Nahvalur x Enigma Stationery "Brilliant Bunny" Nautilus Fountain Pen Review

(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!.)

I have been a fan of the Nahvalur pens for a couple years now - I could have sworn I’ve written more reviews than the recent review about their Galen exclusive - so when the opportunity came up to review one with a gold nib, I said sign me up, even if it’s red! Little did I realize, it was a special Nahvalur Nautilus pen, created for Enigma Stationery, named Brilliant Bunny.

The Nahvalur Nautilus Brilliant Bunny was released earlier this year by Enigma Stationery in honor of the Year of the Rabbit which started on January 22, 2023 and goes to February 9, 2024 (at which point the Year of the Dragon begins). Only 50 pens were made for this edition.

Following the Nautilus’ nautical theme, this submarine-shaped pen sports 3 circular “portholes”, which function as ink windows and remain visible when capped. The Nautilus has a yellow gold-colored clip and cap band with the same wave pattern and logo as similarly-sized Nahvalur models (I compared it to another Nautilus as well as a Voyage). The pen does not post. For this exclusive, the Brilliant Bunny was made from a bright red resin mixed with “teal, blue and purple sparkle” and comes with a yellow gold-colored 14kt gold nib in Medium with the Nahvalur logo.

I like the design of the 14kt gold nib more than the steel version. You can also see how this yellow gold nib compares to their rose gold.

The Nautilus next to the Schuylkill (left) and Voyage Tromso (right.)

They are quite similar once uncapped, though the Schuylkill is a touch less girthy than the other two.

Since I had a good experience inking up other Nahvalurs with shimmer ink, I went for a matchy matchy red shimmer ink and picked Wearingeul Dracula. I had no problem with either the ink flow or seeing shimmer on the page, even when I didn’t use the pen for a few weeks (I deliberately set aside review pens for days and weeks at a time to test both evaporation and flow). As with all shimmer inks, to prevent clogging, periodically tilt the pen up and down so that the shimmer particles don’t all settle into the nib/feed.

The sparkles are subtle, which makes it difficult to photograph, but much easier to see in person, and pairs perfectly with Wearingeul Dracula.

The Nautilus feels balanced and comfortable in hand. It has a short, smooth step from the cap edge and threads, and tapers towards the nib where it flares to prevent your fingers from sliding forward.

I hold my pens pretty close to the nib, but neither the threads nor step felt intrusive when holding the pen further back.

The pen worked flawlessly each time, producing a nice, wet line. The nib is nice and smooth and softer than its steel counterpart. I could get a wee bit of line variation if I tried to “bounce” the pressure while writing, but I don’t recommend flexing the nib, but I did a little, for science :-) The softness of the 14 kt gold medium means that the line is a tad bit broader than the steel medium.

Writing sample on 68 gsm Tomoe River in an Endless Recorder.

Comparison of the Nautilus with the 14kt gold medium, steel medium as well as Platinum 3776 14kt gold medium, TWSBI Eco Steel Medium Architect and Sailor Pro Gear Slim 14kt gold medium.

Getting this bit of line variation made me nervous. I had to use more than my usual pressure (which, according to Pilot’s handwriting analysis, is fairly light). I don’t recommend pushing it further than this.

I’ve had this pen inked up for over 2 months and used it about a dozen times. Like other Nahvalur pens, cleaning the pen is pretty easy: you can either use the piston to get water in/out of the barrel or you can unscrew the nib unit and syringe clean it. Just be careful not to blast it too hard or you may get water behind the piston. If that happens, you can also disassemble the pen with a Nahvalur wrench (I don’t believe it was included with this pen since the Bossman literally handed me the pen by itself at one of the shows, lol).

L to R: Leonardo Momento Zero, Leonardo Momento Zero Grande, Nahvalur Brilliant Bunny, Pelikan M800, Visconti Homo Sapiens.

Pros:

• Lovely bright red pen with gorgeous shimmer
• Piston-filler
• 14kt gold nib is smooth and wrote well
• Very comfortable in hand

Neutral:

• Nib writes slightly broader than steel medium
• Slightly girthy pen
• Pen does not post (I didn’t take posted comparison pictures for this reason)

Cons:

• Only nib option is 14kt Gold Medium - I understand having just the 14kt gold option, but it would have been nice if it was also available in Fine.
• Price point? - I struggled with whether this was a Con or a Neutral, as there are plenty of gold nib piston pens that cost more than this pen (like Pelikan M6xx and M8xx), but also some that cost less (like the Pilot Custom Heritage 92). But there aren’t many in this price range that are made from a custom resin either.

I knew that I’d enjoy this pen (as I already have a Nautilus which I liked) but was pleasantly surprised by the smoothness and wetness of the 14kt gold nib. As of this writing, it is still available on the Enigma Stationery website for $295 USD.

(Disclaimer: Thank you to Dan of Enigma Stationery for sending us this pen for review. All other items in this article are my own.)

Nahvalur Explorer Mango Sorbet Ink Review

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

Summer is fast-approaching, so that means bright and colorful ink options abound. What could be better in the summer than a cold frozen dessert on a hot day? Sorbet can certainly do the trick, and that's what this ink from Nahvalur has me thinking about every time I pick it up.

Nahvalur Mango Sorbet is a dusty yellow-orange ink from their Explorer line of inks. This line of inks complements the Original Plus line of vacuum filler pens, and Mango Sorbet is a direct match to Gold Ocellatus. I don't have the pen, but I imagine the yellow-orange Mango Sorbet looks great swirling around the transparent reservoir with yellow swirls in the material.

Regardless of what pen you use this ink with, the color that comes out on the page is really fun. I've struggled to nail down the exact color of this ink due to the level of shading it exhibits, but it's a lovely yellow-orange that switches between more yellow and more orange with each nib stroke. The color saturation is a little subdued, which is exactly what I'd expect from an ink color that mimics the inside of a mango. Mango is a sweet and pleasant fruit, but both the color and taste are balanced and not too up-front. The ink does a great job of representing what my imagination comes up with when you say the words "mango sorbet."

Going back to the shading properties, this is my favorite thing about the ink. I loved using this ink in a wide, wet nib because it really shows off how much color variation this ink has to offer. Regardless of what nib you use, the shading manages to shine and offer lighter and darker versions of the ink color with each stroke.

In some light, I can detect a little bit of green, but it's rare and only when swatching the ink with a brush. I wouldn't expect any nib to get this out of the ink under normal circumstances. But, it was really intriguing to see this when making large pools with the ink.

Something this ink touts is a quick dry time, but I would call it average dry time. It's not a quick drying ink, but usually becomes smudge-proof after 15 seconds. The lighter areas are dry much sooner, but those areas where ink pools under certain letters are what take several more seconds to dry. This probably isn't a great choice for left-handed writers or anyone who drags their hand behind the nib.

Everything else about this ink is fantastic. I haven't tried an Nahvalur inks before this, and I'm impressed by how well it performs. In my mind, the fact that a renowned pen manufacturer is producing ink does not automatically mean the ink will be any good. For Nahvalur, they've at least done a great job with this specific ink, and I look forward to trying others. It's also exciting to see them pairing inks with pens! I'm not a stickler for matching pens and inks, but it is nice to find that perfect pairing.

Mango Sorbet is $12 for a small 20ml bottle. That's a good value for what you get when comparing to similarly-sized ink vendors. You can certainly find better value when buying a Diamine ink, but they have significant scale and connection since it's their main focus. If the color intrigues you, it's a great impulse purchase. And, if you happen to have one of the Original Plus Gold Ocellatus pens, you should feel compelled to pick up this ink to see how it pairs with the pen!

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

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Nahvalur Nautilus Mariana Trench Limited Edition 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.)

Several months ago, I was first introduced to the Nahvalur Nautilus and instantly fell in love with the design. I've used that pen regularly since then, and I'm still attracted to the whimsical design, sturdy construction, and pleasant writing experience. But when has that stopped any of us from buying another version of the same amazing pen? Exactly.

The limited edition Mariana Trench colorway of the Nahvalur Nautilus is absolutely fabulous. It features the rock-solid piston filling system, smooth nib, light weight, and comfortable shape as the regular Nautilus, but in a spectacular blue-green ebonite material with blue PVD coating on the metal bits. It's gorgeous, and it's been by my side for weeks now.

I still love my original Nautilus, but the gold trim was never my favorite. It works well on the purple ebonite, but it isn't perfect for my preferences. The Mariana Trench colors fits that spot perfectly. The swirling green and blue is a great characterization of the deep ocean, along with a sense of green rust that the harsh ocean water causes. The blue metal accents are a great touch. They're really shiny and almost flourescent, which just makes the pen that much more visually interesting. Something to note is that the blue coating on the nib is consistent whether you go with the steel or gold nib options.

Writing with the Nautilus is a great experience. The nib is smooth and consistent out of the box, and the piston filling system works well. It holds a large amount of ink, which makes this pen great for extended writing sessions. The fine steel nib on my pen is incredibly smooth, and I didn't have to do anything to it. It's a #6 size, which is a complimentary pairing to the body of the pen. Nahvalur makes their own nibs, so this probably explains how they're able to experiment with different coatings and effects. Whatever it is, I hope they keep it up.

For me, the Nautilus gets really, really close to "the perfect pen." It's lightweight but still a good size for comfortable writing, it writes well and holds a lot of ink, and it's aesthetically enjoyable when not in use. The only downside I can think of with this pen is the fact that you can't post the cap, but I don't want to post it due to the larger size of the body. As long as that doesn't bother you, I can't think of a reason to dissuade you from buying this pen (or another variant) if it fits your budget.

At $160, this pen definitely has a lot of competition, but it certainly holds its own due to the fun design, light and colorful materials, and superb writing experience. If this pen even remotely interests you and you have the budget for it, give it a try! The Mariana Trench colorway shown here is a limited edition and might be hard to track down at this point, but the Nautilus pen is available in many other fantastic colors.

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

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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, for which I am very grateful.

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