Comparative review: Aurora 88 versus Omas Arte Italiana

[diplomat]

AURORA 88 810 vs. OMAS ARTE ITALIANA PARAGON (Old Style)
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http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/398/dsc9394gi0.jpg
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Hello dear FPNers,

Today I’d like to compare two of my favorite pens (more pics are at the end of the review).
In my mind they are the final “contenders” of the best modern Italian fountain pen. The reasons why I selected these two finalists, and why they compare each other, to me are the following:

• They come from the oldest and most reputed Italian producers. I know that someone of you will look strange to this statement, but it makes sense to me. I love fountain pens and I love the history of writing instruments, therefore I am more naturally inclined towards a producer that has a long story and a continuity in his work. Both the Aurora and Omas products here represented have this feature:
  
  • o The 88 descends from the glorious Aurora 88 of 1947, the model that, after the ruins of the World War II, was able to made the Italians write. More than 5 millions of the 88, 88K and 88P are believed to be produced in the span of 10/12 years. The design of the new 88 is “inspired” to the old one and the likeness is more evident in the metal cap version. One key characteristic that the new 88 gave up is the hooded nib. However this makes sense because of two reasons: 1) the pursuit of the cost reduction: the 88 nib unit is shared between the high line (Optima, Talentum) and the LE line of Aurora. 2) the change in fashion. In 1947 the hit of the moment was the Parker 51, a new pen with a design directed towards the future; nowadays, the fountain pen “fashion” looks to the tradition, to differentiate against millions of cheap ballpoints and the indiscriminate use of the technology. And a lush huge nib do the trick, right?;
  • o The Arte Italiana is one of the oldest pen design to be in production continuously. Released for the first time in the 30s, when the Italian production was finally taking an original direction after years of knock offs, the 12 faceted pen became the flagship of the new Omas company. And still it is, 80 years after and one thousands variants after. Unlike the Aurora the Omas Arte Italiana was already in the past a symbol of luxury and ostentation. Unlike the Aurora, the Arte Italiana underwent to a number of small design changes, such different materials used and different clips mounted;
• They are black. Ok, I know, we still are in the field of the personal things, but that’s my review, right? I tried to go down to the path of the colored pens, and I still have and enjoy a lot of them, especially because I love to differentiate and to change. But if I have to say what I like best, then it’s plain and simple black. It’s classic, it’s professional, it’s understating, it’s discreet and you can couple it with anything (!). Ever tried to go at work with a yellow pen? Not the best way to be undisturbed... As for the trim, that’s another debate running on FPN. I don’t have fundamentalist beliefs here, but I think that the gold trim overall it’s more classic to couple with a black color. Silver is more high tech, if you know what I mean;
• They are piston fillers. Ok, this is an easier field. More or less everybody in FPN agree that the piston filling mechanism is one of the best filling system to have on a fountain pen. Someone even purchases piston filler pens only! I can’t say this is the best system overall, it’s just that for someone keen on FP like me, the piston filler is the pure mechanics applied to the instrument, a (relatively) complex feature that allow to drink directly from the bottle and to use the most of the internal space of the barrel. The bottom line is: the definitive fountain pen must be piston filler, especially these days when the sac is view as outdated and require too much of a care;
• They are (reasonably) big. We are talking of big pens. Ok, the real big ones are those on the class of the 149 and the M1000 (over that is just a show-off IMO), but a 13,8 cm for the Aurora (5’ 45’’) and a 14 cm for the Omas (5’ 5’’) is just fine & comfy for a big man’s hand. The width runs at 1,4cm (.55’) for Aurora and 1,47cm (.58) for Omas. In their families (Aurora and Omas) they are the bigger except the 360;
• They have “character” in writing. Out of the characteristic I describe here, this is the most important to me. I don’t know if a “blind test” for fountain pens exists, but out of the numerous instruments I tried, Omas and Aurora have a distinctive character you will always get and identify. I do not have a sure winner between complete smoothness and feedback (or texture as Deirdre once rightly called it) but here they go in my view:
  
  • o The 88 is a typical Aurora nib, you can feel the paper when you write, the nib will swiftly respond to any pressure or change in direction you make, giving the impression of a full and complete control. I like to exalt that "control feeling" with a Fine nib like the one in this pen.
  • o The Omas nibs have a constant smoothness that cross the years and the producers. In the recent years Omas outsourced the production to Bock, but it managed to retain the original "butter smoothness" that marked its products. You can write ages with an Omas without being tired. Signing 1.000 Xmas card could be a pleasure (they still have areas for improvement to make a pleasure to sign 1.000 checks...) I like to exalt that smoothness with a Broad nib like the one this pen has. NB: being a late 80s model the nib is made in Bologna by Omas.

http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/9819/dsc9393uo7.jpg

And now, to the votes. I’ll go quick and dirty, since the most important things I had to say I’ve said already.

Appearance/finish
Aurora 4/5
Omas 5/5

Both classy, well built and with quality materials. However the Omas has a consistency in hand that the Aurora doesn’t have at the same levels. I know there is no equation weight = quality but I guess here I was slightly conditioned by that. Another “plus” for the Omas is the variance of finishes available. Sure it’s a younger model, sure its older reference was only black, but to introduce new variants and color can only improve the overall value of the 88.

Design/Size/Weight
Aurora 5/5
Omas 5/5

What do you like: cigar-like or flat tops? Rounded or faceted? No winners here, just a tie. Everyone will chose its preferred following its taste. Let me just point out that, being that far in design choices, they represent a reference for the others in balance and harmony.
Besides that I should clarify here that my Paragon is the “old style” version, the version a lot of people (included me) prefer because of the size and the resin section.

Nib Design and Performance
Aurora 5/5
Omas 4,5/5

Ok, here my choice is made. Between smoothness and control, I do prefer control most of the times. I use smoothness (Omas) for signatures and titles, or for quick short notes, while the control is useful in the other occasions.

The Filling System
Aurora 5/5
Omas 3,5/5

Again Aurora ahead. I should mention now the biggest design flaw of the Omas Arte Italiana: the lack of an ink window. That's crazy to me: I don’t know who's to blame: dully search for the tradition or cost saving? Plus (other half point less) the Omas piston is kind of stiff and way smaller (then more difficult to handle) than the 88’s.

Cost
Aurora 5/5
Omas 4/5

Aurora is luckily still not playing hard on the luxury items field. It still has a full range of products, at all prices, and the flagship models are more inexpensive compared to the Omas, still part of the LVMH group even if his most recent owner is now from the far east.

Conclusions
Aurora 24/25
Omas 22/25

The numbers are too merciless to Omas. The Arte Italiana pays the lack of an ink window and the high cost. But all in all they are two excellent models at the peak of the industry, and two great classic product that will last a lifetime.

Credits/Exit titles
This review is dedicated to all the Fountain Pen Network members, moderators and administrators. I made this review especially to worthily celebrate my 1,000th post. I joined one year and half ago and now I have 1K post, 100 PMs, several good transactions on the marketplace, and I just joined the postcard swap craze (after a day I have already 4 new friends!). Additionally I now have a collection of more 100 pens, I participated this year at my first pen show and knew a lot of nice people there, and I started to do my first small pen reparations...
Most of this “change” in my life is ignited and supported by the FPN and the 20,000 marvelous people behind it, Thank you!

Yours sincerely,

Andrea "diplomat" Caligaris

Omas nib:
http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/2838/dsc9397uf8.jpg

Aurora nib:
http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/1038/dsc9398cy2.jpg

Piston knobs: say cheese for the pic.
http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/3116/dsc9396aj9.jpg

Caps and nibs:
http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/6052/dsc9390gr2.jpg

Edited January 2, 2009 by diplomat

[acfrery]

Beautiful work. Thank you very much,

Alejandro

[RevAaron]

I'm an absolute sucker for the 14k Omas pens! Amongst the best pens, ever IMHO.

[MYU]

Excellent review! I concur with your view--an ink window is a very valuable tool and quite frankly above a certain price point there should always be one! There are ways to make it stealthy, so it isn't obvious, if the designer is concerned about it interfering with the image. I find the Omas nib more appealing in design, but... it's more of a stylistic matter. Either nib can perform equally well, depending on the cut and finish. The Omas looks more attractive to me, with the cap band repeated on the section being the biggest attraction for me. It would be tough to choose between them, as you've no doubt supported with a 2 point difference.

[jbn10161]

Thanks for your review! It was a pleasure to read, and the photos are wonderful.

[Leftytoo]

Quite simply, the best review I've seen on FPN. Thanks for sharing.

 

Bob

[georges zaslavsky]

I have never written with an old style Paragon but having a modern one, I can say it is a fantastic writer. The 88 I don't like it much and I tried several 88s before having this judgement about it, the nib is too stiff definitely not suited for quick handwriting. For me when it comes to Italian pens, Omas and Montegrappa are the reference.

Edited January 3, 2009 by georges zaslavsky

[CharlieB]

Great review! Leaving price out of the equation, as both companies have changed pen models and pricing structures since those pens were produced, I would rate the pens almost the same, with a slight edge to the Aurora 88 because the Omas has a stiff pison and no ink window, despite its better nib and slightly more elegant design.

Edited January 3, 2009 by CharlieB

[kazoolaw]

Thank you for the excellent review.

I would appreciate your further thoughts on ink windows and their necessity. It's a feature that provokes a "oh yeah, look at that" reaction, rather than it being any kind of priority when I look at pens, much less a flaw by its absence.

Is it your experience that Omas piston stiffness is a brand characteristic?

Your photos are excellent illustrations for your review.

Thanks,

gary

 

[Mr Ink]

Excellent comparative review, Andrea.

 

However, I would like to respectfully suggest that the Aurora 88 in your picture is the model 800 not 810. Check it out on Aurora's online catalogue at http://www.aurorapen.it/penne

 

Please tell us more about your Aurora's nib. I find that an Aurora medium nib usually writes almost like a Western fine.

Edited January 4, 2009 by Mr Ink

[Nikolaos]

Thanks for the great review Andrea. I love both Aurora and OMAS pens. I do prefer my Arco Paragon old style compared to my 88 but they are both excellent pens.

 

Nikolaos

[FrankB]

This is a really good review. Thank you for taking the time to do it.

 

I think a comparison like this shows how different we are as writers. I have tried both pens, and I will take the 88 every time. Are both good pens? Yes, they are. But I prefer the shape and feel of the 88, plus the ink window and the more cooperative piston. Plus, my 88 has a marvelous factory italic nib that I love!

[diplomat]

However, I would like to respectfully suggest that the Aurora 88 in your picture is the model 800 not 810. Check it out on Aurora's online catalogue at http://www.aurorapen.it/penne

 

Please tell us more about your Aurora's nib. I find that an Aurora medium nib usually writes almost like a Western fine.

 

YES! Yes, of course it's an 800... the point is I do have an 810 too (the slim c/c version of the 88) and I somehow mix up the names... unfortunately now it's not possible to change the title I got, possibly MYU could do it... :embarrassed_smile:

 

But thank you very much for pointing at this, gasp!

 

As for the nib sizes, you are right.

While the Omas is a "classic western" medium size, comparable to Pelikan, Parker, Visconti or Delta, the Auroras run on the thin side of the range and they are more similar to a Sailor medium. Besides, I found a difference between the same size range of Auroras (like the "mediums") which is uncommon in others producer. Dib, one of the most acknowledged Aurora FPN members, pointed out once that since every and each Aurora gold nibs are made manually, the tolerance is not that strict.

 

p.s. thank you very much to everybody for your kind words! I will address some more request of widening later.

 

Cheers,

[diplomat]

I would appreciate your further thoughts on ink windows and their necessity. It's a feature that provokes a "oh yeah, look at that" reaction, rather than it being any kind of priority when I look at pens, much less a flaw by its absence.

 

Hello Gary,

I like the window feature for two reasons:

• It is useful, simple and plain; even though I am not a compulsive writer, I like to check the ink level regularly;
• It's a nice design "complication", like in watches: you can live without an extra three chrono dials, but the presence of them makes for new challenges in design and scheme. I love when an ink window is well conceived and concealed in the barrel, like in the Meisterstucks or in Souverans, for example.

Thus I am ready to give more credit to a producer that takes the hassle to put an ink window rather than not.

 

Is it your experience that Omas piston stiffness is a brand characteristic?

Well, I just have another Omas piston filler: it's a 360 and I have no problem with that. The reason may be that in the 360 the knob is much larger.

From indirect experience (FPN members) I can say that the stiffness in old style Arte Italiana is a well known problem.

 

Hope that helps! Thank you very much for your word of appreciation.

 

Cheers,

 

[Sallent]

Best review ever!!!

 

All hail Aurora

[hseltzer]

This is the most amazing review of two pens that I have sort of looked at but never really considered . (Way outside current range $)

 

Thank you very much for enlightening us !

 

Hillel

[diplomat]

Best review ever!!!

 

All hail Aurora

 

 

This is the most amazing review of two pens that I have sort of looked at but never really considered . (Way outside current range $)

 

Thank you very much for enlightening us !

 

Hillel

 

Thank you for your comments guys!

 

I just realized that I did not mention the "Magic Reserve" feature on the Aurora. While not a "killer feature", I appreciate is there.

Ink window + Magic reserve = impossible to be surprised from the lack of ink!

Plus is another fountain pens gimmick design that an experienced user will love to have, at least as a conversation piece!

 

Ciao,

 

 

[PenFisher]

Splendid review. Insightful, thoughtful and well composed. And congratulations on your various milestones and FPN experiences. Bravo!

[RedRob]

Very thorough and interesting review. Thank you.

 

I personally prefer the Omas for the softer feel of their plastic (cotton resin) on the fingers, which makes it more comfortable when writing. But technically my Auroras have been far superior in my experience, if only they had softer, smoother nibs and a warmer tender platic... If I ever have a custom pen made, it would be an Optima in celluloid with a nice nib.

[Bill Smith]

great review as I own a sterling silver capped full size 88 and a celuloid Paragon from the mid 1990's, both are my favourite Italian pens.