Namiki Impressions

[southpaw]

Got one? Had one? Used one? Held one? Whadda think about this pen? TIA

 

BTW, I'm talking about the Namiki pen model Impressions - sorry I wasn't clearer (laughing at myself for the easily confused title).

 

 

 

 

Edited for clarity.

Edited September 14, 2005 by southpaw

[woodwindmaster06]

I have a Vanishing Point great pen as many others would say I would be sure that all of their other products are top notch as well.

[KendallJ]

I have a Customer impressions (flat top vs. torpedo shape of the Impressions). Love it. Can't go wrong. Great nib!

[Apollo]

I recently got the chance to see a Namiki Falcon. It's not a fancy looking pen, but it sure is a smooth writer. It's definitely on my "next to get list" along with the Namiki Bamboo.

[southpaw]

I'm sorry for the confusing title - funny now, though, looking at it. I was actually trying to get opinions on the Namiki pen with the model name "Impressions," not general impressions on Namiki pens. Sorry - I edited the main post to clarify.

[antoniosz]

Impressions and Custom Impressions are AWESOME pens.

Colors are beautiful (maybe too flashy for some), the nibs are great, smooth, with touch a softness. The CI is a bit larger than the I.

These pens are EXCELLENT.

 

PS> I do carry one with me today

Edited September 14, 2005 by antoniosz

[Karin]

Is this the same as the Pilot Custom Impressions. When did the name change? Anyway, I have one and it is one of my favourites.

[Blorgy]

Pilot and Namiki are two names from the same company. For example, the Pilot Capless is also known as the Namiki Vanishing Point. I have an Impressions Medley. Its converter is larger than the one in my Pilot Capless.

[Mobybick2]

Too late to respond? I have a Namiki Impressions, green. Gorgeous pen although I wish I had the medium instead of the fine nib. Gorgeous coloring and workmanship.

[tadman]

I had a VP for two years and absolutely loved it. Fine engineering, good build quality, etc... Mine was black if I remember.

[elderberry]

I also have a VP (Raden). Great reliable pens, the nibs come in a wide selection. Only downside: rather small ink capacity.

Then there's also the maki-e pens which is where Namiki really shines. I haven't had the chance yet to hold one of their top-notch maki-e pens (and I doubt I ever will), but I own 3 "lower" priced ones: Nightline, Yozakura and Fall Flowers. The artwork is immaculate, the whole pen seems to whisper "don't look for a flaw, you won't find one" - as in opposite to some manufacturers of handmade goods who seem to say "Behold the flaws, so you can be sure it's handmade". I sometimes find it hard to imagine that someone actually painted this pen, applied the raden flakes one by one, worked on it for days on end. I never stop admiring people who are that good at what they're doing.

As for writing properties, I like the Yukari and Yukari Royale pens for their weight, which is due to their brass body. The Yukaris are rather slim, but the weight makes up for it. They come with a button-fill converter which holds quite a lot of ink. Only downside: the very limited nib choice. These pens clearly are more for being admired than actually be written with, however nice writers they are.

[Jezza]

If you can find one at a good price, I would snap it up in a heartbeat. The Custom Impressions is slightly larger, and flat-topped with a #10 nib. The regular Impressions is torpedo shaped--about the size of a Pilot 74. Both pens are made of a gorgeous material--I've heard some call it acrylic, and others insist it's actually celluloid. Regardless, it's lovely stuff. These are actually somewhat difficult to find these days, having been out of production for years.

[GemMayhem]

If you can find one at a good price, I would snap it up in a heartbeat. The Custom Impressions is slightly larger, and flat-topped with a #10 nib. The regular Impressions is torpedo shaped--about the size of a Pilot 74. Both pens are made of a gorgeous material--I've heard some call it acrylic, and others insist it's actually celluloid. Regardless, it's lovely stuff. These are actually somewhat difficult to find these days, having been out of production for years.

 

I concur that the material is gorgeous. I don't know if it is acrylic or celluloid, regardless it has a depth that is mesmerizing. Below is a Sapphire example from approximately 1997, though to me, the blue resembles the gemstone topaz more than sapphire. (Yes, Pelikan Edelstein Topaz is a fabulous ink choice for this pen. ) This one has a bold stubbish nib and is very smooth, gliding across the page.

 

 

 

All the Best,

Gem

[Jezza]

If you can find one at a good price, I would snap it up in a heartbeat. The Custom Impressions is slightly larger, and flat-topped with a #10 nib. The regular Impressions is torpedo shaped--about the size of a Pilot 74. Both pens are made of a gorgeous material--I've heard some call it acrylic, and others insist it's actually celluloid. Regardless, it's lovely stuff. These are actually somewhat difficult to find these days, having been out of production for years.

 

I concur that the material is gorgeous. I don't know if it is acrylic or celluloid, regardless it has a depth that is mesmerizing. Below is a Sapphire example from approximately 1997, though to me, the blue resembles the gemstone topaz more than sapphire. (Yes, Pelikan Edelstein Topaz is a fabulous ink choice for this pen. ) This one has a bold stubbish nib and is very smooth, gliding across the page.

 

 

 

All the Best,

Gem

 

Ugh--gorgeous! Why they quit making those things is beyond me. Who would choose a plain black 74 if he or she could have the same pen made out of that material in different colors?

[Dr.Grace]

I believe these pens were made from Italian celluloid, so most likely they made as many as they could before they ran out of the material. I've got two, one red and one green. Both beautiful! They're a little shorter than the Custom 74, but they can take the Con-70 converter so ink capacity is great.

[GemMayhem]

I'm aware of a few other commercial pens made from similar material, from Sailor and Aurora.

 

Sailor uses a similar material they call "mosaic". Here is my Sailor 1911 Standard in Green Mosaic.

 

Aurora's Optima, created with a similar material they call Auroloide, also very beautiful, is made in similar gemstone colours.

 

My Namiki Impressions Sapphire is so far my favourite of this type of material, perhaps because of the combinations of colours used. Delightfully distracting.

[hari317]

AFAIK, The Impressions used CAP cellulose acetate propionate material, the custom legance pens nowadays use this material.

 

Best

Hari