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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Posted on January 10, 2024 by Jeff Abbott and filed under Opus, Fountain Pens, Pen Reviews.

Girologio 12 Zippered Pen Case Giveaway

I posted a big overview of Girologio pen cases yesterday, and have one of those cases to give away today, courtesy of my friends at Luxury Brands USA. The 12 Pen Zip Case in Bomber Brown was my favorite of the group I shared, so I’m glad I get to give that case away this week. To enter, read the rules below, and I’ll announce the winner on Saturday.

Posted on January 9, 2024 by Brad Dowdy and filed under Girologio, Giveaways.

How Many Pens Can Girologio Cases Hold? All Of Them.

When you reach a certain point in the pen hobby, you begin to think about how to store, carry and protect your pens. What is that certain point? One pen. At least that’s when I started thinking about how I want to protect my favorite writing instrument. But what if you have more? Like 96 pens maybe? Then Girologio is a brand you need to check out.

Of course, most people don’t need a case that holds 96 pens (y’all hush your collective mouths!🤪) but Girologio has many different options for all of your carrying and protecting needs.

*Lamy Safari for scale, in many of these pictures.*

First up is the Triple Top Flap Case, which is the smallest of the cases I’m looking at today. As the name states, this case holds three pens, and does a nice job covering them individually from top to bottom. The slots easily hold some of my wider pens, too, although I don’t have any of the classic large pens (Montblanc 149-ish,) to test with.

If there is any hangup, it is when the long flap is open. It’s certainly secure when tucked in the front, but you will likely want to tuck it under the back to save space on your desk or table when open. At $22, it provides a good value for a portable pen case.

Going in pen slot number order, the Grab N Go 4 Pen Case might be the most unique of this batch. It is more than a pen case, with spots for an A6-sized notebook, pocket notebook, 4 pens, 7 credit card-sized slots, a small snap pouch, and a keychain loop on the interior. Whew! There is so much going on that I forgot to even take pictures of the card slots, so check out the product pictures in the link above.

*Notebooks on the right. Card slot divider in the middle.*

What I was mostly concerned with were the pen slots, and the notebook storage. I have to say, the Grab N Go handled everything perfectly. Since there are only 4 pen loops, there is plenty of room for pens of any size. Even some of my widest acrylic barrel pens with roll stops fit without issue. And inside the back, I fit a Midori MD A6 notebook underneath the flexible flap, and a Field Notes in the top slot.

The drawback with this case is the size. It is chonky! I think that is ok for the most part, because this isn’t a case you are going to buy on a whim. It is purpose built, and it is clear what you are getting going into it. For $56, you are getting a lot.

Next up is the 12 Pen Zip Case, which features loops for six pens on each side of the case, with a fabric-covered divider to separate and protect the pens from touching each other when the case is closed. When open, the flap lays on either the left of right side, leaving the opposite side open and accessible.

This case is useful for those who want to carry a good amount of pens in a compact, and protected fashion. This case can easily fit in a bag or backpack, and not cause too much of a fuss. The $44 price tag makes it a great option for exactly that.

With those standard options out of the way, Girologio steps it up in a big way, starting with the 48 Slot Zip Case. If you have ever been to a pen show, this is the type of case you see at many tables, and maybe even at the bar late at night. This case means business, and it handles that business perfectly.

Each side of the case holds 24 pens, with a removable velcro divider on the left side of the case that protects the pens when zipped shut. The dual bands for each pen slot are fixed, but flexible enough to hold many diameters of pens. They hold smaller and narrower pens comfortably and securely as well, even when closed due to the divider.

*Pro: removable dividers. Con: velcro bumping up against the pens in the left-most slots. I’d consider leaving those slots empty when moving the case around frequently.*

While big, I wouldn’t say it is bulky. It’s a stand-alone product for sure, and won’t fit into any other bag easily outside of your luggage, but is super functional for those who want to carry a large number of pens. This case runs $103, and comes in several color and material varieties.

In my time traveling to pen shows I’ve seen a wide variety of carry, storage, and display options, including all of the options above. What I haven’t seen is what’s next on my list, the 96 Pen Briefcase Carrying Case. And you know what? It is awesome!

Not many people need something like this in their life, but if you do, I imagine you are very happy with what Girologio has done here. In a nutshell, this is two of their 48 pen cases attached in such a way to open and display half of the pens, or all 96 at once. On top of that, it zips and folds up nicely, with the added benefit of telescoping briefcase handles for easy carrying. It is quite the spectacle, and at $230, it’s a great fit for the right person.

Girologio has expanded their lineup greatly since I first became aware of them several years ago. From single pen cases, up to the 96 pen standout shown above, they have most of the bases covered in the pen storage realm. They are worth checking out the next time you are looking for storage, portability, and protection for your pens.

(Luxury Brands USA loaned these products at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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