Lamy Nexx M - Anthracite

[Phormula]

OK, let me give a second attempt at reviewing a FP

 

I bought this pen in a department store in Essen (Germany) while on a business trip. The initial idea was to buy a black Lamy Safari or a silver Lamy Al-star. However, when I was at the store, I saw the Nexx, tried a little bit holding in my hand and found the grip section to be more comfortable than the Safari. What also surprised me is the fact that the Nexx is very light. The price was and a little less than 20 Euro, slightly higher than the Safari but well within my budget. I could have saved a couple Euros purchasing the standard Nexx instead of the M version. The only difference between the two lies in the cap, the Nexx has a bright colored (red, green, blue or pink) cap molded in one single piece of plastic, while the Nexx M has a plastic cap with a metal clip. Given the fact that I am going to use the pen to jot down notes in business meetings and the standard Nexx with the blue cap was available only with B (broad) and LH (lefthander) nib, I went for the more "serious" looking "M" version. The pen was in a pen stand, with a barcode sticker a single blue cartridge paper ring in the barrel to prevent the cartridge from being used. There was no packaging and no converter. The counter offered a paper pouch in case the pen was intended to be a gift. The Nexx M is available in orange or anthracite cap color (all the rest is the same). I bought the second one.

 

1. Appearance and design - 10

I love Lamy design, but I am a fan of Bauhaus. I like the simplicity of the lines and the fact that form follows function. But I also understand that a lot of people prefer more classic lines. The good thing of the FP market nowadays is that we have a lot of choices and to me it is far better to own a few pen that have a design that I love, knowing that some other people might find the design "horrible" at least, than to own a bunch of pens that I don't dislike but at the same time do not turn me on. So the vote is based on my personal taste, I like the Nexx M a lot.

The Nexx has two characteristic features. One is the big, oversized cap, with a hole in the clip that potentially allow to use the pen in a necklace. The cap is really a "love or hate" thing, I like it but some people might find it annoying. The other feature is the aluminum barrel. This is triangular at the end and becomes round at the screwing point. I like it, because it prevents the pen from rolling if left unposted, but of course it is not as effective in doing so as a faceted pen. The pen itself is very light, most of the weight is in the cap, the barrel is made of aluminum and the grip is similar to the Safari one, except for the finish, which is matt. All Nexx have the same grip and barrel, the only difference is the cap. Actually the weight is a surprise, the appearance of the pen makes it feel more heavy than it actually is.

 

2. Construction and quality – 9

Considering the street price, the Nexx M is reasonably well made. The parts fit together properly and the injection mold closure lines are well dissimulated, leaving a good level of perceived quality in the user. The light weight may disappoint some, but for me this was a bonus and a reason for choice. Like the Al-star, I believe the aluminum barrel to be quite sensitive to scratches and dents if care is not taken and the pen is carried in a pouch with other pens, but this is not my case because I use a Giorgio Fedon leather with internal dividers.

I hope a parenthesis here. While using the pen a few day after, I saw some cricular "spots" on the aluminum barrel that I did not notice in the shop. At the beginning I thought of spots similar to the ones left by small drops of water and I tried cleaning the pen, without success. Upon close examination they seemed to surface finish defects, like the painting over the aluminum came out. Their size (about 1 mm) and shape (round) exclude they are due to scratching or other misbehavior. Since coming back to Germany and going to the shop was not feasible, I wrote an e-mail to Lamy and about one week later I got a replacement barrel in the mail. Could be that the surface was not perfectly clean when the paint was applied over the metal and the paint came off at a later stage. Given the way the issue was handled by Lamy, I consider this an accident that might happen on a mass market product and does not detract from the evaluation of the pen.

 

3. Weight and dimensions – 9

I am repeating myself here, but the Nexx is very lightweight. To me, this was reason of choice, but others might disagree. Don't buy this pen if you want something that feels substantial in your hands. I have taken some pictures of it compared to a Lamy Vista, to allow an easy referencing. I don't post my pens when writing, but it can be done. Actually I guess the pen is not meant to be used posted. Since the barrel becomes narrower and triangular at the end, when the cap is inserted for posting, there is a significant play, unless the barrel is forced a bit into the cap.

 

4. Nib and Performance – 9

I bought the pen with an M nib because the only available choices were M, B and LH. The pen stand was almost empty and I guess the other sizes (F and EF) had been sold. At the moment I am satisfied with the nib, but if I decide to move to the F size, like I have on the Vista, the nib is the same of the Safari – Al-star range, hence there is plenty of choices.

Performance of the nib is the same of a Safari with a similar nib. I am not going into too much details because the Safari is a well known pen on FPN and the performance of the Nexx is comparable. I can really see no difference in the nib and feeding performance. Compared to other brands, Lamy nibs are a little bit on the larger size, maybe others M nib users will prefer a F nib to get comparable performance. Overall it is a good performer with a plus point over the Safari, and my main reason for choice. The grip of the Nexx is a little larger and a little rounder than the Safari. This feature makes the pen a little more comfortable for me to hold and a little more forgiving if it is not held with the hand exactly in the right way. I know that the triangular Safari grip is a love-hate affair, it could be either extremely comfortable or a pain to use according to the relationship between the hand of the user and the triangular grip. The Nexx is still triangular but it is slightly larger in diameter and the edges of the triangle are more rounded, making it, as I said, a little more forgiving in handling.

I have added a written sample (lamy Nexx M - M nib - Lamy blue - Fabriano 90 g/m2 5 mm squared paper).

 

5. Filling system and maintenance - 7

No issue, here. I just unscrewed the barrel, removed the paper ring, screwed it back and the cartridge went into place. The pen started writing immediately and has shown no issue since then. I am using it with Lamy erasable blue cartridges. I have run about 10 cartridges trough it without problems. The pen is compatible with the Z24 converter. I will stick to cartridges because of my all around writing but I am considering moving to blue-black , because I find Lamy blue a little washed out. The proprietary format of Lamy cartridges is the weakest point, I am stuck with a limited range of choices and Lamy cartridges seem to have a shorter "shelf life" (i.e. higher evaporation) than other brands. After three years in my attic I have found some cartridges containing 2/3 of the original blue ink, which at the end for me it was a bonus, because the ink was more saturated.

 

6. Conclusions – Overall Rating - 9

I would give this pen a solid 9. I was looking for a good all rounder, a pen that I can use almost daily and I can bring with me while travelling, providing a good performance for a reasonable price. If it gets MIA or KIA I'd simply get one. So far I had not been disappointed, the pen does what it says and does it well. If you want Safari performance with a different design, a more comfortable (for some) grip, and a comparable price tag, here is the Nexx.

One last point, those of you that like to have sets (i.e. FP, BP, RB and MP of the same design) might be disappointed. The Lamy is one of a kind, no matching BP or writing instruments. For me it is a no brainer, I carry it in the leather pouch with a Parker Reflex BP and a Pilot MP to meet all my writing and pen lending needs, but it is something to know.

Edited March 20, 2011 by watch_art

[Phormula]

Let me try to load the pictures

[nicholasyeo]

One of the best colours in the Nexx range. Sleek and utilitarian!

[Phormula]

I agree, and this was one of my reasons for choice. The color makes it suitable for use in a business environment. However, I have recently acquired the Orange version as well. I was thinking whether to replace the M nib that came with the Nexx with a F one. Then I realized that the price for the replacement nib was around 5 Euro while the price for a new Orange Lamy Nexx M equipped with a F nib was about 10 Euro more, so I decided to go for a second one. I haven't used the Orange one yet, the paper ring prenventing the cartridge from entering into operation is still there.

Since the only difference between the Orange and the Antracite version is the cap, I can have the whole combination of nibs and colors by swapping the caps. :roflmho:

Edited March 20, 2011 by Phormula

[piembi]

Oh no!

 

This is the second review I read within this weekend - and both reviewer liked this very Nexx a lot. This could make me look out for one that might join my Safaris as an everyday toss around pen .... :bonk:

[Alohamora]

Good review and photos. I find the cap design a little strange. But the very comfortable grip more than makes up for the cap design.

[CatBookMom]

Nice review, well done! You make this a tempting pen to add to my collection of Lamy's. And your handwriting is very nice, a stylish look.

 

If you can pick up a syringe with a blunt needle, like the ones that Goulet Pens offers here, you can choose any bottled ink you like and refill the Lamy cartridges you have used up. I had some old Lamy cartridges in red and emptied a couple for using with other inks - I caution you that the red Lamy ink is very difficult to get off your fingers,

Edited April 21, 2011 by CatBookMom

[Phormula]

Thank you.

 

The handwriting is actually the first paragraph of a famous Italian novel from Alessandro Manzoni, i "Promessi Sposi" Every Italian secondary school students knows this piece (or at least part of it) by heart.

[LexieS]

I have an orange Lamy Nexx M as well. I purchased mine with an xf nib. I really like that I can attach the pen to my lanyard at work and not have to worry about having a pocket to put a fp in.

[pelikan500]

Since the only difference between the Orange and the Antracite version is the cap, I can have the whole combination of nibs and colors by swapping the caps. :roflmho:

 

Hi Phormula .. you have both colours ...when you use the orange one & take of its cap, see that the grip section is non-matching, i.e. black .. is it odd to you? ..

 

i like the orange colour ..just not sure about non-matching section colour ...i think it will better if its orange or grey colour (matching to me) ...

 

having said that, matching also can mean having a black grip but aluminium cap that matches the aluminium barrel ...

not available locally, so have to order on-line .. just don't like to have things i won't be using ... and simply ordering one just to test if i like it seems wastefully indulgent .. hmmm

Edited April 22, 2011 by pelikan500

[Phormula]

The grip section is identical for the Nexx (one piece plastic cap) and the Nexx M ("luxury" , aluninium and plastic cap) it is the same grey rubber. Actually since I bought the last Anthracite available in the shop and it was a left hand nib, the shop owner instead of swapping the nib, swapped the cap with another Nexx, showing me that the feeding section and the rear barrel ends were identical.

[pelikan500]

The grip section is identical for the Nexx ... and the Nexx M ... same grey rubber. ....feeding section and the rear barrel ends were identical.

 

 

Hi Phormula ...i think you misunderstood my query ... not really addressed my concerns, no worries ..

yes i undertsand that the parts are interchangeable with Nexx & Nexx M ...

 

i was asking does it look odd that the Orange Cap & Black Grip Section are (to me) not so matching ?...

 

i think i will just trust my instincts ... that it is not "matching" & not order the orange one ...cheers

[Phormula]

Well, as I said the Nexx cap is a love and hate affair. If you want to stay on the "classic" side, forget about the colors... ok "classic" is not the right word to speak of the Nexx, let's put this way. The Anthracite version is the more understated one, iti is just a pen with an odd cap. In orange you have a pen with an odd cap and an odd color. The orange version is quite a light orange color and adds a nice touch of color to everyday life. The all plastic cap, color versions, IMHO are more orientated towards school use.

 

Speaking about the matching between the grey grip and the cap, IMHO the best matching option is with the orange cap, because they are contrasting colors that match well together, even in dressing. The anthracite cap is a little darker than the grip section and IMHO the contrasting match orange/gray is better than dark gray/light gray, but this is very personal. Of course you have to like orange as a colour and you have to use the pen in an environment that appreciates or at least tolerates, oddity in a pen. If you work in a "black suit, white shirt, black pen" environment, then the Nexx is not the right writing tool, even the anthracite one.

 

Personally, I love orange (I have also a Faber Castell Ondoro in orange), because I consider it a joyful color, not so aggressive like red and not so noticeable as yellow. I am glad Lamy made such a color combination. Actually I am using the anthracite Nexx at home and the orange one on the move. I have bought a Giorgio Fedon matching orange case for the orange Nexx that perfectly matches the pen and allows me to bring it around together with a ballpoint without scratching it. Markiaro (Delta) has also a nice orange leather pen case. If I knew about the orange one, most likely I would not had bought the anthracite, even if I am glad I have two (M and F) good pens that I can interchange by swapping the cap. So, my recommendation is, if you like orange as a color and you feel comfortable writing with an orange pen in your work/private environment, go for it, otherwise stay on the "classic" side and go for the anthracite. You can't go wrong with either.

 

Hope it helps

[pelikan500]

.... So, my recommendation is, if you like orange as a color and you feel comfortable writing with an orange pen in your work/private environment, go for it, otherwise stay on the "classic" side and go for the anthracite. You can't go wrong with either.

 

Hope it helps

 

Yes it helps, thanks .... i also like the Orange colour very much ...it stands out without being so loud as red ...agreed ...

when i first saw the pictures before the pen was released ... i actually liked the orange one better than the black

but as more pictures were released ... i saw that the orange cap came with the grey grip ...not so matching for me ...

but after your detailed reply now ... i may reconsider getting it after all ...my kids may like that combo ....cheers

 

[Phormula]

Yes, for sure your kids will love it far more than the grey-anthracite-grey combo, which is far more "serious" (well, as far as Lamy Nexx can be :ltcapd: ), but is a little bit annoying in the long run. The world is already full of serious pens, let's add some color to life.

 

And if your kids want something even more colorful, scan e-bay and you can buy a replacement cap in pink, green, blue or red. Actually the Lamy with the all plastic cap here in Europe can be found often at a lower price than a Safari.