Current line-up of Platinum Vicoh models (Dec 2020)

The prices of the models designated with a PTL prefix have been raised significantly by the manufacturer this year, with the Kanazawa gold leaf models going to ¥20,000+tax (up from ¥15,000+tax in Platinum's 2019–2020 catalogue) and Modern Maki-e models going to ¥18,000+tax (up from ¥12,000).

 

The previously top-of-the-line ‘Kaga’ Hira Maki-e models (PTL-20000 with no suffix), and undecorated models (PTL-10000 and PTL-5000A) on the other end of the product line, have been discontinued. The Vicoh Sheep (PS-10000N) range was also discontinued.

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/gallery/image/1872-vicoh-models-in-platinums-online-catalogues-—-2019-2020-vs-dec-2020/

 

It seems to me like they got also new product numbers (or that's actually price and not product number?) following price changes or how to explain differences?

Few examples:

 

Platinum  PTL-12000M #18 became PTL-18000M #12  (Crane & Mt. Fuji)  ¥12,000 -> ¥18,000 (but why also from  #18 to #12 or that's just nib difference?)

Platinum  PTL-12000M #31 became PTL-18000M #31 (Bush Warbler)       ¥12,000 -> ¥18,000

Platinum  PTL-15000H #58 became PTL-20000H #58 (Red Mt. Fuji)         ¥15,000 -> ¥20,000

And so on ...

 

19 hours ago, Saint said:

It seems to me like they got also new product numbers (or that's actually price and not product number?)

 

It isn't a case of either-or. The (Japanese domestic market) MSRP, exclusive of consumption tax, in yen is encoded in each model's product number as intended. If you're a dealer ordering a pen from Platinum, there is no question whether you will be receiving a unit from old stock of the Vicoh Modern Maki-e that Platinum was previously selling at a lower price, if you specify PTL-18000M#12 in the product number.

 

19 hours ago, Saint said:

Platinum  PTL-12000M #18 became PTL-18000M #12  (Crane & Mt. Fuji)  ¥12,000 -> ¥18,000 (but why also from  #18 to #12 or that's just nib difference?)

 

I don't know from where you got the #12 suffix. I just had a look at the current catalogue, and Platinum continues to use #18 to designate the Crane & Mt. Fuji variant. PTL-18000M#18-2 is the full product number for the Fine-nibbed variant, and PTL-18000M#18-3 the Medium-nibbed variant, if I'm not mistaken.

Thank you for your explanation regarding product number.

#12 is in my personal copy/paste notes, but I can't find a source anymore, so it's quite possible that I messed up something. I will research further.

 

As a side note, there's noticeable difference between my old Crane & Mt. Fuji (purchased some years ago) and new Crane & Mt. Fuji (purchased this year).

Check nib printing and ring around the nib (new one is on the left). Interestingly all older Platinum modern maki-e 18k nibs come without 750 engraving.

 

 

14 hours ago, Saint said:

Check nib printing and ring around the nib (new one is on the left).

 

The PTL-15000H#46 (i.e. ”Changing Autumn Leaves” pen I bought before the price increases) I have has the thick and thin double rings at the front of the gripping section. I saw (a listing for) a “Red Mt. Fuji” today that's still being offered at the old price, so I checked it out and sure enough, it has the old model number PTL-15000H; and the images show that it also has the thick and thin double rings.

 

(I ended up deciding against buying it, though, in spite of it being the “last one” available at that price and I believe the seller.)

I have Red Mt. Fuji. It's really beautiful pen and just like all Modern Maki-e and Kanazawa Leaf pens I own (except the first one I got years ago - Crane & Mt. Fuji) have thick and thin double rings with newly engraved nib.

At some point I started to doubt becaue of difference if that's really 18k nib on my Crane & Mt. Fuji pen as Platinum Balance have same looking steel nib, but some legit pen stores (+ old Goulet store Platinum promo video) show this same 18k (without 750 markings) nib in their promo images and videos, so it's real deal.