Pilot Metro Vs Cocoon

[gbee]

Was looking at some pens and wanted to know if someone knows the difference between the Metro and the Cocoon. They appear very similar to my newbie eyes.

[Cognaticrotty]

look rather similar to me........ -shrug.

[UK Mike]

Was looking at some pens and wanted to know if someone knows the difference between the Metro and the Cocoon. They appear very similar to my newbie eyes.

 

As far as I can tell, the pens are basically the same design except for the colours and some finishing and packaging details.

 

I think Cocoon is the name for the pen in Japan, Metropolitan in the USA and MR in the UK.

 

There are some other subtle differences - the MR is adapted for International cartridges and converters, the Metro and Cocoon use the Pilot cartridge.

Metro and MR are otherwise identical in terms of finish - both reportedly have alloy bodies.

Cocoon apparently has an ABS resin body (I don't have one so can't check, this was from an eBay ad)

 

I am of course prepared to be corrected as some of this is from deduction - I have an MR only

Edited February 14, 2013 by UK Mike

[gbee]

I just saw both for sale at JetPens, there is a difference in price, so left me wondering.

[UK Mike]

I just saw both for sale at JetPens, there is a difference in price, so left me wondering.

Yes I'd noticed that - the Cocoon appears to be priced higher for no apparent reason other than the different finish. Certainly they DO seem to have metal barrels etc - so maybe they are made to be heavier? I would stick with the Metropolitan at 1/3 of the price of the Cocoon.

[memora]

They are same pens for different markets , and the difference I believe lies in nibs. Metropolitan comes only in M nib, while cocoon has different sizes other than M

[cake2le]

If the difference is just nibs, it seems like a better deal to buy a metro and a penmanship or 78g and do a nib swap.

[studiohead]

The definitive answer is that the following.

 

There are a total of 4 versions of the pen. Namely Cocoon (For Japanese Market), Metropolitan (For US Market), MR (For Euro market) and MR (For others)

 

The Cocoon is more expensive because the Japanese market is selling it at 3,150 Yen. Has a full range of Mechanical Pencil, Ballpoint, Rollerball and Fountain Pen, has 2 colors not sold elsewhere which is Titanium and Blue and has both Fine & Medium. The Band comes in 1 design which is no patten. This is sold without a converter and comes with 1 ink cartridge.

 

The Metropolitan is the cheapest at USD$16 comes with 3 colors and 3 band designs, which is no patten, dots and lines. Only in Medium

 

The MR (For Euro Market) I am not so sure of the band designs but uses a standard international cartridge instead of the pilot version for all other markets. Also limited to the 3 colors. I am not so sure about Nib size

 

The MR (For other Markets) is selling for SGD$32, comes in a single band design which is dots and 3 colors. Comes both in Medium and Fine and includes a Pilot Converter (A cheaper version of the CON-20)

[tguk911]

I emailed Jet Pens a week ago and this is what they told me which is what everyone else is saying.

Thanks for your e-mail and interest in our products.

 

The Pilot Metropolitan and Cocoon fountain pens are very similar in design and function, however there are a few key differences which I have listed below:

 

- The Pilot Metropolitan was created specifically for the western market, while the Cocoon is exclusive to, and imported from Japan.

 

- The Pilot Metropolitan is only available with a medium nib, while the Cocoon is available in fine and medium nibs versions.

 

- The Cocoon has different color versions, and does not have the same Dot and Zig Zag designs available compared to the Metropolitan.

 

For all intensive purposes, the only real difference between the two are the body colors, nib sizes, and price point. Since the Cocoon is exclusive to Japan, it is pricier than the more common Metropolitan pen. Please let us know if you need further assistance.

 

Have a great day!

 

Best,

Elizabeth

JetPens

[tomkeb]

The MR for Europe comes in black with no pattern, silver with dots and gold with zigzag… and the nib is only M. http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/1140/brec.png

[tomkeb]

Ha, I found a MR/Metropolitan with <F> nib for sale finally… It might be interesting for some of you.

[tomkeb]

I summed it up a comparison table for variations of this pen.

[Vintage Razor]

I just received the Pilot MR Asian and European versions today. I do like the European version for the fact it uses the standard International cartridges/converter.

[conib]

From which vendor did you buy your Euro version MR?

[Vintage Razor]

From which vendor did you buy your Euro version MR?

The Writing Desk..

 

http://www.thewritingdesk.co.uk/showproduct.php?brand=Pilot&range=MR+Series&cat=pens

[conib]

The Writing Desk..

 

http://www.thewritingdesk.co.uk/showproduct.php?brand=Pilot&range=MR+Series&cat=pens

 

Thanks for posting the link ... and they have a good shipping rates to the US, too.

 

But I do wish they also carried the Pilot France calligraphy Plumix series (black bodies, stub nibs sized EF through BB). Then they'd be a perfect vendor.

;-)

 

My Asian MR fine point from Stationery Arts arrived in yesterday's mail. (So yes, it looks like I did actually snag their last one.)

 

-- Constance

[Pen_Samurai]

I may be wrong, but I was under the impression that the metropolitan was a plastic body. Is this wrong?

 

Also the Cocoon comes in a BP and MP. Does the Metro come in the same varieties?

[brunico]

But I do wish they also carried the Pilot France calligraphy Plumix series (black bodies, stub nibs sized EF through BB). Then they'd be a perfect vendor.

;-)

 

I'm sure this is down to Pilot's UK distributor: I know they limit the range of Pilot stuff available here.

 

There are sellers in continental Europe with everything from BB to EF. Beware the pictures: most show the Penmanship-style body with the yellow fins on the cap, but you're likely to get the newer Plumix that looks like a squid. Not a problem for me, as I was just after the nib.

 

Plumixes from Europe (including the UK) take normal cartridges and converters, but Penmanships are Pilot-only. And despite the fact you can get every Plumix on the continent, it's M nibs only in the UK. For some unknown reason.

 

I really appreciate Pilot's less expensive pens - and they can give italics from most manufacturers a run for their money - but their distribution makes no sense.

[conib]

 

Beware the pictures: most show the Penmanship-style body with the yellow fins on the cap, but you're likely to get the newer Plumix that looks like a squid.

 

Thanks for the alert! The F-nibbed one I have must be the older style. Its cap and barrel is, as you say, identical to the Penmanship.

 

I prefer the smooth Penmanship barrel as I find the feel of the ridges on the Plumix barrel somewhat distracting. (And unfortunately the sections on the Plumix and the Penmanship pens available here in the US are different -- the barrel threads aren't the same, and so the barrels can't be swapped between them.)

 

I agree that Pilot's distribution is odd! Sometimes this kind of senseless business behavior is due to what my father would have called the Peter Principle; if so we'll just have to wait until there's a staff turnover -- and then hope for the best.

;-)

[Vintage Razor]

I may be wrong, but I was under the impression that the metropolitan was a plastic body. Is this wrong?

 

Also the Cocoon comes in a BP and MP. Does the Metro come in the same varieties?

 

The Metropolitan has a metal body.