Aurora 88 Satin Black Fountain Pen: A Review

(Susan M. Pigott is a fountain pen collector, pen and paperholic, photographer, and professor. You can find more from Susan on her blog Scribalishess.)

I have too many black pens. It's not that I really like black pens. It's just that so many fountain models come only in black. For example, I have two black Sailor pens (a Pro Gear and a 1911) because that was the only color I could get with a specialty nib (without waiting forever or paying a ridiculous price). And, of course, I have a Montblanc 146 (black), a Montblanc Heritage 1912 (black), a vintage Montblanc 234 and 1/2 (black), and a whole host of others.

Another black pen was not on my radar until I saw photos of the new Aurora 88 Satin Black fountain pen. I have to admit, I swooned. It's not so much the satin (although I really do like the matte black exterior) as much as it is the combination of the satin with rose gold appointments. There is something about the matte black finish with the rose gold that makes this pen wonderfully svelte and sophisticated.

The pen's design is modeled after the original Aurora 88. It's a simple design with just the right amount of rose gold accents to set it apart from other black pens. The cap has Aurora's distinctive clip and a gold ring with "Aurora" engraved in cursive. It's nicely elegant.

The body is all satin black from the grip to the piston knob. I really like the raised lip and matte exterior of the grip because both keep my fingers from sliding forward.

The slim ink window is set off with thin rose gold rings. This is a terrific ink window. It doesn't take up too much room, but it gives you just enough to see how much ink is left in the pen.

The 14K rose gold nib bears Aurora's distinctive and beautiful scroll work. As I've said before, I think Aurora nibs are some of the most beautiful nibs produced today. And the rose gold is stunning.

I asked nibmeister, Dan Smith, if this nib is really 14K solid rose gold or rose-gold plated (like most nibs). He asked his distributor, and they confirmed that it is solid rose gold. That is significant, because rose gold plating often flakes off after a bit of use (see this FPN thread on the 90th Anniversary Montblanc, for example). The plating on my Platinum Century Nice flaked and has become discolored which is very disappointing.

But Aurora's solid rose gold nib should not exhibit those problems. Plus, if you have it ground, it should remain consistent in color--no yellow or white gold poking through.

Like most Aurora nibs, this one is stiff, though you can press into it and feel a little bit of give. So, even though it's not flexy or springy, it has a softness to it that I like.

The bold nib writes smoothly and doesn't feel too wide. If this were my pen, I would probably get it ground into a cursive italic just for more line variation, but it's not bad as it is. Aurora nibs do have some feedback to them. It's not scratchiness, so much as "draggy-ness." The nib feels like it pulls a bit on the paper as you create strokes. All three of the Auroras I received for review feel the same way, so it's just a characteristic of Aurora nibs.

The piston works smoothly and the pen holds a good amount of ink. The 88 has Aurora's special reservoir that allows you to get another page or so of writing even when you think you've run out of ink. You just unscrew the piston knob and that releases enough ink to let you finish your thoughts.

The Aurora 88 is a medium-sized pen (measuring about 133mm capped, 128mm uncapped, and 155mm posted), and it is light. It's about the same size as a MB 146 and a bit shorter than a Sailor 1911.

Left to right: MB 146, Aurora 88, Sailor 1911, Platinum 3776

You can write with it posted if you want a longer pen, and having the cap on the end gives the pen more heft. The matte finish feels delightful on the fingers. It definitely feels and looks like satin.

You can purchase the Aurora 88 in Satin Black from Pen Chalet for $440.00. It truly is a stunning pen, and this is coming from a person who swore she would not buy another black pen. Although this pen is a loaner, I'm considering buying one for myself . . . except I have so many black pens.

Pros

The Aurora 88 fountain pen is extremely comfortable to write with.
The rose gold accents and satin finish really set this pen apart from other black pens.
The broad nib on this pen puts out a juicy, solid line of ink and is smooth with just a bit of Aurora-style feedback.

Cons

This is not a Montblanc 149 in size (it's closer to a 146). It's also very light. So if you prefer large pens, this one might not be for you. Still, you can post the pen to give it extra length and weight.
$550 retail is quite a bit to pay for a black pen that is made of plastic. Of course, people pay even more for plastic (cough "precious resin" cough) Montblancs, so . . . .

(Kenro Industries provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

Enjoy reading The Pen Addict? Then consider becoming a member to receive additional weekly content, giveaways, and discounts in The Pen Addict shop. Plus, you support me and the site directly, which I am very grateful for.

Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!

Posted on October 14, 2016 by Susan Pigott and filed under Aurora, Fountain Pens, Pen Reviews.

The Pen Addict Podcsat: Episode 226 - The Girl With The Glitter Pens

Myke and I were joined by Michelle Leung this week to kick off what we hope is the first of many Pen Friends interviews and guests. We talk about how her love for stationery began, the Toronto stationery scene, and how she came into her grail pen.

Show Notes & Download Links

This episode of The Pen Addict is sponsored by:

Harry's: Use code PENADDICT at checkout to claim your free trial set and bonus post-shave balm.

Pen Chalet: Click the ‘podcast’ link at the top of the website and enter the password ‘penaddict’ for this week’s special offer, and to get your code for 10% off.

Posted on October 13, 2016 by Brad Dowdy and filed under Podcast.

Palomino Blackwing Colors Colored Pencils Review

(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Twitter.)

I probably have too many colored pencils, but when I heard that Blackwing was making a colored pencil set, I knew I was going to have to try them. I can tell you right now that I'm going to use these until they're wee pencil nubs that I can't even grip anymore. That may not take long, however--these pencils are butter soft.

The core is made from Japanese wax. It glides over paper and can lay down a nice smooth line or create very soft shaded areas. They blend and shade well, but do not hold a fine point for long. Any fine detail work may require frequent sharpening or a different pencil. I did not have any issues with tip breakage, even after sharpening. These are sturdy, but pleasantly lightweight, little gems.

The packaging is very nice and fancy. The box is smooth-coated cardboard with a clear plastic window for peeking at the pretty pencils inside. The box opens like a book and the front flap is held closed by a hidden magnet. It's a neat design, but I probably wouldn't trust the strength of the magnet to hold up against the tumult inside a daypack. I'd suggest removing the pencils to a more secure case for on-the-go coloring. Inside the case, the pencils are nestled in a foam bed, held in place by a plastic shield. I found the shield annoying and set it aside, only to then dump the pencils in my lap the next time I opened the box. So maybe hold on to that bit.

The bodies are a nice rounded hexagon with a glossy coating that matches the core color. The finial is a chrome-colored piece that is separate from, but attached to, the wood body--it's not a painted or applied color. I expect it will be a handy grip-piece when you come to the end of the pencil. "Blackwing colors" is stamped in silver at the rear end of the pencil, but there are--annoyingly--no color names. I wouldn't mind too much, but the purple, brown, and black are a little difficult to distinguish, even in decent light. The two greens are also quite similar at first glance, though their core colors are very different. Even basic color names would have done a lot for ease of use, here, though I don't know how anyone could pass up an opportunity to come up with crazy color names. Haven't we all daydreamed about having that job? Perhaps we will all have to name our own sets.

And speaking of colors, that's my only other criticism of the set. These are artist-quality pencils (and are priced as such), but with a primary school palette. I understand the logic to beginning with the basics, but unless Blackwing plans to release more colors, this set isn't as self-sufficient as their target audience might want. And anyone whose needs don't exceed a basic ROYGBIV probably aren't going to be looking in this price range. They are high quality and fun to use, and I will happily apply them to my sketches and coloring books, but I'm going to need to bring in some outside help in the form of other pencil brands in order to get the job done. But they're a happy addition to my collection, just the same, and I really hope Blackwing does have a plan for more colors.

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!

Posted on October 13, 2016 by Sarah Read and filed under Blackwing, Pencil Reviews.