Posts filed under Platinum

Platinum Blue Black Ink Review

(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)

Over the past several months, I've tried close to a dozen different blue black inks. While they are all incredibly similar in color, it's been interesting to see the more subtle differences appear on the page when using these inks. Just because they share the same name doesn't mean they are the same ink. For as many different versions of this inks that are available, there are an equal number of interpretations for what blue black really means.

The latest in this journey is Platinum Blue Black. Belonging to one of the big Japanese pen manufacturing brands, I'm surprised I didn't try this one sooner. Unexpectedly, the quality of this ink matches up with the quality of Platinum's fountain pens. It's a fantastic ink with plenty of character, and I'm actually surprised by a couple of the characteristics that I missed before trying this ink myself.

The first thing I noticed after testing this ink with a normal nib and letting the ink dry was that there's a slight amount of sheen even with normal use. I got out the swatches and layered the ink on thick to see exactly how much sheen would show up in a pool of dried ink. For an ink that doesn't tout any sheening properties in its marketing, this ink has a spectacular amount of red sheen that sits on top of any puddle. It's beautiful, and I wish I'd discovered this ink earlier. The sheen is even noticeable when writing with smaller nibs if the light hits the page just right.

Another thing I didn't realize about this ink until after I tried it is that it's an iron gall ink. Iron gall permanent inks aren't something I normally search out, but it's pretty cool that this seemingly standard "base level" ink boasts such a unique attribute. Iron gall inks aren't super common, and they're usually much more obvious about the fact that they're iron gall. In the case of Platinum blue black, they don't make it overly apparent, but I appreciate the extra robustness and permanence that this ink has after it dries on the page. This means it shouldn't fade over time and will even withstand water damage. In my experience with iron gall inks, the ink stays on the paper for as long as the paper is structurally sound. Definitely something to consider if you lean toward permanent inks. As with any iron gall inks, it's important to understand that these inks are more acidic than water-based fountain pen inks. This means your nib could develop some corrosion after a few weeks of this ink being in your pen. Not a big deal, but something to be mindful of. Be sure to clean out your pens if you don't plan on using them.

Along with the surprise iron gall and sheening aspects, I was also excited by how quickly it dries. With the 1.1mm stub nib I used in the writing sample, it takes about 10-15 seconds to fully dry, but it's usually between 5 and 10 seconds in a Platinum medium nib I've also been using. Overall, pretty quick times, especially on the Rhodia's coated paper.

I've really enjoyed using this blue black ink over the past few weeks. It has a classic navy blue hue, a decent amount of shading, and quick dry times. On top of that, it's a permanent ink. Really solid competitor in the blue black market, and definitely worth your attention.

If you're interested in Platinum's blue black offering, you can pick it up in their proprietary cartridge form (which only works in Platinum pens) or a 60ml bottle. The cartridges come in a ten pack and cost $7 a box, while the large bottle costs a flat $20. Both are a pretty good deal, but I lean toward the bottle since the cartridges only work with Platinum pens. This ink is good enough to enjoy in all pens!

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

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Posted on January 20, 2021 by Jeff Abbott and filed under Platinum, Ink Reviews.

Platinum Procyon Deep Sea Fountain Pen Review

(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)

Even though there are so many different kinds of unique pens available, there are some that just make such an impression that you need more than one. For many, the Lamy Safari and AL Star pens create a collecting mentality — and that's fun just due to the dozens of colors and limited editions that come out. For others, it's tough to pass up a gorgeous limited edition Sailor Pro Gear. And while other pens may not be part of the "collect them all" group, you buy more than one anyway because you like it so much.

For me, the Platinum Procyon is the perfect example. I didn't think much of it when I got my first one back in 2019, but it grew on me substantially after using it for a few weeks. The Platinum Preppy has never done much for me, but the Procyon fit that perfect spot between affordable, classy, and durable that I just couldn't resist. At $60, it's a far cry more expensive than the Preppy, but what it lacks in affordability it more than makes up for in quality and durability.

Back in 2019, I felt that the Procyon was a decent pen with some cool features, but I had some reservations about the plain nib and the price. After using that pen fairly regularly since then, I've really come to appreciate it much more. So much more that I picked up a different color/nib combination — the Deep Sea with a medium nib. This latest pen is the perfect combo for the Procyon in my book.

One of my favorite features of this pen is what Platinum calls the "Slip and Seal" system. When you cap the pen, there's an inner cap that makes an airtight seal with the section of the pen, meaning it doesn't dry up when not in use. Platinum claims you can leave this pen inked and unused, come back after a year, uncap it and start writing immediately. I haven't tried the year-long test, but I have let this pen sit for a couple of weeks without being used and can attest to how it starts writing immediately. No skipping, no thin or dry lines — it just works beautifully.

The build materials and quality is my other favorite feature with this particular pen. It's a great medium size and feels great in the hand. The shell of the body is aluminum, and it feels like the cap and body are made of something heavier (like brass) to add to the feel of quality and durability. The chrome-plated trim bits are also made of brass. On top of all this, the Deep Sea finish on this particular pen is beautiful. It's a dark green-blue with a slight amount of reflective materials that make it so pretty but also understated. It's not flashy at all, but when you give it a second look, you see the depth of the paint color and the shimmer from the shiny particles. I really enjoy seeing this pen on my desk.

Platinum Procyon Fountain Pen Comparison

Writing with the Procyon is equally enjoyable. The medium nib was smooth and free-flowing straight out of the box, and I couldn't be happier with it feels when writing. The medium is a good size for showing off ink properties while also staying small enough to use in any general situations. I love the fine nib on my other Procyon, but it can get a little scratchy depending on the paper and ink combination. If you like fine nibs when using a German nib, for example, this Platinum medium is a fantastic alternative.

Along with the pen, you get a single blue-black cartridge from Platinum. Platinum pens use a proprietary cartridge/converter attachment, so you can only use converters and cartridges that are meant for Platinum pens. Unfortunately, Platinum does not include a converter with this pen. This is one of my biggest gripes with pen manufacturers today. If you make pens and choose to use your own proprietary cartridge mating system, include a converter with the pen. Period. This is especially true for any pens above the $40 mark. The Procyon is $60, but you should purchase a converter along with it so you can enjoy your own inks. This effectively makes the price of the pen $68. Again, not a huge deal, but I'm sure I'm not alone in being so annoyed by this practice.

Gripes about retail practices aside, I heartily recommend the Procyon to anyone looking for something in the $40 to $60 range. The nib is fantastic, the materials are top-notch and durable, and the color options are fun and varied enough to fit many preferences. If you're interested in trying out more premium Platinums, but not quite ready for the plunge into 3776 territory, this is a great place to start.

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

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Posted on January 13, 2021 by Jeff Abbott and filed under Platinum, Fountain Pens, Pen Reviews.

Platinum Curidas Fountain Pen Review

If there was an award for the most anticipated stationery product of 2020, the Platinum Curidas would be the runaway winner.

In development for years prior to release, the Curidas hype train officially pulled out of the station at the beginning of the year. I mean, who wouldn’t be excited for a reasonably priced, good quality, retractable fountain pen? I know I was.

That hype continued through its early release. Yes, there was pricing confusion brought on by Platinum themselves, pulling back from their standard retail pricing of 20% off MSRP to full MSRP, but I don’t think that snafu lowered anticipation in the least. It just gave us as a community something to talk about.

What we really wanted to discuss was the pen itself, and the initial reviews were positive. The only hang up early on was with the bump located on the back side of the barrel that affected the grip area for some users. A bump that many of us, myself included, never noticed in Platinum’s early marketing photos. Good job by them for hiding it well, I guess?

As these early looks at the pen trickled in, a new issue cropped up with the wide release of the Curidas, as delivery was pushed back from February to April - at least in the US market. There was some early availability, like in the UK at special release events, but most of us were still waiting. Again, not really a big deal, but another “thing” to discuss surrounding this pen.

By the time I received mine in early April, I was nearing Curidas-hype burnout. But as with most new products, once it actually got in my hands I was excited to test it out.

My initial thoughts about it were tempered. I felt it was an ok pen, with a just-too-wide barrel and a bump that gets in they way of my low grip. But I liked the idea of it, and kept using it to see if my thoughts would change with continued use.

Then crack-gate hit.

What started as the discovery of a few cracked feeds where the nib clamps onto it, turned into a widespread, high rate of failure, issue. Once news started to spread I gave mine the once-over. I didn't see anything glaring at first, but upon closer inspection, it stood out like a sore thumb: A crack running nearly the full-length of the right side of the feed.

Platinum responded to the issue quickly, and offered replacements through the original point of purchase. I haven’t gone that route with mine yet because it doesn’t affect the performance of my Curidas. It will eventually, and I’ll have it replaced.

At this point, I began to wonder if the Curidas was cursed. What started as a hype train lead into a derailment. Yet, I couldn’t put it down.

The more I used it, the more I enjoyed it. My main holdup, as I mentioned above, is the barrel diameter. This is a wide pen. I have a place for wide pens in my arsenal, but I prefer if they have some sort of taper, or concave area, in the grip section. The retractable Pilot Vanishing Point tapers toward the grip. The retractable Lamy Dialog 3 doesn’t. Having a straight-sided, wide-barrel causes more tension in my grip, leading to shorter writing sessions due to my hand getting tired.

Platinum Curidas Pilot Vanishing Point Nib

What I have found with the Curidas is that it thrives in shorter writing sessions. This is a note-taking pen for me, not a journaling for page after page pen. And the retractable nature of it is perfect for that - at my desk.

I want the Curidas to be a more portable EDC-type pen, but it is too large for that. The Vanishing Point is better for that use case, and is a better pen overall.

That doesn’t mean there isn’t a place for the Curidas in the market. Platinum invested in this idea for a reason: There is no other retractable fountain pen close to this price point. My gut tells me that this is just the beginning of the Curidas. If they can make a few tweaks here and there, and tighten up the QC, it will no longer be just a curiosity. It will be a solid choice for users wanting a good retractable fountain pen experience.

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

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