Thanks so much for this review. I was seriously thinking of buying this pen but I have heard negative things about the nib as you have pointed out. I will therefore remain on the fence until I have bought all of the other pens on my wish list.
I got my wife a magma cored homo sapiens and though she loves it, I was so sad to learn that the grip section just plain doesn't work for me. I am happy that I avoided disappointment after purchasing one for myself, but I was still so bummed out because it was a grail for me.
I own this pen, it is undoubtedly a well crafted pen, unfortunately I dont't use it for the following: 1) it is a heavy pen and inconvenient for longer writing sessions, 2) there is not an ink window which is a tad frustrating at times, 3) the newer, gold nib is actually a hard nail to write with, I expected to have a hint of softness to it. If picky, for this amount of money, I expected the barrel cuts and trims to be finely executed, but if you look at it very carefully, it has rough cuts. I guess that this is an either love it or hate it kind of pen. Nice review, once again, thanks.
Thanks for the comment! I suspect this material is difficult to cut cleanly. I don't considered the cuts but rough. I think the lava rock is a porous gritty material. I do agree that this is a love it or hate it kind of pen. It is on the heavy side and the grip section while reasonably wide is very short.
I am disappointed with mine in several ways: I expected more from the tuned gold nib than it delivers. Pretty ‘meh’ to be honest. Even though it was tuned I soon got over that new pen feeling; that grip section does my head in. I wish it didn’t but it does. I dislike it a lot; the lava on my pen is just too smooth. I wanted some more texture or that minute pitting I’ve seen on the older pens but no, mine is just damn smooth and boring. The good? Hook lock cap. So damn precise and quick, it works so well; The vac filler system is just brilliant; I love the bronze. Patina is awesome. Overall I’m not impressed and if I could sell it and not worry about being ripped off, I would sell it.
Thanks for the comment Richard! I would imagine the grip section is problematic for a lot of people because it is so short. I am lucky that it is comfortable for me. I don't think Visconti tests their pens before they leave the factory. It is definitely common in my experience to get a bad nib. I want to try one of the new colored lava models as these have Visconti's new nibs that are made in-house. Regarding the lava material, I think it is interesting to the touch even if the newer ones are quite smooth.
I have this one and the crystal dream and the chiantishire! I love this line of pens soooooo very much. I have all palladium nibs and love them! My crystal dream is an EF, the Bronze Age is a fine and the chiantishire is a medium and I have to say the fine is my favorite nib. I have a malachite stone on the top of my Bronze Age.
@@BlakesBroadcast they are totally worth it! I have a friend who let me borrow his gold nib Visconti and that was fantastic as well! The palladium just has a slight bounce to it;)
I am late to this party, but I noticed you said the button on the cap is not aligned. It is magnetic and you can just turn it to a position you prefer :)
Great video... deeply honest and gut-level review... have to love and respect that... too, too much front-end to not have the expected delivery on the back end... simply.. it is a tool, an instrument with intention to be used... not just desk candy.... thank you, Blake....
I already have an Pilot 823 medium nib pen but would like to purchase another wonderful pen. I am torn between a Visconti Homo Sapiens fountain pen and a Pelikan Souverän M1000 fountain pen. I wish the ink window version Visconti Homo Sapiens pen was available on Amazon but it’s not currently.
I met someone with one of these and I got to try it. I wasn’t overwhelmed enough to spend this kind of money. I like pretty pens, but in the end, I don’t care what it looks like if I like the nib, and the writing experience with this pen just wasn’t that exciting. Seems like just another status item.
Thanks for the comment Geslina. This is definitely a polarizing pen. I don't find it to be a particularly attractive pen but I like the feel of the material as well as the unusual pieces of engineering they put into the pen. I also think it writes great but unfortunately not all Visconti nibs are great writers. I am not sure what you mean by "just another status item." It is a $700 pen but out in the wild only a very small percentage of people would know the Visconti name, let alone recognize this pen.
Hi Christopher, I do not have this problem with mine but I have had a seal issue on another vacuum filler that did cause ink to come out in blobs on the page.
I have purchased over 300 fountain pens online with many retailers and have never had an issue that wasn’t positively resolved. Those instances were very few.
I wouldnt find a single shop in my small country which would sell such high end pens. Online purchase is a gamble to a certain degree yes, though from my experience japanese brands never dissapoint.
I had the same problem with a Homo Sapiens Skyview two years ago (stub). It skipped a lot, so I sent it to service. I had it back with ink overflow. Until today, not usable. I love the design, but quality control is garbage. Pitty.
I like to see where the limit is. Some nibs keep up and some can't. When cars are tested they are put on a skidpad. Most drivers will never use their cars in this way but it is an important performance benchmark.
Thanks for the candid review!
You are welcome David!
Just got mine yesterday ! It looks so great ! Can’t wait using it
I hope you will enjoy it. There are a lot of cool features on this pen.
Thanks so much for this review. I was seriously thinking of buying this pen but I have heard negative things about the nib as you have pointed out. I will therefore remain on the fence until I have bought all of the other pens on my wish list.
The negative things about the nib is an old issue that has been resolved. Their nibs are excellent.
What makes you say they have been resolved?
I got my wife a magma cored homo sapiens and though she loves it, I was so sad to learn that the grip section just plain doesn't work for me. I am happy that I avoided disappointment after purchasing one for myself, but I was still so bummed out because it was a grail for me.
I am sorry to hear that it didn't work for you. It definitely isn't the most accommodating grip section.
I own this pen, it is undoubtedly a well crafted pen, unfortunately I dont't use it for the following: 1) it is a heavy pen and inconvenient for longer writing sessions, 2) there is not an ink window which is a tad frustrating at times, 3) the newer, gold nib is actually a hard nail to write with, I expected to have a hint of softness to it. If picky, for this amount of money, I expected the barrel cuts and trims to be finely executed, but if you look at it very carefully, it has rough cuts. I guess that this is an either love it or hate it kind of pen. Nice review, once again, thanks.
Thanks for the comment! I suspect this material is difficult to cut cleanly. I don't considered the cuts but rough. I think the lava rock is a porous gritty material.
I do agree that this is a love it or hate it kind of pen. It is on the heavy side and the grip section while reasonably wide is very short.
I am disappointed with mine in several ways: I expected more from the tuned gold nib than it delivers. Pretty ‘meh’ to be honest. Even though it was tuned I soon got over that new pen feeling; that grip section does my head in. I wish it didn’t but it does. I dislike it a lot; the lava on my pen is just too smooth. I wanted some more texture or that minute pitting I’ve seen on the older pens but no, mine is just damn smooth and boring.
The good? Hook lock cap. So damn precise and quick, it works so well; The vac filler system is just brilliant; I love the bronze. Patina is awesome.
Overall I’m not impressed and if I could sell it and not worry about being ripped off, I would sell it.
Thanks for the comment Richard! I would imagine the grip section is problematic for a lot of people because it is so short. I am lucky that it is comfortable for me. I don't think Visconti tests their pens before they leave the factory. It is definitely common in my experience to get a bad nib.
I want to try one of the new colored lava models as these have Visconti's new nibs that are made in-house.
Regarding the lava material, I think it is interesting to the touch even if the newer ones are quite smooth.
You mentioned that the finial doesn't algin with the clip. Due to the My Pen system, you can remove and realign the finial.
I will have to try that. I don't currently have a magnet strong enough to remove the finial.
I have this one and the crystal dream and the chiantishire! I love this line of pens soooooo very much. I have all palladium nibs and love them! My crystal dream is an EF, the Bronze Age is a fine and the chiantishire is a medium and I have to say the fine is my favorite nib. I have a malachite stone on the top of my Bronze Age.
They are awesome pens. I haven't seen the Chiantishire one before but wow that is beautiful! I definitely want a palladium nib Visconti at some point.
@@BlakesBroadcast they are totally worth it! I have a friend who let me borrow his gold nib Visconti and that was fantastic as well! The palladium just has a slight bounce to it;)
One of my grail pens! Thanks you for the disclaimers about the nibs and ordering through an authorized dealer. Great review.
Glad it was helpful!
Got all three of mine from eBay with no issues.
I am late to this party, but I noticed you said the button on the cap is not aligned. It is magnetic and you can just turn it to a position you prefer :)
Hi Knut! Thank you for letting me know.
Great video... deeply honest and gut-level review... have to love and respect that... too, too much front-end to not have the expected delivery on the back end... simply.. it is a tool, an instrument with intention to be used... not just desk candy.... thank you, Blake....
I am glad you liked it!
Visconti FP are designed to look good, not to be ergonomic or "writing tool".
Love the ink you used!
Diamine Festive Cheer is a great blue ink. It has quite a nice sheen to it.
@@BlakesBroadcast it reminds me a lot of Diamine Happy Holidays!
I already have an Pilot 823 medium nib pen but would like to purchase another wonderful pen. I am torn between a Visconti Homo Sapiens fountain pen and a Pelikan Souverän M1000 fountain pen. I wish the ink window version Visconti Homo Sapiens pen was available on Amazon but it’s not currently.
Both pens are great. Please let me know which one you end up getting.
Pelikan, always
I met someone with one of these and I got to try it. I wasn’t overwhelmed enough to spend this kind of money. I like pretty pens, but in the end, I don’t care what it looks like if I like the nib, and the writing experience with this pen just wasn’t that exciting. Seems like just another status item.
Thanks for the comment Geslina. This is definitely a polarizing pen. I don't find it to be a particularly attractive pen but I like the feel of the material as well as the unusual pieces of engineering they put into the pen. I also think it writes great but unfortunately not all Visconti nibs are great writers. I am not sure what you mean by "just another status item." It is a $700 pen but out in the wild only a very small percentage of people would know the Visconti name, let alone recognize this pen.
Mine burps. Any other have the same problem?
Hi Christopher, I do not have this problem with mine but I have had a seal issue on another vacuum filler that did cause ink to come out in blobs on the page.
Its better to test and buy such a high end pen at a store. Online purchase might be tricky. Thanks for the video, Blake!
As long as the price makes sense, buying in store is always preferred.
I have purchased over 300 fountain pens online with many retailers and have never had an issue that wasn’t positively resolved. Those instances were very few.
@@sistergoldenhair0727 that's great to hear. Getting a flawless nib is always pleasant experience. 😊
@@sistergoldenhair0727 you should share your collection on youtube sis
I wouldnt find a single shop in my small country which would sell such high end pens. Online purchase is a gamble to a certain degree yes, though from my experience japanese brands never dissapoint.
would have preferred if the pen was a piston filler instead of a vacuum filler
I am with you. I prefer piston fillers, although the vacuum filler does compliment the other weirdness of the pen.
I had the same problem with a Homo Sapiens Skyview two years ago (stub). It skipped a lot, so I sent it to service. I had it back with ink overflow. Until today, not usable. I love the design, but quality control is garbage. Pitty.
They make such interesting pens but for the price I agree the quality control should be better.
I’m sorry, but at that price I expect the nib to be perfect out of the box !!!
I've learned to temper my expectations in regards to Visconti nibs. They make beautiful pens but the QC could be better.
I have three of these and they have all been perfect out of the box. The problem with the nibs is an old and outdated one. These are great nibs!
Heavy, not a cartridge converter, no ink window. Not exactly a ground breaking nib either.
I think the materials are the main attraction for this pen. The good news is that they make versions of this pen with ink windows.
Your fast writing sample is not relevant as no one writes that huge in real life.
good point, though if people use double broad nibs , who knows ...
@@cortesimerci35 right, but this wasn’t a double broad nib example.
@@sistergoldenhair0727 1,3 stub xDD
I like to see where the limit is. Some nibs keep up and some can't. When cars are tested they are put on a skidpad. Most drivers will never use their cars in this way but it is an important performance benchmark.