michael. Your review is tempting. Some years ago, I was about to buy a Homo Sapiens, but I was a little worried about the quality of the pen or the possibility to stain the barrel with my fingers. Now I see there's not any problem with the mixture of rubber and lava. Your pen looks wonderful. In my case, I decided to go for a Delta Dolcevita Oversize, because I use it as an eyedropper: as a writer, I can work for hours and hours without worrying myself about the ink! But now I'll remember your review the next time I go for a pen.
+Roger Vilà There's definitely no problem with ink staining (unless I get my fingers on the top of the ink bottle while filling!) and the main thing for me is the robust nature of the lava. For a pen to carry, this one is almost unbeatable. Good capacity, too, although not as vast as yours! Certainly worth a look next time you need a pen.
+Joe Black Hi, Joe, sorry for the delay. Been very busy. I didn't find them in bronze. I think Visconti only make their initials in a kind of pewter coloured steel. For my money it works very well with the bronze HS, though. It's a more understated finish to the overall look. I really hope you enjoy the pen, though. It is a brilliant writing tool, and I'm finding that my writing is looking better and better with my new HS using a fine nib.. All very best!
+writerlywitterings Thanks! Considering you own both medium and fine, which would you prefer? I thought I was dead set on medium, but after exhausting myself with research I seem to be in quite the pickle. I'm leaning more towards the fine now. Although I do have a few concerns, does the fine have a lot more feedback than medium? Also, how does the ink look with the fine? Is all shading eliminated, or as I've read is it true the fine is more of a standard medium? Thanks in advance.
+Joe Black Hi, Joe - hmm. Personally, I would only ever have bought a minimum of medium for general use. It is a gusher, though (as are all Visconti pens) and many people would find that harder to cope with. I have the fine now, and I love it. It is more fine than my Conway Stewart and Cross mediums, but more full than the fine Cross I used to use all the time. So it's mid-way. BUT, the palladium nib gives you such variety when you write, with really good, thick downstrokes and fine ups, that I'd think you would be happy either way. If you're using it for your own notes, you always use good quality paper, and you want a pen for signing cheques and as more of a statement, I'd personally go for the medium. You will get better shading. However, if you're a serious pen user and will be writing pages each day, then the economy of the thinner line, the smaller writing you can achieve etc, would make me lean towards the fine. Sorry, nothing's every easy! The best advice is, go to a shop to test them, or buy one and accept that you may have to send it back to swap nibs. Hope that helps (a little)! Let me know how you get on!
+Joe Black Forgot: feedback - the medium has a real smoothness that I've never experienced with another pen. It almost feels like the pen is floating over the page as you write. The fine is certainly less smooth, but it's still a very gentle writing experience. Compared to, say, a Cross Peerless 125, it's a great deal smoother. Some may prefer more feedback - I don't!
+writerlywitterings I appreciate your detailed response, and that's the problem, there are no fountain pen shops within a 4 hour drive of where I live. As far as my usage it will be a lot of daily writing that ranges from poetry to short stories and long. I'm an aspiring writer myself, so I write as much as I can each day. I currently use a Lamy 2000 with a medium nib, and I'll be gifting this pen to myself for my 21st birthday. I've been in my brain all day trying to make to best choice because I'm ordering tomorrow. What I've decided is to go ahead with the medium because Im not a big fan of feedback as well, and love a gusher. If it doesn't work out I'll exchange it for a fine. If you don't mind can you tell me how old you were when you first got published? I'm just trying to find a little inspiration in such a strange way of life. How did you get noticed as well? The only good feedback I've ever gotten about becoming a writer is, "if you want to be a writer, than write." That's what I try to do. Cheers.
COME here about the life and times of ink pens-in Michael Jecks hands; most useful, then go out and buy ink pen but remember it has to be your personal choice as they are as personal and reflect you..watch now as michael delivers his own eulogia
+writerlywitterings I got it I got it. Today. So excited that I am still witing something. 😜 Thanks for review. It helped me to decide. I was thinking about Graf von Faber Castell - Pernambuk.
ouch I forgot--michael ; check out his fictional books and very useful too -is his advice on writing and a man of many gifts (apart from his daughter :O) ) oh note his remarks on the nib
AH, I tend to be the opposite - I like very soft and wet nibs, which is why I love Conway Stewart and Visconti gold nibs. They are faultless, perfect for my taste!
I hesitate to mention it, but those very nice chaps at Cult Pens have the Bronze Age, and have an easy pay scheme ... sorry, I'll shut up! www.cultpens.com/i/q/VS15499/visconti-homo-sapiens-bronze-age-fountain-pen
I'm so pleased you reviewed this pen, adding that this Visconti 'Homo Sapiens' is your favourite. Likewise, this same pen with its bronze rings has been my constant friend for a good 8 years. My daughters tease me saying one day I may become surgically attached to it. 😊 A saying by an author I forget now: "A perfect pen falls in love with a single hand" is so true. This Visconti of mine remains true and faithful. A wonderful review, for which I thank you ~Wendi 🌻
My pleasure, Wendi - and if it does become surgically implanted, make sure you don't let a doctor near to remove it!
@@writerlywitterings Hahahaha! Noo, and anyway I'm a trauma surgeon so would extract it myself! 🤣 Btw, I also have the Traveller's inkwell, one of my other Great Purchases, bless you.
What a marvellous pen! I usually prefer a medium nib, however, the handwriting produced by this one does tempt me to try a thinner nib. These pen reviews really encourage me to write!
I always used to buy only broad nibs, but the Visconti palladium medium really delighted me - and now the fine nibs from Visconti are my standard for long writing. Just lovely to use!
Thanks for the review, lovely patina being picked up on that!
:-)
:-)
Haha, fancy seeing you here! I was looking for reviews for this pen, just as you answered my question on the Conway Stewart! I guess I’ll have to hold off the latter, given their price, to get this one instead.
The easy way to consider the choice is, do you want to write solidly for long stretches, in which case the extra capacity of the Visconti may make sense, or do you want to change ink more often, in which case a CS cartridge convertor may be better. Best of luck with your choice!
Hello, first off, I really like how calm and in depth your reviews are. And secondly, could it be that you wrote a review on thefountainpennetwork? because if so, then I would like to thank you a lot for clearing up a ton of questions I had involving purchasing this pen. Thank you for making these quality videos.
I certainly did write a review for FPN. I loved the pen so much, I was keen to share - and I have to admit, I still love my two HS Viscounts as much today as I did then! I'm really glad you liked the video - and I hope the pen, too!
Yes, I certainly like the pen. It is currently the best pen I own. Just an absolute delight to write with.
Great review. I was wondering what type of paper do usually use ?
:-)
Thanks for the review!
Did the bronze patina over time or did you polish the surfaces?
I've never polished it, but let it patinate over time, and I have to admit, I love the look of it.
Thank you for this review and actually showing the filling system. Would you deem it the best grail vacuum filler for 300-500?
Yes, without a doubt. I love mine and keep it filled almost full-time. I have a medium Palladium nib, which I think is about the best nib I own when I want to have some variation of line and shading. This pen show shading better than any other, and the nib is just a joy to use. Hope that helps! Happy 2020!
I wish it was cheaper :) ha
I was considering this pen, but first disadvantage was being unable to see how much ink's left inside and the second problem, which I was most worried about is the ergonomics. The grip seems to be very short and everyone on all videos is holding it pretty much right where the locks are. Isn't this uncomfortable when using it for some half an hour?
Anyway, I went for the Faber-Castell Classic after days of searching and comparing ...
I have to admit, I find the Homo Sapiens to be one of my most comfortable pens. It's got a decent weight, but perfect balance, and the material it's made from is always dry to the touch and slightly warm. However the big thing for me is that it's impervious to scratches and marks, so even after many years' use it looks like new. The locks give a good reference point, without being uncomfortable, too. And I have to say that my current one has two windows so you can see the ink level - which is very useful, I agree!
I just thought - have a quick look at my Visconti Comparison video up here. It shows the difference between my special and the normal version.
I have not read your novels--yet. Do you include anything about what your characters are writing with in your narratives?
Hi, Peter - and no, I'm afraid. I mention it in a couple of books, but because most of my stories are set in the early 1300s, and are based around the poorer classes, there would have been little ability with quill or reed and ink. The main mentions come from Coroners and their clerks (which occur from about book 21, The Death Ship of Dartmouth) onwards.
Thank you.
I do like wet and juicy nib in medium and broad nib size but least interested in flex nib. I also have a sailor pro with zoom nib of 21k gold FP.
Yes, I can appreciate that. A broad would be too much with flex as well!
Had to come back to this video 👍🏻🙂 I think I’ve found my next pen. Now I’m always writing with fine nibs, however I may go medium for this one. I really like your writings with the medium and it being so wet. That appeals to me. I may even end up preferring the wider nib. We’ll see. Ahh, one day, one day indeed. Brilliant 👌🏻🙂
Visconti inkwell - you got the metal version! I can’t find that anywhere. I got my plastic ones years ago and still couldn’t find the metal one. I don’t think they make them anymore.
I have to say, I love my medium. The fine is really, really useful for so much, and means I can fill the pen once in a week, and it'll still hold a lot. But the medium on my original HS is so wet, lays down such a beautiful line, and means I get fabulous shading, outlining and sheening, depending on the ink I'm using. Since you have a lot of fine bibs, I'd really recommend a medium Visconti - but do make sure it's a 24 kt palladium nib.
The inkwell - sigh. I wanted the plastic version, and hunted high and low, but the only one I could get was the metal one. Which I was happy with, except it doesn't have the separate compartment for the stick of felt to clean the nib. And now you can't get the metal ones like mine! Hey ho - from experience, both work extremely well, and that is all that matters! Good luck getting your HS. Mine were from Cult Pens - very good, quick service always - and no, they don't pay me!
writerlywitterings, I’ve been doing a bit of research on the Homo Sapiens. In 2019 they fazed out the Palladium 23Kt nibs due to a lot of quality issues with poor writing and many returns and such. They are now supplying 18Kt Gold nibs from Bock which, from what I see in reviews, have nigh on made them perfect out of the box, ergo, better quality for the majority of folk. I would also guess that they are saving money by doing this as well I would have thought! Happy writing my friend 😀👍🏻
@@Richard_Barnes I had heard that they were moving to gold - and I had heard that some people had horrendous problems with quality and issues with the nibs, and I daresay the new gold nibs will be very good (German engineering), but I really adore my Palladium nibs. They seem to give me more feel, but somehow don't have any sense of friction. It is almost as if the nib is moving over the paper without quite touching it. One day, when you have yours, we will meet with William Hannahs at the ready and perform a write off where we test all three together!
Take care!
This is my ultimate grail pen. Do you still write with it everyday? It will definitely be my everyday carry, safely snug with the inkwell in a Visconti 2-pen case. I'm attempting to write longhand, to keep myself away from too many online distractions. Laptops are notorious for that.
I know what you mean - but although I have two Homo Sapiens pens, only one is inked at a time, and I don't write with them every day now. I've found that I write so much better with a keyboard, and reluctantly I've had to accept that writing my books longhand means writing at less than a quarter of the speed I should - so missing deadlines. But yes, I still adore my HS Viscontis. They are just lovely.
My keyboard performance is so error prone that I continue to write longhand for first draft.
I admire your handwriting. What's the size of the nib? Fine or medium?
This was my first Visconti, and the nib is a lovely medium. Never had a day's problem with it. Smooth, wet, works every day, and the Palladium is just fabulous. Wonderful feel and spring. Thanks for the comment - my writing doesn't look so good when compared to others, sadly!
what ink were you using? It had a dark sepia look to it. gorgeous. Just order the bronze age a few moments ago.
It might have been either Saddle Brown (Diamine) or Waterman's Havane - I can't remember now, it was so long ago. However, if you're keen on browns, this video might help?
ruclips.net/video/Qm0nIotpdwc/видео.html
Hope that's useful!
Thanks for your reply.
No worries
I love everything about this pen with the pen exception of the clip. It sticks out like a sore thumb!
Really? I love the clip - especially since it's got a strong spring in it, and I've never lost a Visconti - unlike the ridiculously expensive Faber Castell that fell from my shirt!
Now that you've used it for a while, how do you like it? Is it good for Journal writing?
+jpavlvs This Visconti is a pen I've been using for several years now, and it basically took over all my writing. It's smooth, reliable, medium nib, unbreakable, has a good ink capacity and basically I love it. I've now got a newer Visconti that is a one-off they made for me, which has a larger reservoir and fine nib which is better for journals, notebooks, and generally for writing novels (which is why they made it for me). The fine nib is just amazing. I love my old one, but it does put down a lot of ink when making short notes. The fine is a little more practical. In short, though, Visconti has replaced my standby pens, which were always Cross and Conway Stewart. These two are my daily users now.
Do you need to unscrew the back to maintain ink flow when writing longish passages?
Sorry to take so long to respond - ill health and deadlines!
No - the HS will work fine with the back wound in. There's a cut off on the Pineider Avatar Traveller, the Visconti Crystal Dream and other pens, which shut off a massive reservoir from a smaller one, so that the pen will write only a page or two unless the back is unscrewed to allow ink to flow from the larger. The HS is just a straight from reservoir to nib design, and very effective!
Sorry to take so long to respond - ill health and deadlines!
TYVM
@@writerlywitterings
Mr Jecks, after using the HS for so many years, did you face any problems with the plunger so far?
I have never had any problems with the filling mechanism. Always works like a dream and I absolutely adore my two Palladium-nibbed Viscounts. The best pens and best nibs, in my opinion. However, if you want to look at one, I HIGHLY recommend buying a Visconti Travelling Inkwell to go with it (I have videos talking about these elsewhere), because it's only when you use one that you get a true, fully inked pen. If you fill from an ink bottle, the suction works against gravity, and you will only get a 1/2 to 2/3 full pen. If you use the Visconti inkwell, you will get it absolutely full. Thanks for the question, Mudit - and good luck!
@@writerlywitterings Thank you so much for such a detailed reply Mr Jecks! But I'm sure you must be sticking to only 1 or 2 inks since it must be so difficult to clean this pen while changing inks?
No, I've never had any problems cleaning the pens, and tend to change inks at least twice a week. Just flush the pen in a cup of clean water, fill, empty, fill, empty, and watch the water coming out. When it's looking clean, the pen's clean. It takes little time to clean a vacuum pen. They're easier and faster, I find, than cartridge converters, for example.
Great pen, but did you adjust nobs some way ? As I know, visconty nibs extremely wet and some time difficult for daily writing.
Not at all. The nib is very wet, but I love that. My other Visconti HS has a fine nib, which is wet for a fine, but on the right paper and with a good ink, it shouldn't give any problems. I find that both work fine in my Midori and on Clairfontaine papers with a reasonably fast drying ink. And I wouldn't change either of them. The medium Visconti has worked fine from day one, beautifully smooth and always starts fine. The fine nib is perfect, although it's a little different because the Palladium nib means it's a little flexible, and I can get interesting results with that! Hope that helps?
@@writerlywitterings yes :) thanks a lot. By the way, visconti with ink window, it was a personal model for you or a serial pen ? I couldnt find same pen in online shops.
Yes, it was a personal one for me. Dante del Vecchio had it made for me for a book I was writing, but sadly he left the company before I could finish the book. A wonderful man, and a genius when it comes to pens and pen design. @@luter7777
@@writerlywitterings pls, let me know, the pen material is hydroscopic, does it make troubles after inking ? Seems it should absorb some inks in to grip section and stains your fingers a bit during writings.
@YP I know that has been said on the internet, but I've been using these pens since, I think, 2013 or so, and I've not had a problem. It could be because I tend to flush the pens after every use, so I get the section very wet as I flush the pen, and that way the section absorbs water before it gets near to ink. But I have filled it often enough without time for a flush, and I've never noticed it being any more "inky' than even my Conway Stewart Drake, which is solid silver and wipes clean very easily.
There is a possible risk, I guess, but I would have to say that it's such a minimal potential downside that it doesn't compare with the beauty, the great ink capacity, the sheer indestructibility of the material, the lack of finger prints and marks, and the wonderful experience of writing with a nib that is, in my experience, unbeaten. Oh, and I have no affiliation with Visconti and don't get paid for making comments about the pen. This is my honest opinion of it! Hope that helps!
Can you tell me what paper you used for this writing sample? It didn’t look like anything optimized for fountain pens like Claire Fontaine, or Rhodia, or Tomoe River. But there is no feathering and it look like great writing on everyday paper.
This is a terrible confession, but that was a dirt cheap pad from Office Depot! It was, from memory, 70gsm, and although it was really, really cheap, the paper was fabulous. Over here in the UK I bought it from Viking Direct, which was bought up by OD. I can highly recommend it, if they haven't changed their manufacturing processes! Best of luck!
Lovely pen. I have it in fine which is good for my pocket notebook. what ink did you use today?
+Allan Engelhard This was using Waterman's Havana, which I've had for ages and basically I need to empty that bottle! Looking forward to diving into some Diamine inks very soon. How do you find the fine nib? I'm tempted to try one with my next pen. I love my medium Visconti, but it is not ideal for writing a whole book. A smaller nib would give me more words per fill, after all!
Lovely ink, now called Absolute Brown I think. Let me know if you want to borrow my fine nib.
+Allan Engelhard That is a really kind offer, Allan, but I'd be petrified of losing or damaging it! There's a great little mail-order store up the road from me here, Cult Pens, who have the various nibs and I'll nip in there to test the different nib types, but I am hugely grateful for the offer. If I have any problems, I may well get back to you on that. Meantime, I'm looking forward to finishing this edit and getting back to writing a new story!
Pilot custom uRushi pen review please
Hi, Atul,
I'd love to, but I'm not sure that Pilot would want to loan me one of their pens - they are very expensive - and I certainly can't afford one on my writing income! I'll ask around and see if it's possible.
luxury pen vs metal zip... pen wins.
Jokes aside, I decided to go for it after watching and reading multiple reviews (including this one) and all I can say is that I absolutely love it.
They are fabulous pens. I always have mine with me, which sort of makes all my others a bit redundant!
where did you get that custom magnet with your initials?
Hi - the magnet is fixed in the top of the high-end Viscontis. All you have to do is choose whether to keep the Visconti logo, or buy your own initials, birthstone, star sign, whatever. The Visconti dealers all have stocks of them. Look up Homo Sapiens at Cultpens.com and you'll find them.
Wonderful review! Thanks :D Keep up the great videos.
+munizr7 Many thanks - will certainly try to!
Hi, Michael,
Really a nice review! By the way, I'd like to know which ink have you used for the writing sample.
Thanks!
Roger
+Roger Vilà For this one I was using Waterman's Havana - I do like the dark brown colour, but I have to admit I find that it gives little shading, which for me makes for a better appearance. Think I'll be going back to Diamine Oxblood shortly!
+writerlywitterings Thanks, Michael. Your review is tempting. Some years ago, I was about to buy a Homo Sapiens, but I was a little worried about the quality of the pen or the possibility to stain the barrel with my fingers. Now I see there's not any problem with the mixture of rubber and lava. Your pen looks wonderful. In my case, I decided to go for a Delta Dolcevita Oversize, because I use it as an eyedropper: as a writer, I can work for hours and hours without worrying myself about the ink! But now I'll remember your review the next time I go for a pen.
+Roger Vilà There's definitely no problem with ink staining (unless I get my fingers on the top of the ink bottle while filling!) and the main thing for me is the robust nature of the lava. For a pen to carry, this one is almost unbeatable. Good capacity, too, although not as vast as yours! Certainly worth a look next time you need a pen.
I'm getting ready to buy that exact pen, but I can't seem to find the my pen initials in the bronze. Can you tell me where you purchased yours at?
+Joe Black Hi, Joe, sorry for the delay. Been very busy. I didn't find them in bronze. I think Visconti only make their initials in a kind of pewter coloured steel. For my money it works very well with the bronze HS, though. It's a more understated finish to the overall look. I really hope you enjoy the pen, though. It is a brilliant writing tool, and I'm finding that my writing is looking better and better with my new HS using a fine nib.. All very best!
+writerlywitterings
Thanks! Considering you own both medium and fine, which would you prefer? I thought I was dead set on medium, but after exhausting myself with research I seem to be in quite the pickle. I'm leaning more towards the fine now. Although I do have a few concerns, does the fine have a lot more feedback than medium? Also, how does the ink look with the fine? Is all shading eliminated, or as I've read is it true the fine is more of a standard medium? Thanks in advance.
+Joe Black Hi, Joe - hmm. Personally, I would only ever have bought a minimum of medium for general use. It is a gusher, though (as are all Visconti pens) and many people would find that harder to cope with. I have the fine now, and I love it. It is more fine than my Conway Stewart and Cross mediums, but more full than the fine Cross I used to use all the time. So it's mid-way. BUT, the palladium nib gives you such variety when you write, with really good, thick downstrokes and fine ups, that I'd think you would be happy either way. If you're using it for your own notes, you always use good quality paper, and you want a pen for signing cheques and as more of a statement, I'd personally go for the medium. You will get better shading. However, if you're a serious pen user and will be writing pages each day, then the economy of the thinner line, the smaller writing you can achieve etc, would make me lean towards the fine. Sorry, nothing's every easy! The best advice is, go to a shop to test them, or buy one and accept that you may have to send it back to swap nibs. Hope that helps (a little)! Let me know how you get on!
+Joe Black Forgot: feedback - the medium has a real smoothness that I've never experienced with another pen. It almost feels like the pen is floating over the page as you write. The fine is certainly less smooth, but it's still a very gentle writing experience. Compared to, say, a Cross Peerless 125, it's a great deal smoother. Some may prefer more feedback - I don't!
+writerlywitterings I appreciate your detailed response, and that's the problem, there are no fountain pen shops within a 4 hour drive of where I live. As far as my usage it will be a lot of daily writing that ranges from poetry to short stories and long. I'm an aspiring writer myself, so I write as much as I can each day. I currently use a Lamy 2000 with a medium nib, and I'll be gifting this pen to myself for my 21st birthday. I've been in my brain all day trying to make to best choice because I'm ordering tomorrow. What I've decided is to go ahead with the medium because Im not a big fan of feedback as well, and love a gusher. If it doesn't work out I'll exchange it for a fine. If you don't mind can you tell me how old you were when you first got published? I'm just trying to find a little inspiration in such a strange way of life. How did you get noticed as well? The only good feedback I've ever gotten about becoming a writer is, "if you want to be a writer, than write." That's what I try to do. Cheers.
Excellent review!
Many thanks, Oleg. Good to find you here!
writerlywitterings I am also glad to find you here. Your video channel very interesting. I signed up and I'll be happy to watch it.
Many thanks, Oleg. It's good to find you here too. Recording again tomorrow, with luck.
COME here about the life and times of ink pens-in Michael Jecks hands; most useful, then go out and buy ink pen but remember it has to be your personal choice as they are as personal and reflect you..watch now as michael delivers his own eulogia
+michael wright Cheers, Michael!
This guy is also underrated!!!!!
Thanks, Ernie!
Thanks for introduction. Will buy it at next salary 😀
+Tomas Hlavsa I do strongly recommend them. Lovely pens. Hope you get as much pleasure from yours as I do from mine.
+writerlywitterings I got it I got it. Today. So excited that I am still witing something. 😜 Thanks for review. It helped me to decide. I was thinking about Graf von Faber Castell - Pernambuk.
+Tomas Hlavsa Excellent! I'm sure you will have years of great pleasure with that! What nib?
+writerlywitterings Nib: F, ink:Iroshizuki (kon-peki)
ouch I forgot--michael ; check out his fictional books and very useful too -is his advice on writing and a man of many gifts (apart from his daughter :O) ) oh note his remarks on the nib
:-)
It does not come with flex nib. I do not like this nib. I am very much ok with firm nib with broad nib.
AH, I tend to be the opposite - I like very soft and wet nibs, which is why I love Conway Stewart and Visconti gold nibs. They are faultless, perfect for my taste!
Nice handwriting!
:-)
vist michaels page--and get a history lesson but a valuable one !
+michael wright Thanks, Michael!
That is my grail pen. One day.
I hesitate to mention it, but those very nice chaps at Cult Pens have the Bronze Age, and have an easy pay scheme ... sorry, I'll shut up!
www.cultpens.com/i/q/VS15499/visconti-homo-sapiens-bronze-age-fountain-pen
@@writerlywitterings They offer weekly payments. If it were a monthly payment that might work but I will wait yet longer.