Violet Lamy Studio

[katm201]

I was walking around the Financial District in SF at lunch and went into a local office supply store for some more paper. They carry Rhodia and Clairefontaine and it's close to work, so I went in to grab some. I've glanced at their pen case before, but it's mostly Cross, so I haven't looked closely. I noticed some Safaris in the corner for the first time, took a look, and saw a Violet Studio! Totally new, uninked, with a 14k nib, and about $60 less than the Wild Rubin Studio I was eyeing (but ultimately decided not to buy) last year.

 

I'd seen some (old) reviews of the Violet Studio before and envied the color, but hadn't bothered looking for them, since it's the 2009 Special Edition and Ebay had one (used, steel nib) up for $200 when I checked.

 

So, I have a few options--it's a medium, which is broader than I wanted, but there was only one in store. Should I sell it (making a tidy profit), spend $70+ to send it to Lamy and have the nib changed out for a fine, or wait until the SF pen show and have a nibmeister grind it into something special? I'm having a hard time deciding...

[wascallyrabbit]

studios are easy to change the nibs on the use the same nibs as safari and al stars. you can buy the gold nibs separately.

did you check with lamy to see if they would do a nib exchange if you bought the pen?

[katm201]

@wascallyrabbit - First thing I did was call Lamy USA. They charge $70 to exchange the nib (same as the cost of a replacement) and won't sell the 14k ones individually. You have to send your pen in and have them replace it. You get the spare nib back, but it's a total racket, considering how easy those nibs are to change.

 

The Lamy mediums are nice (I have a Lamy 2000 in medium), but I don't have much use for multiples of that size. I use the finer nibs a lot more frequently.

[Jamerelbe]

@wascallyrabbit - First thing I did was call Lamy USA. They charge $70 to exchange the nib (same as the cost of a replacement) and won't sell the 14k ones individually. You have to send your pen in and have them replace it. You get the spare nib back, but it's a total racket, considering how easy those nibs are to change.

 

The Lamy mediums are nice (I have a Lamy 2000 in medium), but I don't have much use for multiples of that size. I use the finer nibs a lot more frequently.

 

How about another option: buy yourself a steel F nib (or EF, or whatever you please) for ~$12, so you can use the pen straight away... and work out what kind of grind you'd like on the gold nib when you visit the SF show. $70 for a straight exchange seems ridiculous - especially when (in Australia at least) you can buy a second gold nib for around US$95!

[noyesville]

Any chance of posting a photo? Being a "vintage" pen lover, I know little about modern Lamys--or modern pens in general, especially European ones. I do have a couple of Lamy 27s, but I suspect they are 30+ years old.

[katm201]

 

How about another option: buy yourself a steel F nib (or EF, or whatever you please) for ~$12, so you can use the pen straight away... and work out what kind of grind you'd like on the gold nib when you visit the SF show. $70 for a straight exchange seems ridiculous - especially when (in Australia at least) you can buy a second gold nib for around US$95!

 

It is ridiculous. The first fountain pen I ever bought myself was a Lamy Studio in blue with a fine nib, so I have that already (and I love it)--thinking about putting an EF on the violet Studio until I figure things out, like you suggested. Probably not going to sell it! I like the color too much.

[katm201]

Any chance of posting a photo? Being a "vintage" pen lover, I know little about modern Lamys--or modern pens in general, especially European ones. I do have a couple of Lamy 27s, but I suspect they are 30+ years old.

 

I don't have it with me at work today, but I'll see if I can post a picture of my (small) collection of Lamys tonight when I get home. It numbers: blue Lamy Studio (steel) F, violet Lamy Studio (14k) M, makralon Lamy 2000 M.

[katm201]

Here's a picture of all 3 of my Lamys. The blue Studio, the violet Studio, and the 2000:

 

 

 

Edited March 18, 2016 by katm201

[Thunderpants]

Well I'm jealous! Been looking for one of those.

The nibs are ca. 3 euros here in euro land so it's kind of unbelievable that Lamy charges so much for a nib swap.

Good idea to keep that thing. It's a beaut!

I have the red one and whatever that brownish colour was called in 2008. Second hand with a gold nib that was surprisingly bland. Swapped it for a plain old steel F & very nice it is too.

[katm201]

I think I'm going to get a steel XF (I already have a blue Studio with a steel F) and switch it out until I can get the 14k M ground into a fine stub. Seems like a fitting way to use such a pretty pen!