As a long time fountain pen enthusiast, there's something about Japanese pens that strike me as truly unique. My Custom 823 is my personal companion. That said, I do hope to try a Pelikan M1000. Hope to visit the factory tour and want to ask for a 3B nib!
Just received the Homo sapiens brass. What I like better than montblanc: The lava resin, feels sturdier than simple resin. Closing mechanism is easier twist. Clip and clip spring.
Visconti pens are gorgeous, absolutely no denying that. However, they have had quality control issues around their construction and the quality of their nibs. Lots of people say the nib experience doesn't really match the quality you would expect given the price point. They are hit or miss though, so you might get a wonderful nib as well.
These are some excellent pens. I love that last amber one especially, its such a deep pattern, and the blue/gold ones too. Reminds me of ancient lapis lazuli and gold jewelry
Had your staff done research into the online fountain pen community - FP discussion boards and online pen reviews - they would have found some interesting opinions on Visconti’s quality control and history of nib issues over the last few years.
I am new to fountain pens (Although I did use them extensively at school eons ago!) - the Homo Sapiens looks beautiful. I'm not sure I should thank you for your video showing me Visconti! :)
As a pen collector, I wouldn't be overly happy with the reports of Visconti pens from within the pen collecting community. Pelikan are far superior{and superior to MB of which I have many} and if you want the probably the best overall pen the Pilot Custom 823 can't be bettered and while not a cheap pen its far superior to many pens many times its price. Scribo or Leonardo are better Italian fountain pens.
Great choice of Visconti pens. As a FP enthusiast, I have a HS Bronze Age myself and it is a classic. Instead of emptying the front chamber as you've described, I prefer to keep it completely full. My understanding is that the issue with flying is to do with air pressure changes, which affect gases more than liquids; it's therefore better to have the chamber and feed completely saturated so there's no air trying to make its way out causing a mess! I do the same with my other vacuum fillers, and a similar principle with other pens too i.e. Kep them fully filled for flying.
In direct competition with Goulet I see.... I have not tried their new house-made nibs but the few Viscontis I had, I ended up giving away. The writing experience was horrible.
I believe you have to adapt to this type of writing utensil. My "southpaw" colleagues turn the paper and appear to be writing from top to bottom, which seems counterintuitive. However, it works.
There are some quick-drying inks for left-handed writers. Check out Noodlers Ink. They have the best selection of inks for things like that. (Paper has a big impact too, maybe go with something slightly more absorbent.)
Nice pens Kirby. Sadly, I am left handed, and also "kak handed", which means I can't use a fountain pen. So I have to make do with my Montblanc ball point. Damn!
I own a Van Gogh Starry Night and it broke after ~2 weeks right where the metal section attaches to the barrel. These are very fragile resin-made pens. Watch out! Especially you tend you carry them inside a jacket's pocket.
I won't buy a Visconti once i found out Dante was run out of the business by his partner. I bought one of the original HSBA maxi pens. It's fun but it's certainly not a reliable everyday pen. I used a platinum pen from Japan for day to day use
I would love to own a Visconti pen one day. So far, my top-out is a Pelikan M800, (which I love), as a reward for passing my Professional Engineer's exam, but I'm on the lookout for another milestone that would warrant a top-notch Visconti pen.
Disagree. Visconti is highly unreliable with hard starts, rough nibs. I've owned the HS, a Mirage mythos, etc. All incredibly horrible. Buy a high end Pilot, or a Sailor Pro Gear. Nibs are WAY better!!!!!
I guess I've been lucky. I got a Visconti Opera Gold, and it's one of the smoothest writing pens I've owned. That said, I also own Sailor Pro Gear, a Pilot Custom 74, and a Platinum 3776, and it has also been a joy writing with them too. I have filled 20 volumes of journals since 2020, so these have certainly been put to the test. The Opera is the newest one, though (this year only), but so far, I'm very satisfied with it.
High quality nibs? I am from the south and Evertime I I hear nib I think of cold weather and freezing my NIBbies off lol Just kidding love your channel Kirby your bespoke suit and shoe videos are my favs.
I find ballpoint pens much more practical tbh. Also I find that there are more fancier ballpoint pens then fountain pens. You don´t have something like the Lamy Dialog 1 or the Aurora Thesi, when it comes to fountain pens.
Every Visconti I have purchased has had a nib that was a mess. The quality controller on this brand is simply a mess. It's a shame. The homo sapians crystal dream I just started using has the worst nib I have even sean on a fountain pen. It will not even put any ink on paper.
That is all a matter of taste which, as you know, there is no accounting for. You are maling such an unnecessary, unwarranted negative comment. I bet you are loads of fun.
I can see why people who don’t have experience with fountain pens would think this. I remember thinking that the bulky pens looked odd compared to the traditional pens I was used to but once you try a larger pen you may find, as many of us have, that it is far more comfortable than a slim traditional pen. It’s night and day writing comfort difference.
From Purdey to Visconti, your videos are an incredible window to the world's finest items.
Montblanc 149! The Diplomat or El Presidente! President's and Diplomat's go to! Thanks for doing a series on fountain pens.
I love to collect pens
I like Visconti style, but my pen broke down and I was unable to fix it due to the non existent customer support, I prefer Montblanc pens.
I have a passion to collect pen 😊😊
Awesome Kirby! These are beautiful pieces. Thank you. I'm waiting for my Starry Nite as a Christmas gift for my son. Thanks
As a long time fountain pen enthusiast, there's something about Japanese pens that strike me as truly unique. My Custom 823 is my personal companion. That said, I do hope to try a Pelikan M1000. Hope to visit the factory tour and want to ask for a 3B nib!
That's bold! I love Pelikans, but the largest I've gone is a 2B and that's about all I can take! Good luck!
@@whosweptmymines3956a m1000 with a 3b wouldn't be too different from writing with a wet brush!
Gorgeous pens! I have long been an admirer and user of fountain pens; thanks for the incredible content.
Just received the Homo sapiens brass. What I like better than montblanc: The lava resin, feels sturdier than simple resin. Closing mechanism is easier twist. Clip and clip spring.
Visconti pens are gorgeous, absolutely no denying that. However, they have had quality control issues around their construction and the quality of their nibs. Lots of people say the nib experience doesn't really match the quality you would expect given the price point. They are hit or miss though, so you might get a wonderful nib as well.
Visconti Homo Sapiens Bronze Age is hands down my favorite pen, it writes and feels so good.
These are some excellent pens. I love that last amber one especially, its such a deep pattern, and the blue/gold ones too. Reminds me of ancient lapis lazuli and gold jewelry
Aww...that De Mauve appeals to me. It has vibes of Paris and also Japanese Cherry Blossom.
Thanks for the review video Kirby. How would you say they compare with the Mont Blanc range?
Had your staff done research into the online fountain pen community - FP discussion boards and online pen reviews - they would have found some interesting opinions on Visconti’s quality control and history of nib issues over the last few years.
Online fountain pen community doesn't pay the bills! Visconti does.
They look beautifully made. Thanks for reviewing 🙌😍
I am new to fountain pens (Although I did use them extensively at school eons ago!) - the Homo Sapiens looks beautiful. I'm not sure I should thank you for your video showing me Visconti! :)
As a pen collector, I wouldn't be overly happy with the reports of Visconti pens from within the pen collecting community. Pelikan are far superior{and superior to MB of which I have many} and if you want the probably the best overall pen the Pilot Custom 823 can't be bettered and while not a cheap pen its far superior to many pens many times its price. Scribo or Leonardo are better Italian fountain pens.
Wonderful video Kirby! May I ask, what are your thoughts on Mont Blanc pens in comparison to Visconti pens?
I got into fountain pens last year and ended up buying about 30-40. My top 2 are my line d st dupont and my Dostoyevski Montblanc.
When are the Cuba videos being released !? It’s been too long
Great video Kirby! Just don't forget to blink, though! :)
Great choice of Visconti pens. As a FP enthusiast, I have a HS Bronze Age myself and it is a classic. Instead of emptying the front chamber as you've described, I prefer to keep it completely full. My understanding is that the issue with flying is to do with air pressure changes, which affect gases more than liquids; it's therefore better to have the chamber and feed completely saturated so there's no air trying to make its way out causing a mess! I do the same with my other vacuum fillers, and a similar principle with other pens too i.e. Kep them fully filled for flying.
I bought a Scriveiner Silver Chrome Fountain pen with 24k gold finish, Schmidt 18K gilded nib, not much money, looks expensive and writes well.
Really nice pens at nice prices although I still prefer my Fisher space pens because I know where ever I go they'll write fine.
Are you planning a moon voyage anytime soon😊
Visconti has excellent writing instruments! You can’t go wrong with the Homo Sapiens Bronze Age!
In direct competition with Goulet I see.... I have not tried their new house-made nibs but the few Viscontis I had, I ended up giving away. The writing experience was horrible.
Can left handed people use fountain pens without smearing?
I believe you have to adapt to this type of writing utensil. My "southpaw" colleagues turn the paper and appear to be writing from top to bottom, which seems counterintuitive. However, it works.
There are some quick-drying inks for left-handed writers. Check out Noodlers Ink. They have the best selection of inks for things like that. (Paper has a big impact too, maybe go with something slightly more absorbent.)
Are there no longer left handed nibs?
There are quick drying inks that are formulated for lefties.
Nice pens Kirby. Sadly, I am left handed, and also "kak handed", which means I can't use a fountain pen. So I have to make do with my Montblanc ball point. Damn!
I own a Van Gogh Starry Night and it broke after ~2 weeks right where the metal section attaches to the barrel. These are very fragile resin-made pens. Watch out! Especially you tend you carry them inside a jacket's pocket.
I won't buy a Visconti once i found out Dante was run out of the business by his partner.
I bought one of the original HSBA maxi pens.
It's fun but it's certainly not a reliable everyday pen.
I used a platinum pen from Japan for day to day use
I would love to own a Visconti pen one day. So far, my top-out is a Pelikan M800, (which I love), as a reward for passing my Professional Engineer's exam, but I'm on the lookout for another milestone that would warrant a top-notch Visconti pen.
M800 way better than any visconti.
Disagree. Visconti is highly unreliable with hard starts, rough nibs. I've owned the HS, a Mirage mythos, etc. All incredibly horrible. Buy a high end Pilot, or a Sailor Pro Gear. Nibs are WAY better!!!!!
I would say they are decent at best.
Sent mine back several times but they were hopeless. Got several old OMAS instead & a Sailor - so much better.
@@thatsbod1041 huh, I've always had bad luck with Sailor nibs. I stopped buying them because I got tired of it. Maybe I should give them another shot.
I guess I've been lucky. I got a Visconti Opera Gold, and it's one of the smoothest writing pens I've owned. That said, I also own Sailor Pro Gear, a Pilot Custom 74, and a Platinum 3776, and it has also been a joy writing with them too. I have filled 20 volumes of journals since 2020, so these have certainly been put to the test. The Opera is the newest one, though (this year only), but so far, I'm very satisfied with it.
Agree with you. Beautiful looking pens but QC is inconsistent.
Yeah idk about this one if you want a high end pen go montblanc nothing compares
High quality nibs? I am from the south and Evertime I I hear nib I think of cold weather and freezing my NIBbies off lol Just kidding love your channel Kirby your bespoke suit and shoe videos are my favs.
I find ballpoint pens much more practical tbh. Also I find that there are more fancier ballpoint pens then fountain pens. You don´t have something like the Lamy Dialog 1 or the Aurora Thesi, when it comes to fountain pens.
👍#600!😁
Visconti fountain pens the best in the world, is that a joke? Surely you have some interest in Visconti to proffer such a suggestion.
👍 👍 💯
The hand movements look fake....making your content insist upon itself.
Every Visconti I have purchased has had a nib that was a mess. The quality controller on this brand is simply a mess. It's a shame. The homo sapians crystal dream I just started using has the worst nib I have even sean on a fountain pen. It will not even put any ink on paper.
These look really ugly to me. It is very garish and bulky.
You might find that vintage fountain pens are more your style. They tend to be much slimmer than modern models.
That is all a matter of taste which, as you know, there is no accounting for. You are maling such an unnecessary, unwarranted negative comment. I bet you are loads of fun.
I can see why people who don’t have experience with fountain pens would think this. I remember thinking that the bulky pens looked odd compared to the traditional pens I was used to but once you try a larger pen you may find, as many of us have, that it is far more comfortable than a slim traditional pen. It’s night and day writing comfort difference.