Aurora 88 Satin Black Fountain Pen: A Review

(Susan M. Pigott is a fountain pen collector, pen and paperholic, photographer, and professor. You can find more from Susan on her blog Scribalishess.)

I have too many black pens. It's not that I really like black pens. It's just that so many fountain models come only in black. For example, I have two black Sailor pens (a Pro Gear and a 1911) because that was the only color I could get with a specialty nib (without waiting forever or paying a ridiculous price). And, of course, I have a Montblanc 146 (black), a Montblanc Heritage 1912 (black), a vintage Montblanc 234 and 1/2 (black), and a whole host of others.

Another black pen was not on my radar until I saw photos of the new Aurora 88 Satin Black fountain pen. I have to admit, I swooned. It's not so much the satin (although I really do like the matte black exterior) as much as it is the combination of the satin with rose gold appointments. There is something about the matte black finish with the rose gold that makes this pen wonderfully svelte and sophisticated.

The pen's design is modeled after the original Aurora 88. It's a simple design with just the right amount of rose gold accents to set it apart from other black pens. The cap has Aurora's distinctive clip and a gold ring with "Aurora" engraved in cursive. It's nicely elegant.

The body is all satin black from the grip to the piston knob. I really like the raised lip and matte exterior of the grip because both keep my fingers from sliding forward.

The slim ink window is set off with thin rose gold rings. This is a terrific ink window. It doesn't take up too much room, but it gives you just enough to see how much ink is left in the pen.

The 14K rose gold nib bears Aurora's distinctive and beautiful scroll work. As I've said before, I think Aurora nibs are some of the most beautiful nibs produced today. And the rose gold is stunning.

I asked nibmeister, Dan Smith, if this nib is really 14K solid rose gold or rose-gold plated (like most nibs). He asked his distributor, and they confirmed that it is solid rose gold. That is significant, because rose gold plating often flakes off after a bit of use (see this FPN thread on the 90th Anniversary Montblanc, for example). The plating on my Platinum Century Nice flaked and has become discolored which is very disappointing.

Platinum Nice Rose Gold Nib

But Aurora's solid rose gold nib should not exhibit those problems. Plus, if you have it ground, it should remain consistent in color--no yellow or white gold poking through.

Like most Aurora nibs, this one is stiff, though you can press into it and feel a little bit of give. So, even though it's not flexy or springy, it has a softness to it that I like.

The bold nib writes smoothly and doesn't feel too wide. If this were my pen, I would probably get it ground into a cursive italic just for more line variation, but it's not bad as it is. Aurora nibs do have some feedback to them. It's not scratchiness, so much as "draggy-ness." The nib feels like it pulls a bit on the paper as you create strokes. All three of the Auroras I received for review feel the same way, so it's just a characteristic of Aurora nibs.

The piston works smoothly and the pen holds a good amount of ink. The 88 has Aurora's special reservoir that allows you to get another page or so of writing even when you think you've run out of ink. You just unscrew the piston knob and that releases enough ink to let you finish your thoughts.

The Aurora 88 is a medium-sized pen (measuring about 133mm capped, 128mm uncapped, and 155mm posted), and it is light. It's about the same size as a MB 146 and a bit shorter than a Sailor 1911.

Left to right: MB 146, Aurora 88, Sailor 1911, Platinum 3776

You can write with it posted if you want a longer pen, and having the cap on the end gives the pen more heft. The matte finish feels delightful on the fingers. It definitely feels and looks like satin.

You can purchase the Aurora 88 in Satin Black from Pen Chalet for $440.00. It truly is a stunning pen, and this is coming from a person who swore she would not buy another black pen. Although this pen is a loaner, I'm considering buying one for myself . . . except I have so many black pens.

Pros

• The Aurora 88 fountain pen is extremely comfortable to write with.
• The rose gold accents and satin finish really set this pen apart from other black pens.
• The broad nib on this pen puts out a juicy, solid line of ink and is smooth with just a bit of Aurora-style feedback.

Cons

• This is not a Montblanc 149 in size (it's closer to a 146). It's also very light. So if you prefer large pens, this one might not be for you. Still, you can post the pen to give it extra length and weight.
• $550 retail is quite a bit to pay for a black pen that is made of plastic. Of course, people pay even more for plastic (cough "precious resin" cough) Montblancs, so . . . .

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

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Aurora Nikargenta 88 Small 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's a blurry line between what qualifies a regular fountain pen as a luxury fountain pen, and it usually boils down to the eye of the beholder. After a certain price point, it becomes a subjective notion of how the pen makes you feel and other qualifications you grant it based on your own perceptions and experiences. There's plenty of times that I've looked at a pen that cost several hundred dollars and thought the pen didn't quite live up to the price. After all, it's just a pen, right? Sure. Then, you pick the pen up and start writing with it, and that price suddenly begins to match up with your perceptions.

The Aurora Nikargenta 88 Small is a fountain pen designed after a prestigious 1950s design that oozes class and elegance. From a distance, this pen looks like an average fountain pen, but it's anything but that. Every detail is covered and the writing experience is wonderful straight from the box. When I first handled the pen, I wasn't sure it would win me over. After inking it up and writing a few lines, it almost immediately found a permanent place in my lineup. Writing with this pen is pure joy.

Aesthetics

The Nikargenta 88 Small is a petite pen that sports a classic shape. I think the design is beautiful and timeless, and I think a lot of people agree. When handling the pen, it feels solid and well-made. There's no doubt in my mind that this pen would last a lifetime or more. The piano black finish and bright chrome trim make a statement that's hard to deny. Aurora did a great job with branding the pen — "Aurora" is imprinted on the cap band in a nice script. Apart from that, there is no other prominent branding. There's the scroll work on the nib, but that's normal for every pen maker. There is no etching or other markings on the pen.

The clip is stronger than it looks. In a lot of cases, it requires two hands in order to clip it on to a thick bag or case. Shirt pockets are no problem, though.

It's also surprisingly light, which is a great feature when writing. I'm not sure why I expected to be hefty, but I was happy to find the opposite was true.

The cap is a pressure fit, which means there are no threads on the section or body. For a sleek pen like this, that's a perfect design decision. I love the fact that there aren't any visible threads on this pen. Also, the friction on the cap is perfect — not too loose or tight.

Writing experience

This pen is an absolute joy to write with. The nib on this particular unit is a medium point, and it's smooth as silk. When writing with the pen, the plastic grip section provides a great feel and I haven't noticed any discomfort when using it for longer writing periods.

The feed system on this particular pen is astounding. It can deliver plenty of ink to the nib, which leans on the wetter side. I've a had a couple of incidents involving ink spitting out if the pen is uncapped quickly, but in normal use this wasn't a problem. Any pen with a wet feed is prone to hiccuping ink if slung around. There's never any skipping or slow starts with this pen — it's ready to go as soon as you are, and it keeps up with the fastest pace with ease.

The nib tuning is smooth and efficient. Apart from a more custom grind that I might prefer, this nib is perfect out of the box. The nib is made of 14k gold and features elegant scroll work along with the Aurora name and a "14K" stamp.

Writing with the pen is the exact subjective experience I mentioned above that elevates a normal fountain pen into the upper luxury price ranges. This pen feels luxurious, and it makes the price tag seem fair.

The nib is exceptional for writing purposes, and it also has a fair bit of flex if you apply moderate pressure. Nothing like a truly flexible nib, but more than you'd expect from a normal gold nib. It's definitely a good nib for showcasing inks that shade well.

You can use cartridges or the included cartridge-converter with this pen. The converter holds a good amount of ink, comparable with the Lamy size. It's a mixture of plastic and metal materials, which lines up with the overall price point of the pen.

Overall

The Nikargenta 88 Small follows a specific aesthetic design that you can find in other fountain pens, but I'd wager that you'll have a hard time finding another pen with equal quality and attention to detail as this one. For a luxury pen, it's on the lower side of the price scale, coming in around $350 at online retailers and $550 at full suggested retail. While not cheap, it's an incredible value for such an elegant and lovely pen. If you're in the market for a nice petite pen that features a timeless design, add this one to your list.

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

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Winsor Newton Watercolor Markers Review

(This is a guest post by Nick Folz. You can find more of Nick and his work on his blog, Smallberry Drive, Twitter, and Instagram.)

I’ve been on a real watercolor kick recently. It was one of those mediums I ignored for reasons I could never put a finger on, but when I came across these Windsor Newton Watercolor Markers I had an excuse to give them an honest go.

The markers are double ended, one felt brush tip, one fine tip. The option for two widths is nice, but I end up just using the brush tip most of the time. The pigment just seems to flow from the brush side better. Some times the fine point tip would be too harsh on an area I have washed over and sort of eat up the paper, so I would occasionally use it pre-wash.

There are plenty of ways to experiment with these markers. · Use them as markers, straight up, no water. · Rub the marker on a plastic palette with a touch of water to make watercolors to brush on. · Brush water down and draw while wet to create a “spreading” effect, I just call it "Wash Under". · Draw with the markers, wash over the drawing with water to spread the pigment and fill in with color.

I did the last option most often. I would ink a drawing and then follow the outline of the ink with the marker color of choice, then wash inward to fill with color. You get a very pleasant gradation of color, while still keeping that watercolor look. The control of a marker and the style of watercolor got me hooked. One of my favorite watercolor effects is when you lift some pigment from one area and move it to an area with too much water. When it drys, the pigment gathers on the edges of the wet area and has a really pleasant appearance.

You can’t let the marker sit too long; the pigment gets less apt to move around the longer it sits. So I would do one area at a time, washing with water as soon as I inked. While that may sound tedious, it is actually very satisfying. The brush tips make this sort of technique a joy. After I would finish the area coloring I would re-work some stuff with water and adding different effects. I would add an area of water and tap the brush end of the marker to make the “spreading” look. Or I would add drops of water to the washed area and let the pigment dry at the edge of the re-watered area.

The markers do seem to leech into the paper, meaning if you apply the marker to dry paper you can never completely wash away a mark, you might see a line of pigment even after washing most of it away, but being aware of that just made me use it to my advantage.

The main drawback to this set has to be the variety. I usually ended up only using the green and blue markers. The yellow and orange are extremely similar to one another and the red is under saturated, making it turn out pink. The black is, well, black. I guess I could mess around with it for shading and maybe even inking, but I just prefer ink for that, not watercolor.

I would still wholeheartedly recommend the markers themselves, just not the set as much. They really opened up a whole medium to me that I normal steer away from, and have a level of forgiveness and control that make them approachable.

(JetPens provided this product at no charge 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, which I am very grateful for.

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