Graf Von Faber-Castell Intuition Terra

[visvamitra]

After few years of presence on pen forums I amassed a sizable collection of unnecessary things. As the collection of pens and inks grew I had to evict my dog and cat to make more place for pens and to sell my Darling Wife to finance expensive hobby.

 

Okay, It seems I got carried away and you’re right to think my claims are exagerrated.

 

They are.

 

Dog has stayed.

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Someone has to keep an eye on the pens while I'm gone.

 

And now on more serious note

Over the last few years I tried quite a few fountain pens and even more inks. I am rather surprised I haven’t drowned in the sea of ink. Anyway every few months I sit and start the process of "cleaning" the collection, and usually there’s no mercy when I start. If the pen is out of use and nothing indicates the situation will change in foreseeeable future, I resell it or give it to someone. Only few pens are still with me since I bought them. To give you an example – I used to have nice flock of Watermans (more than ten, maybe thirteen?), today I don’t have a single one (on the other hand, my wife has two, and as she doesn’t write with a fountain pen, it is as if I had them myself). It’s the same with Sheaffers. I used to like them and use them but things have changed. Bye, bye white dots.

The pens that stay with me are the ones I find intriguing or pleasing. It can be ergonomics, design or filling-system that keeps the pen in my flock. When it comes to Faber-Castell / Graf von Faber-Castell I have a problem. Usually I enjoy them a lot but on some days I look at them and shake my head with disbelief asking myself what on earth made me buy them? Yes. Their design is rather unique and it won’t captivate everyone’s attention nor will it delight everyone. Anyway most Fc and GvFC are still with me and recently I’ve recruited another German to my gang. Graf von Faber-Castell Terra was intriguing me for quite some time. Google thinks it’s rather good fountain pen, I took it’s (and many reviewers) word for it and took a chance.

I’ve bought this pen from one of FPNers. The price was reasonable, communication was great. After a week I’ve received the pen in perfect condition. After closer inspection I nodded in appreciation. Terra finish looks great. And the pen is rather elegant. Of course this is still a typical Graf von Faber-Castell. My feelings toward it are somewhat ambiguous. There are days when I can’t understand what I saw in this massive chunk of plastic (sorry, precious resin)

http://imageshack.com/a/img905/2797/2vDlpu.jpg

Intuition Terra

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Let's be honest, Graf von Faber-Castell products aren’t known for flowing lines and aerodynamic shape. They are in fact quite clumsy and angular. But there’s something catchy to them. Let’s take a look at Intuition Terra.

 

The style of the Intuition series is unmistakable, with its characteristic trumpet shape, the ribbed surface of the end cap, and the spring-loaded clip. The finely fluted barrel is made of a single piece of material, no screw joint interrupts the elegant and pure shape. The combination of earth-coloured barrel with a black cap, polished to a nice finish, makes an attractive adjunct to more classic (Black, Ivoiry) Intuition models. The springloaded clip of Graf von Faber-Castell pens is very characteristic, it adorns (or disfigures – opinions are divided) big friction fit cap that closes onto the barrel with an audible click. The words “hand made in Germany” are engraved in the platinum-plated ring that decorates the open end of the cap. It is said that manufacturing process involves over a hundred steps, most of them carried out by hand of GvFC employees.

 

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Interesting thing about the pen is the fact it doesn’t have section. There is a slight depression on the barrel where the fingers would hold the pen, this adds to the comfort of writing with the pen. It’s quite nice but I have one issue with this pen.

Ergonomics

 

Well, it’s not Lamy. Intuition is rather fat pen. The barrel diameter is large and it took me some time to get used to writing with this pen. The first day was frustrating. My hands tired after 10-15 minutes of using Intuition. Around third day I’ve managed to reprogram my brain to Inuition mode that allows me to write with Terra in coordinated and pleasant way. It’s not the best choice for people with small hands.

Construction

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Top notch.

Nib

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The nib is 18-carat gold nib, run in by hand, has two tones that look well although personally I would prefer rhodium coated nib. I find the nib too small. It doesn’t really look proportional to me (compared to rather big pen). On the other hand it’s great nib, as all FC/GvFC nibs I’ve tried so far. The pen writes very smoothly and offers generous flow. It takes very little effort to deliver a great line of ink. It may happen I will soon receive Montblac Red Chalk bottle. If this will really happen Terra and this pen will make great couple.

Writing Sample

Paper: Lyreco Budget, 60 g; ink - Rouille d'Ancre, J. Herbin

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Filling system

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Cartridge / converter but not your usual one. The section is contained inside the barrel. When the metal knob on the end of the barrel is rotated anti-clockwise the section “unscrews” from the barrel. The nib has a screw fit, and inserts into a metallic sleeve that has threads which synchronize with the inner threads on the barrel, both ending up with octagonal cross sections. The converter has a metallic band which friction-fits into the nib section. GvFC converter has reasonably high ink capacity of 0.8 – 0.9 ml. Still, I would prefer it to be piston-filler.

Competition

Intuition isn’t cheap - in Poland it’s MSRP is around 1500 - 1600 PLN (+/- 400 $). I managed to buy a pen for much better price but not everyone will find great deals. Is it worth its MSRP? Well, the competition in this price range is big, strong and highly diversified. Graf von Faber-Castell makes great pens, but Aurora, Omas, Pelikan, Visconti make equally good and interesting pens. My impression is that Intuition is not the most competitive pen in this price range, but it’s well engineered and intriguing pen nevertheless.

Summary

So far I'm pleased with Graf von Faber-Castell. This pen is very distinctive and unusual. It is not perfect, but I like it.

Pros:

• Quality
• Design
• Nib

Cons:

• Price
• Nib should be bigger
• Barrel diameter will be too big for some people to write comfortably

Edited December 1, 2015 by visvamitra

[Sagarb]

What an extraordinary lookin' pen it is...and the nib..ohh. mind blowing .and overall ..your splendid photography..great .congrats for this tremendous review....

[Lam1]

Thanks for the great review and nice photos. I had a good laugh with your introduction .

 

The Intuition is a very beautiful pen.

My wife has the Terra and I have the Elemento (I guess), which has the same design - I say I guess because my brand new Elemento came with the filling system defective, the part that should be attached to the inner barrel of the pen came off because it was initially too tight, the vendor didn't really offer any help and it's off to Germany for repair (two and half months already).

 

I do like the GvFCs a lot, although I agree that they are a bit overpriced. But there are good deals out there (and there are other brands even more overpriced). However, some of my impressions are different from yours due to the fact that I prefer larger and heavier pens, such as the Pelikans M1000 and M800. I actually think the Intuition is on the verge of being too short, but I like the fat barrel. I never thought that the nib wasn't proportional, perhaps because I see it as a small pen. GvFC nibs are among the smoothest I've seen and I hope to get my hands on a few more soon .

 

Enjoy you pens.

Edited December 1, 2015 by Lam1

[Algester]

i have yet to acquire a price for GvFC Classic Anello Ebony... though I have yet to know the price... here in the PH with it's absence of GvFC products and so are the prices (I'm not happy with an estimated cost since that has a 20USD error margin here more or less lucky if exact unlucky if it isnt)

Edited December 1, 2015 by Algester

[Tas]

So lovely to see a pen review from you.

 

I trust your ink reviews completely and feel the same way with your pen ones.

 

Thank you.

 

(Any chance you have a Lamy 2000 to hand? It's Christmas and I hear one with an EF nib calling my name . . .)

[hari317]

wonderful pictures, really enjoyed. thanks!

[mehandiratta]

i love your review.....

amazing pics... justice done to the pen....

 

I am sure the deal that you got on the pen made it worthwhile...

And i totally agree with you that the nib is small for the size of the pen....

[visvamitra]

@Tas - I've made Lamy 2000 review in polsih some time ago Maybe with google translate it will be legible? I would like to translate it one day but as english isn't my first language it's usually quite time-consumming and it definitely won't happen before christmas :/ Anyway I enjot Lamy 2000 a lot. It used to be my favourite pen but lately I barely use it. I still consider it to be stunning pen but I write mostly with italians If you'll be able to find good deal on the pen it shouldn't disappoint you.

[Tas]

Excellent !!

You tipped me over the edge, yet again, and I just bought an old F nibbed version on ebay for £66.

That's Christmas sorted.

I'll let you know my thoughts on the pen when it arrives.

 

Thanks visvamitra.

[J85909266]

The only thing about this pen that I cannot abide is that tiny nib on such a fat barrel. It is an aesthetic pet peeve of mine that is an automatic deal breaker.

[jar]

The only thing about this pen that I cannot abide is that tiny nib on such a fat barrel. It is an aesthetic pet peeve of mine that is an automatic deal breaker.

But there is a cure for your pet peeve.

 

http://www.fototime.com/09EBE18E95219D2/large.jpg

[visvamitra]

Nice cure.

[jar]

Nice cure.

Thanks. I have the Terra Cotta and also the Ebony Intuitions as well as the Grenadillo Platino but it is the Terra Cotta and Ebony Intutions that get the majority of pocket time even if the nibs are smaller.

[Lam1]

Thanks. I have the Terra Cotta and also the Ebony Intuitions as well as the Grenadillo Platino but it is the Terra Cotta and Ebony Intutions that get the majority of pocket time even if the nibs are smaller.

Jar, is there a pen that you don't have?

I have been looking at several of your posts with pics of your pens and wow, your collection is amazing. Congratulations!

(By the way, your reviews of the Sheaffers Legacy Heritage made me want one badly...)

[jar]

Jar, is there a pen that you don't have?

I have been looking at several of your posts with pics of your pens and wow, your collection is amazing. Congratulations!

(By the way, your reviews of the Sheaffers Legacy Heritage made me want one badly...)

I actually don't have that large an accumulation, many member here have more of a single model than I have all told but I've been accumulating them for well over a half century now so many different marques are represented.

 

And yeah, the Legacy family of pens certainly are among my favorites.

[lurcho]

Blimey! I like everything about that pen.

 

I thought you were going to deliver a blasting verdict, and I was afraid of getting to the end.

[sannidh]

What a wonderful review of one of my favourite pens. I agree with you on the nib size, but really it's not that small either. Actually, I would prefer this pen to be a handy companion compared to other large nibbed pens.

 

Enjoy your intuition

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3IfUp77HFXU/VaneucQwuSI/AAAAAAAAE1Q/ywtzuSmqxKQ/s1600/GvFC%2B018.jpg

Edited December 2, 2015 by soniknitr

[Iittala]

Great review and beautiful pictures.

I do agree that the nib is too small in proportion to the pen.

[rafapa]

It's posible to exchage the nib assembly between de resin and wood models?

Edited December 2, 2015 by rafapa

[jar]

It's posible to exchage the nib assembly between de resin and wood models?

No. Feed and section are entirely different.