The exterior is entirely opaque white plastic with a clear ring at the cap band. The clip is integrated into the cap and is smooth straight line with no embellishment.

The only branding is the classic “p” and the nib width indication of “03” which is the fine nib.

The pen performs just as well as a regular Preppy but with a simple, clean exterior. The Platinum nib, as always, is smooth and the snap cap makes it a great on-the-go pen. If you have access to a Muji store, I would recommend looking for this gem.

This pen was sent to me by a dear friend.

The post Mini-Review: Muji Fountain Pen appeared first on The Well-Appointed Desk.

When I started with fountain pens several year ago, I actually skipped what I consider the truly “introductory” fountain pens and immediately went to the next level. I started with a Lamy Safari, a Pilot Metropolitan and finally, a TWSBI Eco. While they’re all great pens in a decent price range, I know that I skipped some of the even lower end pens that make a great introduction to those new to the fountain pen industry, and even beloved by more experienced writers.

So when the new limited edition “Maki-e” Platinum Preppys ($10) showed up on Jetpens site, I was compelled to take a look. The Platinum Preppy is an introductory level demonstrator-body fountain pen that is well loved and has been around since 2007. The pen itself is around 5″/12 cm (uncapped) and weighs in at just 13g. It’s durable, fun to use and comes with steel Platinum nibs, generally in extra fine, fine or medium. The pens can be used with cartridges or converters, but beware that Platinum uses proprietary ones so you won’t be able to just get away with standard international cartridges. The nibs write well out of the package, and the ink flows smoothly immediately.

I chose to purchase the Kachimushi 03 which comes with a blue body printed with silver dragonflies, intended to look like Maki-e. The pattern is aesthetically pleasing and hasn’t been damaged in the few weeks I’ve been using the pen, but I also haven’t see what long term use might do. I expect the pen may get scratched and the dragonflies may not stay intact forever.

A quick note: maki-e is a time-consuming Japanese technique of lacquer decoration. While the motifs in these Platinum Preppy echo what you might see in true maki-e, they are in fact printed on the plastic barrel. True maki-e would be far more expensive. 

So what do I think? For a $10 pen, I think the Preppy provides a pretty great writing experience. In comparison, I did pull out my as yet unused Pilot Kakuno to compare. The Pilot Kakuno is also a plastic demonstrator pen, featuring a Pilot nib (this one is in medium). Capped, the lengths are a bit different (about 1/4″), but uncapped they are virtually the same length. The nibs are different – you can see the Kakuno is a larger nib unit. The standard Kakuno retails for $12.50, whereas the standard Preppy retails for $7, with the Maki-e limited edition coming in at $10. Pilot also makes use of proprietary cartridges and converters, so you’ll have the same issue there (that is, you can’t just throw a standard cartridge in there and go).

In truth, both of these are great little pens and I sometimes forget how you can introduce someone to a really fun writing instrument at a fraction of the cost of what many of us spend pursuing our hobbies. For what it’s worth, I have a slight preference for the Preppy but I don’t have a good reason to articulate why.

What’s your favorite low-cost or introductory fountain pen?

The post Fountain Pen Review: Platinum Preppy Wa Modern Maki-e Fountain Pen appeared first on The Well-Appointed Desk.

This time, I wanted to compare the 02 EF nib with the 03 F nib which was available in a stylized Hanabishi Kikko Wa” Japanese pattern.

In the nib close-up photo above, its easy to see the difference in the width of the nibs. The 02 EF is very fine and perfect if you or a friend loves super fine Micron pens or other itty bitty nibs. The 03 is closer to a standard fine-tipped pen, particularly when ink spread is factored into the equation. Fountain pen ink spreads more than gel or ballpoint ink so if you’re trying a fountain pen for the first time, the narrower nibs will have less noticeable ink spread on a wider assortment of average papers.

I installed the cartridge that shipped with both pens so the ink is the same but, in writing, the ink in the 02 looks noticeably lighter. This phenomena is familiar to regular fountain pen users but may come as a surprise to new users. The finer the nib, the less ink on the paper therefore the lighter the ink color.

Thanks to the Platinum “slip and seal” snap cap, these pens will not dry out quickly so if you want to have a back-up fountain pen at the ready in your desk drawer, the Preppy will be ready and waiting.

I like to upgrade these pens with a box of Platinum Carbon Black ink cartridges ($4.50 for a box of 4). Yes, the cartridges are pricey but these fine nibs use ink so sparingly that it will take a good deal of time to use it all up. By the time you or a pal has used a whole box of cartridges, you’ll know if you want to invest in a converter and a whole bottle of ink.

The Preppy remains one of my most recommended entry-level pens. Yes, it requires proprietary cartridges and a converter that costs as much as the pen itself but for a first taste of fountain pens, it can’t be beat.

The Preppy is also quite hackable. Many people will add some silicone grease to the threads and just eyedropper the pens. They are easy to clean and the nibs are smooth for such a fine nib.

How many Preppys are in your collection? Or what pen do you gift to would-be pen fans?

DISCLAIMER: The items included in this review were provided free of charge by JetPens for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

The post Fountain Pen Comparison: Platinum Preppy 02 vs. 03 appeared first on The Well-Appointed Desk.

I can’t believe, in over 12 years of blogging about fountain pens, I’ve never reviewed a Platinum Plaisir. Thanks to Gentleman Stationer for sending over this extra special Platinum Plaisir Aura 2022 Special Edition ($41 available in 3 colors). This model of the Plaisir is a little bit fancier than the standard model (approx. $18) but the biggest differences is in the color choices rather than anything specific to the nib options or overall materials.

I received the Merry Pink color of the Plaisir Aura. This model features a white pearlescent barrel and cap color. The grip section is clear so that the user can see the contrasting color feed. As the name suggests, the Merry Pink has a pink feed. The Plaisir is available in Fine (03) and Medium (04) which are the same nib sizes available for the standard Plaisir models.

The Plaisir, like many of the other fountain pens in the lower end of the Platinum line, the pen opens and closes with a snap cap and features the “slip and seal” cap which keeps the ink from drying out in the pen. I love having snap cap pens in my office since most writing done during the day is short notes, meeting notes and lists and being able to quickly remove and replace the cap makes my life a little easier while still getting to use a fountain pen.

The only aesthetic issue I have with the pen is the bright silver-colored cap band. The engraved details make the cap band feel fussy when compared with how clean and modern the pen feels overall. Honestly, its the cap band that has probably kept me from purchasing the Plaisir in the past.

The Plaisir ships with a blue ink cartridge but if you want to use a converter, it will have to be purchased separately.

Comparison:

The most similar pen to the Plaisir is the Pilot Metropolitan (approx. $19.50). Both pens are roughly the same and feature an aluminum body.  Both have rounded ends like a cigar shape though the Plaisir is a bit rounder.

The Pilot Mertropolitan is a little slimmer and just a little bit shorter.

However, the Metropolitan is heavier than the Plaisir. The Plaisir weighs 17gms capped or posted while the Metropolitan weighs 26gms. Uncapped, the Plaisir weighs 10gms and the Metropolitan weighs 16gms. The difference in weight is minimal but it’s interesting to note that there is a difference.

Both pens can be posted and are being about the same length posted as they are uncapped or capped.

The nib on the Plaisir is the same nib used in the Procyon, Prefounte and Preppy. They can be interchanged among each pen should you want to swap them out. Similarly, the Pilot Metropolitan nib can be swapped out with the Penmanship, Prera, Cavalier and Kakuno (I feel like the last two should be the Pavalier and Pakuno — just to keep with the predominance of Ps in the pen names). You can see why I immediately made a comparison between these pens.

With these lower priced fountain pens, the converters cost almost as much as the pen. The Pilot CON-40 ($7.25) and the Platinum Converter ($11) are both surprisingly pricey. But, the converters can be swapped across all the pens in the brand’s catalogue so you don’t need to have one for each pen if you don’t want to spend a lot of money on converters. With the fine nibs, the cartridges will last quite awhile so you don’t need one right away.

Writing Sample:

When writing with the Plaisir, the nib is smooth and has a little bit of bounce. When compared with the Metropolitan (also a Fine nib) they are quite similar but the Pilot Metropolitan Fine is a little finer and as a result has a bit more feedback.

Overall, the Plaisir Aura is a lovely pen (cap band is being ignored because the white iridescent and bright feed colors are cool). Would I recommend paying $41 for a Plaisir Aura? Sure, why not. We are the same people who pay $20 for a Metropolitan when we could get a similar nib for $10 in the Kakuno or Penmanship. It’s all about aesthetics and FOMO. I think the Plaisir Aura is a nice opportunity to get a cool looking pen for under $50. Platinum makes good pens and their converters, while pricey, are some of the best in the business.

DISCLAIMER: The items included in this review were provided free of charge by Gentleman Stationer for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

The post Fountain Pen Review: Platinum Plaisir Aura (Special Edition 2022) appeared first on The Well-Appointed Desk.

I’m still regretting that I didn’t purchase the Platinum 3776 Kumpoo, the 2018 limited edition. So when I saw the 2022 Shape of a Heart pen I didn’t hesitate to preorder ($312, Pen Chalet). And I’m not disappointed.

Shape of a Heart is black pen with pink-gold trim and a pink gold plated 14K gold nib. The “Shape of a Heart” refers to the heart-shaped piece that gets cut out of each Platinum nib. The finial is filled with crystals, and that gold “heart” from the nib. I saw my gold heart once, but it’s hard to find mixed in there with all the sparkling crystals. I ordered a fine nib, and I’m sure I won’t be disappointed.

In another few weeks,  once I’ve gotten to know my new pen, I’ll come back and give you a review, but until then I’ll leave you with a few photos. I guess this would qualify for entrance to the Black Pen Society?

The post First Look: Platinum 3776 Shape of a Heart appeared first on The Well-Appointed Desk.

Why would I choose this ink for my first favorite ink? Because if I were in a situation where I needed to re-acquire all my inks, PCB (not Panama City Beach but Platinum Carbon Black) would be one of the first, if not THE first, inks I re-bought.

There are two reasons for this. First, everyone needs a black ink. I know we always say we want COLOR but there are occasions when nothing but black will do. Second, sometimes we need a permanent ink. Often times the need for black and permanent go hand-in-hand — like signing important documents. So, done. PCB solves both problems.

I am a devotee of the Platinum Desk Pen (formerly known as the Platinum CARBON Desk Pen). It’s extra fine nib and low price make it the perfect pen to keep a black waterproof ink loaded ALL THE TIME. The extra fine nib also makes writing on some of those lower quality copy papers a bit easier to handle since the fine nib doesn’t spread as badly as a big, broad firehose nib.

Also, that itty bitty, extra fine nib uses very little ink making a cartridge last for months or even years, even with regular use.

I’ve had it suggested that other blacks were more waterproof but I’ve not seen any proof of this. I SOAKED the page above (Rhodia paper) and the ink didn’t budge. It took hours for the water to dry and the ink looks just as crisp as when I wrote it. I am sure there are some paper stocks with different textures or coatings that may cause your mileage to vary but if the ink has been allowed to dry at least 10 minutes or so under normal atmospheric conditions (not super cold or not super humid) you should have similar waterproof results.

As for cleaning pens, I’ve done several test with allowing PCB to dry inside a pen and had it rinse clean in a short amount of time. If you let a pen sit for years with dried PCB, you may need to get some pen cleaner or an ultrasonic cleaner to help make the process easier but I’ve never had trouble cleaning out the ink or getting a pen restarted after a hard start (usually a result of leaving a pen sit for weeks or months).

So, if you haven’t added a bottle of PCB to your collection, I recommend you remedy that. The cartridges are Platinum proprietary so only purchase those if you plan to use them in a Platinum pen.

The post Our Favorite Inks: Platinum Carbon Black appeared first on The Well-Appointed Desk.

Several weeks ago I spied the Platinum Procyon Maki-e, Brush Warbler on Plum Tree ($140) and thought gosh that’s a pretty pen. I have a Platinum 3776 in Chartres Blue and I really like it, so I thought I’d give this one a try.

When it arrived I wasn’t disappointed. It’s gorgeous! From the Jetpens site I learned that maki-e is a combination of the words “sprinkle” and “paint.” In this case it refers to lacquering a surface with detailed images and metallic powders. This Procyon has a black aluminum body, which sets off the plum blossoms and the warbler to perfect. The hardware is all silver-colored (as is the metal clip) and the pen has a stainless steel nib available in a size F or M. I ordered the fine.

The pen itself arrives without a converter, but with a cartridge. The one slight downside to purchasing a Platinum is that they have proprietary cartridges and converters. I wasn’t stymied though – I simply borrowed the converted from my 3776 (currently un-inked) and I was ready to go! I chose Pilot Iroshizuku Momiji, not because I wanted to mix brands, but because today is an overcast rainy fall day and I’m eagerly anticipating those autumn leaves.

The Procyon did not disappoint! I filled it up and it wrote perfectly right out of the box. The nib is firm, but smooth and was a pleasure to write with. One of the features I’m most eager to put to the test is Platinum’s patented slip and seal cap. The cap, which is screwed on, is designed to keep your nib from drying out for up to a year! I was only able to test it for a few days before this review, but I’m looking forward to using a pen that never goes dry (at least as long as there’s still ink in it.)

I did do a quick comparison photo to my 3776 even though the pens are quite different. The Procyon is approximately 4 5/8″ (12cm) long uncapped, and capped it measures 5 1/2″ (14cm). Because of the aluminum body it is a little heavier, it comes in around 28g when filled with ink and capped.

Overall this is just a really pretty pen. It’s not the most expensive pen I own, but I think it’s a really nice offering for someone who is looking for something in the $125-150 range. It’s elegant (hello Black Pen Society!) with some gorgeous artwork. Though the art is traditionally Japanese, this pen still feels modern to me. I really think I’m going to enjoy this one!

• Paper: Write Notepads Dot Grid Steno ($14)
• Pen: Platinum Procyon Maki-e, Brush Warbler on Plum Tree ($140)
• Ink: Pilot Iroshizuku Momiji (50ml for $28)

DISCLAIMER: Some of the items included in this review were provided to us free of charge for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

The post Fountain Pen Review: Platinum Procyon Maki-e, Brush Warbler on Plum Tree appeared first on The Well-Appointed Desk.

I do love Japanese nibs, so I when Ana had a spare Platinum  Prefounte ($10) in Night Sea with a medium (0.5) nib, I wanted to give it a try. The Prefounte comes basically ready to rock and roll with the pen and an ink cartridge for the price of around $11.00.

The body of the Prefounte is made of a transparent resin and comes in several muted colors. The pen has a chrome clip, and a stainless steel nib. The cap snaps shut and is made with “Slip and Seal” technology that claims it will keep your pen inked for up to a year. The cartridges are proprietary, which is the only downside I can see (that you can’t just grab one of the random cartridges you have rolling around at home) and has a small steel ball in it. While I gather this makes ink flow easier, it does make a little clicking noise in there if you shake the pen, so beware.

The pen is a nice length at 5 3/8″/13.7 cm capped, and 4 3/4″/12 cm uncapped. It comes in at a super light weight – 13g (capped and with the cartridge inserted).

In general, the writing experience was only ok for me. In the first sample, it took a bit to start, but then seemed ok. I took a break to take some photos and came back, and the nib was a bit dry and had a hard start. I got it going again, but every so often it would skip a bit. So I hate to say it, but compared to my TWSBI Ecos that I can pick up after weeks and write with right away, it was a little disappointing. (ETA I picked it up again this morning just before hitting post after it sat overnight and it wrote perfectly on the first try, YMMV?)

However, I would take my review with a grain of salt. Other pens that would fit in the same category as the Prefounte are the Kaweco Perkeo and the Pilot Kakuno about which I do hear lots of positive feedback. Unfortunately, I don’t own either, which is to my (and your) detriment when I write this review.

I did take a quick shot of the Prefounte with the closest competitors in my collection: (L to R) Kaweco Frosted Sport, Pilot Metropolitan, Platinum Prefounte, Scrikss 419. In terms of preference I would use the Pilot Metro or the Frosted Sport over the Prefounte.

Even though the Prefounte wasn’t my favorite, I do like that there are fountain pens available at every budget level. I think that makes them more accessible to everyone one, and also an easier entry pen to share with your kids or someone you’d like to entice over to the hobby (or should I say way of life?).

• Paper: Ghost Paper Notebook ($25)
• Pen: Platinum Prefounte ($10)

DISCLAIMER: Some of the items included in this review were provided to us free of charge for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

The post Fountain Pen Review: Platinum Prefounte appeared first on The Well-Appointed Desk.

I’m going to cut to the chase and give my opinion before I even start on this review of the Platinum Procyon ($52.80): I don’t like it. After reading Jaclyn’s review, I thought for sure I would enjoy the pen but at every turn, I was annoyed. Let’s start with the price point compared to the other pens in the Platinum line-up.

There is Platinum’s entry fountain pen, The Preppy, which, for all intents and purposes, has exactly the same nib. The Preppy is about $5. The Procyon is about $50. Sure, the Procyon is metal barreled and the Preppy is inexpensive clear plastic. So, yes, the Procyon looks more professional. The next pen in the Platinum fountain pen family is the Prefounte. It’s also translucent plastic but in pleasing “grown-up” colors, with the same nib and costs about $10. Next, is the Plaisir which now competes with a metal body and the same Preppy nib. It’s under $20.  So, why is the Procyon $50?

The pen shipped in a large plastic clamshell box with the pen strapped under an ultrasuede band on it’s ultrasuede bed. When the tray is lifted out, there is ONE cartridge included. ONE! At $50, I was expecting a converter for the price. That seems fair, right? The Pilot Metropolitan, which is also metal comes with a converter at $20. It’s not the best converter, to be fair, but at least Pilot includes one!

This also make me ask myself, “Why did Platinum bother putting this pen in a big box if not to have room to include a converter?” Since they didn’t, this is clearly WAY over packaged. I get itchy about over-packaged pens.

A plus is the minimal branding, just under the clip. The matte finish on the barrel is also a pleasing texture.

My next point of contention is the color. Which, despite all my efforts photographs better than it looks in person. These photos show a lovely citron yellow color. It’s a lie. The pen is a powdery pale dirty yellow. If dirty butter yellow is your jam, then I apologize for grousing about the color. However, I find the color extremely indecisive.

Maybe it will help to show the Pantone Color of the Year for reference?

Pantone’s chosen yellow is more golden. It is, IMHO, a more appealing color.

The close-up of the nib shows that the nib is the same or at least looks and feels the same as the Preppy nib. I would include a side-by-side photo but I cannot find my Preppy for comparison.

When writing, the Procyon does have a bit of friction, even on the smooth Rhodia paper I used for testing. This is actually a plus for me but may be a negative for others. Even with the decent-sized M nib, it wasn’t scratchy, just toothy.

In terms of weight and size, the Procyon is comparable to other lower-priced pens. Due to the metal construction, it is heavier than some but decently weighted.

When compared to other pens, with similar looks, size or price point, the Procyon is comparable to the TWSBI Eco and Lamy Safari/AL-Star in terms of size. In terms of price however, the Procyon remains higher. The TWSBI ECO is a piston filler (no converter needed) and even with the need to purchase a converter, both the Lamy Safari and AL-Star are cheaper.

Compared to metal barrel pens, there is one more point of contention with the Procyon — it’s a twist cap. Every other metal barrel pen I own under $75 is a snap cap. The comparably priced Caran d’Ache 849 fountain pen, is a snap cap and take non-proprietary cartridges and converters. The durability of a metal pen lends itself to being an EDC but without the snap cap, I did not find myself reaching for this pen throughout my day. I would skim over it for all the snap cap pens shown above instead. Besides the Procyon, only the TWSBI Eco and Sailor ProColor are twist caps. For short, quick writing like an addition to my to-do list or grocery list, I much prefer snap caps. Sure, the twist cap is going to keep my ink wet for a year, according to Platinum but as it stands right now, it will be the pen that sits on my desk for a year without being used so the ink will need to stay wet.

The Procyon does post and is about 155mm (approx 6″) when posted which is similar in length to the Traveler, the Metropolitan and the ProColor. Capped, its 140mm (5.5″) and uncapped its 120mm (about 4.75″).

Despite Jaclyn’s convincing post, I just don’t think the Procyon has a place in my pen collection. I love Platinum pens in general but this pen either needs to have better options, include a converter and more interesting colors or the price needs to drop to be competitive with other pens with a similar build quality. As it is, I feel like I got fleeced buying this, especially since I will have to invest in a converter for $7 to continue using this pen. I suggest buying one of the many less-expensive options or saving your pennies for a Platinum 3776 which is genuinely worth the price.

DISCLAIMER: Some items included in this review were provided by Vanness Pen Shop for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

The post Fountain Pen Review: Platinum Procyon (Citron Yellow, M Nib) appeared first on The Well-Appointed Desk.

Recently, I’ve had trouble finding the classic EF Platinum Carbon Desk Pen through my favorite online retailers. I reached out to a couple contacts and received some conflicting information. On one hand, I was told that Platinum was no longer listing the Platinum Carbon Desk Pen. I looked on the Platinum web site for Japan and it appears that this is the case. The other info I received from the US distributor for Platinum suggested that the pen was still available from some online retailers but they did not clarify if the Carbon Desk Pen was being discontinued, rebranded or anything else.

I let the issue drop for a couple months (pandemic distraction and all) but when I started teaching, I really wanted my students to have access to this pen so my hunt started again.

In my renewed search, I found three variations: the EF, the M and the Desk Pen (no Carbon ink and a snap cap and clip). The EF and M (approx. $15) I got at Wonder Fair and the Desk Pen ($13.41) was purchased on Amazon. All three were sold in blister packs with one cartridge. Previously, I owned a 14K ($24) version from Amazon which I swapped the housing with a friend and cut it down to fit into a pencil case.

Above is a close-up of the nibs to show the difference in the housing and nib shapes. You can see there is a little bit of fiber stuck to the EF nib (something that can happen often because this nib is so fine). Amazingly, the 14K is even finer if you can believe it. Because it’s gold, there is a little give to it but its not flexible.

I have mentioned in the past that the Platinum Carbon Pen is not the prettiest pen in the world. The cap is hideous. The nib and its ability to handle permanent ink well and compete with the technical pens that end up in the trash when the tips wear down or the ink is used up make these worth their weight. And seriously, Sakura Pigma Microns are not going to win any beauty contests so I can look past their ugly. In fact, over time, I have learned to love their weird looks and their funny DEVO caps.

They are definitely function over form. But you can use Carbon Black cartridges or converters and they last so much longer than technical pens. The tips do not wear down and the variety between these styles provide the same range as several of the widths of technical pens.

On different paper, the Carbon ink will be more or less waterproof. I’ve done other waterproof ink tests but Platinum Carbon Black remains my favorite. Either way, it’s clearly water resistant. Depending on how much ink coverage you have, there might be a little transference but for fountain pen ink, it’s the most permanent I’ve found while still being easy to clean out of your pen.

So, while I’m having trouble finding the Platinum Carbon Desk Pen in the usual places, don’t give up. Until I know where Platinum has hidden these, do pen equivalent of crate digging and hunt down some of these gems. They are worth it. And if you know what has happened to them in the Platinum line up, please let me know.

Tools:

• Paper: Rhodia Uni-Blank No. 16 with 6mm guide sheet and Col-o-ring scrap paper.
• Pens: Platinum Carbon Desk Pen in EF and M ($15), Platinum Carbon Desk Pen with 14K nib ($24) and Platinum Desk Pen ($13.41)
• Ink:  Platinum Carbon Black ($20 for 60ml bottle)

DISCLAIMER: This post includes affiliate links and links to items we received for free for review. The Well-Appointed Desk is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. Please see the About page for more details.

The post What’s Up with the Platinum Carbon Desk Pen? appeared first on The Well-Appointed Desk.