Platinum Prefounte Fine Nib Fountain Pen Review

The Platinum Prefounte is a heck of a good pen. But, …

Sarah reviewed the Medium nib/Vermillion Orange model for the site recently, so in this review I'll be tackling the Fine nib/Night Sea model to finish testing out the nib sizes offered in the Prefounte.

As I mentioned up top, I really like this pen, but I have questions I have yet to answer about its place in the larger stationery marketplace. Yes, I tend to overthink these things.

What Platinum gets right with the Prefounte is nearly everything. The shape of the pen is classic, but with the modern twist of a transparent barrel in fun colors. The nib is spectacular, which Platinum does as well as anyone at this price point. It feels good, looks great, and writes well.

The only performance oddity I found - which Sarah did as well in her review - is that it would hard start when uncapping the pen to use for the first time of the day. A little scribble would get it going, but I wouldn’t expect this to be happening with the Slip and Seal insert they use inside the cap. That said, once I got it going it never stopped, but I also don’t recall this ever happening with the Platinum Preppy - even after sitting unused for weeks.

The Preppy is part of the reason for the “But, …” at the top. The other part is the other choices consumers have in the under $20 price range - mainly the Pilot Kakuno and Pilot Metropolitan.

All four of these pens represent some of the best choices for fountain pen users, beginner or experienced, and I’m trying to sort out where the Prefounte lands within this group.

I think the Preppy is the best of the bunch, and also the least expensive. At either $4 or $5 (depending on the nib size), it provides the exact same writing experience and a similar feel as the $10 Prefounte. Barrel style is the only reason to pay twice as much for the Prefounte.

One of my other favorite pens in this category is the Pilot Kakuno. It is Pilot’s entry-level fun pen, and the quality is exceptional. It’s the Platinum Preppy of Pilot’s lineup when compared to the more classically styled Pilot Metropolitan.

If I’m forced to break these entry-level pens down into a ranking, it would look like this:

1. Platinum Preppy
2. Pilot Kakuno
3. Platinum Prefounte
4. Pilot Metropolitan

The good thing is that there’s no wrong choice. It’s like if I had to choose my favorite bread style. I might choose sourdough over ciabatta, but I’d gorge myself on both equally if the opportunity presented itself.

I’ve learned a few things reviewing the Prefounte. One, Platinum really knows what they are doing at this price point. Two, I probably need an Under $15 fountain pen list on the Top 5 Pens page, because there are several great choices. The Platinum Prefounte definitely makes the cut - right behind the Preppy and Kakuno.

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

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TWSBI Diamond 580 ALR Prussian Blue with Mark Bacas Predator Grind: 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.)

Last week I reviewed the TWSBI Diamond 580 in Smoke and Rose Gold with an EF nib. So, why, you might ask, am I reviewing another 580 this week? Well . . . first, because the Prussian Blue has some distinct stylistic differences from the 580 in Smoke and Rose Gold, and second, because this 580 boasts a specialty grind by Mark Bacas.

I’ll start by discussing the Prussian Blue version of the Diamond 580 and how it is distinct from the Smoke and Rose Gold. The Prussian Blue arrives in the same plastic TWSBI box.

The aluminum trims on the pen have a dark teal matte finish which is still shiny but in a subtle way.

One thing I don’t like about this version of the 580 is that the clip is plain silver rather than the gorgeous Prussian blue color. I wish they had matched the clip like they did on the Rose Gold.

Unlike the Rose Gold 580, the cap finial and grip are machine-grooved. This gives the finial a special look and provides texture on the grip for your fingers.

Although the Prussian Blue is the same size as the Rose Gold 580, it weighs slightly less: 27 grams capped, with no ink, 17.9 grams inked and unposted. The grip diameter is just a smidge larger at 11 mm. Like the Rose Gold 580, Prussian Blue holds 1.8 ml of ink and is a piston filler.

I purchased my TWSBI Diamond 580 in Prussian Blue from Mark Bacas (nibgrinder.com) and requested a Predator grind. The Predator is created from a broad nib. It is ground so that when the pen is held normally, you get an extra fine line. When you hold the pen upside down, you get a medium to broad line. It is similar to a Sailor Cross Concord but without the doubled nib.

Here are several photos showing the Predator grind from various angles:

This nib grind is so much fun! The EF point is smooth and creates lovely delicate lines. Writing examples follow:

The B point offers substantive line width (it’s not so broad that its unusable for writing) and you can use it for both cursive and print writing.

I created a mandala using this nib and Sailor Yama-dori ink. It’s really great for artwork because you can create super fine lines and use the other nib side for broad lines or for filling in.

The fact that you can get this grind on a TWSBI 580 with its huge ink capacity makes this nib more practical than the Sailor Cross Point (which only comes on Sailor pens with tiny converters). Plus, it’s almost impossible to find Sailor Cross Point nibs anymore, and if you can, they are very expensive.

You can purchase this pen from Mark Bacas for $60 (if he still has some in stock; if not, he carries other TWSBI models). The Predator grind is an additional $50.

(I purchased this TWSBI Diamond 580 in Prussian Blue with the Predator grind with my own funds.)

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Esterbrook “The Journaler” Nib Review

It’s rare when I review a stand-alone nib product on The Pen Addict, but in the case of The Journaler, I think that it is more than worthwhile to discuss.

The Journaler is a collaboration between Esterbrook and Gena Salorino, of Custom Nib Studio. The idea behind this product was to create a nib grind that would mimic the experience of a vintage Esterbrook nib. In this case, the 9314M - a classic medium stub grind.

So to get us all on the same page here: A pen company I like is working with a nibmeister I like to create a modern version of a vintage nib style that will work perfectly my handwriting.

You had me at hello.

Before I get into the performance of this nib (Spoiler: It’s great.) I want to discuss the idea of this nib. Pen companies that go out into the community to work with other creators will always get my attention, and support. It’s a sign to me that these companies get it. I love to see it, and I will love seeing this continue, not only with Esterbrook, but with other brands who do the same.

To quote from Esterbrooks product page for The Journaler:

“The idea is that it’s smooth and friendly enough for everyday use, gives your writing some flair, all without being too huge for practical writing.”

I think this description is exactly right. I’ve been able to use The Journaler regularly over the past month, and it gives a perfect medium stub line. Being a steel nib it is firm, and the line variation is moderate. Vertical strokes are wide - I’m guessing somewhere around 1.0 mm - and horizontal strokes cut the line width approximately in half to give your letters a great look.

While this nib grind is tailor-made for my block printing handwriting style, cursive writers will enjoy smooth lines and good variation as well. All in all, it’s a complete joy to write with.

The Journaler, top, vs. TWSBI 1.5 mm Stub.

I chose Robert Oster Blue Water Ice to use with this nib to see what shading I could get out of it, and it was a solid choice for that. The way stub nibs work is that the wide part of the nib on the downstroke pulls the ink down, giving the top of the line a lighter color than the bottom, where the nib lifts up and the ink pools. Shading is the best feature of fountain pen inks, in my opinion.

The Journaler has been a great nib for me, and I think many of you would like this as an option if you are looking at picking up a new Esterbrook Pen. This nib isn’t available separately, but is available as a $50 upgraded nib choice (check the dropdown) when buying a Standard or Oversized Esterbrook Estie. That puts it in line with getting a custom grind on your nib at any pen show.

I love this product, and I love this concept even more. I can’t wait to see what’s next from Esterbrook, and from other brands who are looking to work with other makers in our community.

(Kenro Industries 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, 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!