(Susan M. Pigott is a fountain pen collector, pen and paperholic, photographer, and professor. You can find more from Susan on her blog Scribalishess.)
The Platinum Balance fountain pen is made of resin with gold-plated accents and a gold-plated steel nib. The pen is a simple cigar shape with a snap on cap.
It comes packaged in a rectangular box with a clear plastic top. One blue-black cartridge is included with the pen.
The pen is quite light (18 grams) and is small to medium-sized at 5.5 inches capped, 5.0 inches uncapped, and 6.0 inches posted. People with larger hands will probably find this pen much too small, but I think it will suit most users well. Posting the pen adds a bit more heft, but it also throws off the balance in my opinion.
I like the pen’s classic styling with gold-plated trim around the cap’s base, around the tip of the grip, and where the grip and barrel meet. These are nice details on a pen at this price point.
The resin is a deep green with beautiful chatoyance.
Although the pen comes with a cartridge, I had an extra Platinum converter, so I loaded it up with Robert Oster Peppermint (review here). For those of us who like matchy ink and pens, the Peppermint is a perfect choice.
I honestly wasn’t expecting much from this medium steel nib, but it is incredibly smooth and juicy.
Although it doesn’t have the springiness of gold Platinum nibs, it does offer a bit of line variation if you press into the nib. Overall, it’s a fantastic writing experience.
This is an elegant pen at a reasonable price (under $40). If you’re looking for a great starter pen for yourself or as a gift, the Platinum should be on your list. It would make an excellent stocking stuffer or gift, especially if you pair it with a bottle of Robert Oster Peppermint ($17.00 at Jet Pens).
The Platinum Balance is available in several colors: green, blue, wine red, black, shine crystal, crystal blue, and crystal rose. It comes with nibs in fine or medium. You can buy it at Jet Pens for $36.50. I suggest picking up a Platinum converter as well for $8.25.
Pros
- The Platinum Balance is elegant and beautiful. It reminds me of Visconti Van Gogh pens (which, of course, are much more expensive) with its shiny resin and shape. The Platinum lacks the heft of those Visconti pens, but it’s hard to argue with its price in comparison.
- The cap is easy to snap on and off, and it posts securely.
- Although the clip is simple, without any adornment, it is quite functional and will clip easily to a shirt pocket or tablet.
- The best part of this pen is the stellar steel nib. I can’t get over how nicely this nib performs. It isn’t rigid like the steel nibs on Lamy Safaris and other pens. Rather, it has some give to it and even offers a bit of line variation. It is smoother than many of my very expensive, gold-nibbed pens.
Cons
- The Platinum Balance does not come with a converter, and adding a converter to the cart will put this pen over the $40 price.
- I wonder how well the gold-plated trim will hold up over time. I’m especially concerned about the trim near the nib, since it will come in contact with ink. Will the trim corrode over time?
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