One of the dilemmas I have when deciding to review a product is if it’s worth spending the time discussing a product that is not easy to acquire. That covers many areas, such as limited edition pens, or event exclusive inks. In the case of the Platinum Komono, this also means discussing a pen - to borrow a phrase from the digital world - that is region locked.
I received my Komono, also referred to by its model number PQ-1500, around the same time Jacob at Fudefan released his video on it, and have been enjoying it ever since. I’ve also been waiting and seeing if there was going to be any movement outside of the Chinese market, where, according to Jacob, Platinum has a factory that produced this pen for the region.
So far, it’s stayed there as best as I can tell, and otherwise made accessible by sites like AliExpress. Why has it remained only in that market? Who can say other than Platinum, but one interesting design decision may be the answer.
The Komono is a pocket pen, and sets itself apart from others in the category with a metal barrel. The grip section features the classic Platinum translucent smoky plastic, and the nib is similar to what you would see on other Platinum entry-level pens like the Preppy, with the addition of a handful of stars etched onto it. It writes just as well, too.
The Komono reminds me a lot of the Pilot Prera. It’s a little heavier than the ultralight Prera, and since you need to write with it posted, almost the same length.
The cap is of the snap variety, not threaded, and is tight, sealing with clear audible notification. The inside of the cap has a plastic seal, but it doesn’t look like their Slip & Seal mechanism because I don’t see a spring. For posting, the end of the barrel tapers, allowing you to seat the cap down tight enough to write comfortably. The clip looks like a cute exclamation point, and there are a couple of added visual elements like a ridged cap band, and a small ring near the end of the pen. It’s a simple pen, executed well.
That small difference makes a big impact.
The aforementioned interesting design decision is that Platinum chose a proprietary cartridge length. It’s the same opening size, but 7-8 millimeters shorter. Traditional Platinum cartridges and converters will not fit the shorter barrel of the Komono, which is assumedly why the pen ships with five Black cartridges for use.
Overall, this is a fantastic pen, so why not send it around the world? Only Platinum can answer that. For what looks to be a $20-$30 retail price, I think it would do well, and give them a slightly different look in their lineup.
Black Platinum ink on Mitsubishi Bank Paper.
If you want to hunt one down, AliExpress seems to be the way to go. I’ve seen them under $10 in the past, and right now they are $15. What I wouldn’t do is search for one on eBay or any random retailer, with both options pricing them in the $50-$80 range in my searches.
I think the best we can hope for is that Platinum gets the message that these are an excellent option for the worldwide market, and play the waiting game. We aren’t exactly a patient lot though, are we?
(This pen was sent to me by a friend for free.)
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