Opus 88 Demo 2022 Color of the Year 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.)

There are many pen makers and brands that have a product or two that feature an annual (or even more frequent) special colorway that are fun to collect. Lamy may be the most well-known with their special Safari and AL-Star editions, and some folks really get into collecting them all. For me, I don't need them all, but I really enjoy the change and unique colors that are bolder than the normal color lineup.

One of those companies that does special colorways on a regular basis is Opus 88. I'm really behind on this one, but I absolutely love the 2022 Color of the Year version of their Demo pen. For one, the Demo is one of my favorite fountain pen designs, and I'm a huge sucker for purple stuff — especially when some of that purple is translucent. The purple acrylic on this pen is delicious, and I love having it on my desk just to see it. The red ebonite accents also go really well with the purple, and I've gotten so many compliments on this pen in the short period that I've had it.

Opus 88 aren't new to the game of matching up colors that might seem a bit odd in theory. A lot of their designs feature bold, vibrant colors that do a great job of complementing each other. There's an understanding of the color wheel in their product colors that I wish I had. Instead, I'm more than happy to see what they come up with.

The Demo is a classic at this point. The long, wide shape looks and feels great, and allows for a large amount of ink in the eyedropper reservoir. The ebonite grip, butt, and finial of the pen have a lovely terracotta vibe due to the flecks of dark material in the ebonite that give it an earthy clay appearance. And the clip, like all Opus 88 Demos, is sleek and strong. The clip material isn't very thick, but it has plenty of holding power.

Since this is an eyedropper filling system, there's an o-ring at the top of the grip threads that keep the ink sealed inside. Filling the pen is a matter of unscrewing the grip section and filling the reservoir with ink using the included eyedropper. When you're ready to write, just unscrew the back piece to open the ink reservoir to the feed and nib, and you're ready to go. When the valve is closed, the ink supply is shut off from the nib and you can travel with peace of mind. In my experience, there's no delay in ink delivery when opening the valve after not using the pen for a few hours. This will change as more time passes, but even if the feed dries up, you can quickly bring it back to life by opening the ink supply. If you need some help or a visual demonstration of how this system works, Vanness have a helpful video of how it works on the product page.

A first for me, I tried the #6 Jowo EF Flex nib with this pen. I've used many small flex nibs in the past, and I'm a huge fan. What you need to understand about these nibs is that they're not flex-y in the way that you probably assume. A lot of flex nibs are made so that you can get a crazy amount of line variation with a little pressure on the nib. This is great for fancy lettering or drawing, but not the intended use for a small flex nib. In the case of this EF flex nib, it just makes for a cushioned writing feel. Most small steel nibs have a hard feel due to the small tip size. There's no flex or movement when writing with the pen, and this can feel a little firm — which isn't a bad thing at all. This gives you a lot of fine control and instant feedback, which is perfect when working on small details.

But, if you want a fine tip that also has a softer feel when writing, then small flex nibs are wonderful. This EF lays down a small line, but it feels softer and bouncier when writing since the nib is flexing a bit. You can still get some good line variation with the flex nib, but it's not dramatic. This mostly serves as a way to make the writing experience feel softer, like adding a soft-ride suspension system to a car. I really enjoy this type of nib for general purpose writing, but it's not for everyone or every situation. Of course, you can pick a standard nib size or even a 1.5mm stub nib to go with this pen. And if you decide to try out a small flex nib and end up hating it, it's pretty easy to swap out these Jowo nibs for something else.

I'm no stranger to the Opus 88 Demo, and this won't be my last one simply because they keep introducing new and exciting color combinations. I couldn't resist this purple one, and I'm sure there will be other cases where I'm in the same position. The Demo is a fantastic platform, so I know that I'll be getting a great pen regardless of the color. If you haven't tried one out yet, there's no better time than the present.

Even though this 2022 version is a couple years old now, it's still in stock. At $130, you're getting a great pen that can hold an entire sample vial of ink inside. If this purple/red combo screams out to you like it did me, pick one up!

(Vanness Pens provided this product at a discount to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Reviews in 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. And her latest book, Root Rot, is now available for pre-order!)

A new year has found us again, and I'm doing that thing where I look back on the long stretch of the previous year, wonder where the time went, and marvel at everything that happened. 2023 was an overwhelming year for me. Graduating, turning 40, cleaning out my Grandmother's house, publishing a book, getting a fancy new job. I think it's safe to say that this past year was my busiest yet. And this year, more than ever, I relied heavily on my stationery to see me through. And while the world tested me, I tested my tools. I didn't review everything I used, and I didn't end up using everything I reviewed, but here are the things that I did review that were among my favorites this year.

Ink:

Pennonia Strigoi was my favorite new ink I reviewed this year. The amazing color and unique composition made this an absolute standout in a year where there were gallons of excellent new inks to be tried. The clay-like sediment does make this one a little more high-maintenance, but aren't we all, sometimes?

Paper:

The Traveler's Company Notebook Passport size was my desk away from home this year, and I was often away from home. While this system definitely works better for me on the road, being on the road is when I'm most in need of a good system. The endless ways it can be customized and adapted gave it the flexibility I needed to go from banquet halls to beaches.

Non-Fountain pen:

The CW&T Pen Type-B might be my most-used stationery item this year. I reviewed it in March and it has gone with me literally everywhere since I received it. We're approaching one year of daily carry for this pen, and I don't see that changing anytime soon. There's just something about this pen. Practically, it's not the obvious choice. It's super heavy, has a ridiculous sleeve cap, and doesn't technically function any better than many smaller, more normal pens. But it makes me happy, so along it comes, every day.

Accessory:

The Traveler's Company Brass Clip has likewise come everywhere with me since I opened the package. Maybe I just like brass? Possible. But I also really like this clip, and I fully didn't expect to. It's bulky! And heavy! But it works so well, and it keeps all my wee slips of paper clipped into my notebooks so nothing goes missing. Even after I shelved my Traveler's Notebook, post-travels, I moved this clip into the notebook I continue to use. And I'll keep doing that forever, because it's brilliant.

Fountain pen:

Okay, look. We can all agree that it's pretty much impossible to pick one favorite fountain pen in a year of amazing fountain pens, right? Right. I'd be hard pressed to limit myself to a list of five favorites. So how do I pick the standout? Well, it's the one that made me smile the most as I scrolled through this past year's reviews, which means it's the BENU Skull and Roses. It's not my year's most used, or the fanciest. But I just can't stop myself from grinning when I look at it. It's delightful.

There were also a number of things I purchased and didn't review that have been essentials, like a Plotter Bible-Size that has been my commonplace book for several months now, and the Plotter leather pen roll. I'll save my 2024 setup for another post, but it's safe to say that this will be another year of leaning heavily on my tools for survival. And I'm looking forward to it.

Currently Inked Christmas

(Kimberly (she/her) took the express train down the fountain pen/stationery rabbit hole and doesn't want to be rescued. She can be found on Instagram @allthehobbies because there really are many, many hobbies!.)

Thought I’d keep it simple and (relatively) short for this Christmas week post and write out the poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas”, more commonly known as “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” by Clement Clarke Moore. I used my 48 currently inked pens to write out the 56 lines on 52gsm Thin Paper by Kokuyo.

A Visit from St. Nicholas, by Clement Clarke Moore

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds;

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;

And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow,

Gave a lustre of midday to objects below,

When what to my wondering eyes did appear,

But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny rein-deer,

With a little old driver so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment he must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:

"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"

As leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;

So up to the housetop the coursers they flew

With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too—

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a pedler just opening his pack.

His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples, how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath;

He had a broad face and a little round belly

That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight—

“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”

Here are all the inks that were used to write out this poem:

— Montblanc Antoine de Saint-Exupery Encre du Desert

— Diamine, Flowers, Burgundy Rose

— Diamine Matador

— KWZ x UK Pen Shows, Beefeater Red

— Robert Oster x Endless Pens, New Year New Hue

— Pelikan Edelstein Turmaline

— Vanness Pens Hissy Fit

— Pelikan Edelstein Rose Quartz

— Wearingeul x Atlas Stationers Twelfth Night

— J Herbin Rouille d’Ancre

— Sailor Ink Studio 273

— Iroshizuku Yu-yake

— Pelikan Edelstein Mandarin Orange

— TWSBI Tangerine

— Robert Oster x Pen Chalet Antelope Canyon

— KWZ x Fontoplumo, Monarch

— Bungubox Mikkabi Mandarin Orange

— Robert Oster 1980s Honey Bee

— Wearingeul Stonecutter’s Song

— Robert Oster Caffe Crema

— Sailor 50 States, Texas

— Robert Oster x Cult Pens Dartmoor Brown

— Papier Plume Bad, Bad Leroy Brown

— Robert Oster x Vanness Pens Venom

— J Herbin Vert Olive

— Wearingeul The Secret Garden

— Anderillium Cephalopod, Spirula Green

— Diamine Music, Beethoven

— Kobe #34 Sorakuen Tea Green

— Pelikan Edelstein Apatite

— Bungubox June Bridge Something Blue

— Robert Oster Australis Hydra

— KWZ Walk Over Vistula

— Robert Oster Lake of Fire

— Kobe #50 Kyomachi Legend Blue

— Diamine 150th Anniversary, Blue Velvet

— Sailor 50 States, Illinois

— Pelikan Edelstein Tanzanite

— Robert Oster Aussie Cities in Colour, Adelaide

— Vinta Inks x Enigma Stationery, Tabuan Purple Sea Star

— Wearingeul Grape-colored Night

— Vinta Inks Lavender Payapa

— Monteverde Purple Reign

— Montblanc Lavender Purple

— Franklin-Christoph Black Cherry

— Diamine Amazing Amethyst

— Pelikan Edelstein Amethyst

— Platinum Chou-kuro

Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, I wish you a very happy holiday season!!