Search the Community

The Pilot Celemo (FCM-500R) and the Platinum PTL-5000A are both entry level 14k solid gold nib pens from the Japanese big two. The pens are so similar with just minor differences that these look like twins that were separated at birth and raised in different households. I will be showing a black PTL-5000A and a red Celemo in this post. I have already reviewed the Celemo here. The similarities begin with the packaging: http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/Platinum%20Vs%20Pilot/IMG_0686.jpg The pens come packed in a pen case with a transparent see through plastic swivel cover: http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/Platinum%20Vs%20Pilot/IMG_0687.jpg http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/Platinum%20Vs%20Pilot/IMG_0688.jpg The Platinum with its clip hang tag which I have separated: http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/Platinum%20Vs%20Pilot/IMG_0689.jpg http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/Platinum%20Vs%20Pilot/IMG_0690.jpg http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/Platinum%20Vs%20Pilot/IMG_0691.jpg The Red Celemo: http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/Platinum%20Vs%20Pilot/IMG_0692.jpg The pictures of the tag etc I have documented in the previous Celemo review itself, so I will not repeat them here. The pens together: Nearly identical in length and girth: http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/Platinum%20Vs%20Pilot/IMG_0693.jpg Uncapped: http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/Platinum%20Vs%20Pilot/IMG_0695.jpg Opened: http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/Platinum%20Vs%20Pilot/IMG_0696.jpg The Platinum is well constructed with metal section threads. The section-barrel thread pitch is the the same, but there is a difference in the diameter. The Platinum section will thread loosely into the Celemo barrel, the Celemo section however, will not thread into the Platinum barrel: http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/Platinum%20Vs%20Pilot/IMG_0697.jpg The Nibs: Both the nibs are the so called wing type nibs that clip on to the feed. Such nibs are economical to make due to the lesser amount of material required, esp when the material is 14k gold. The Platinum nib is shaped to be rigid, the Pilot has a slightly softer nib. The cap gripping trim at the base of the nib is golden in the Celemo, it is steel on the Platinum. The steel looks slightly out of place on a golden trim pen.... http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/Platinum%20Vs%20Pilot/IMG_0698.jpg http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/Platinum%20Vs%20Pilot/IMG_0699.jpg http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/Platinum%20Vs%20Pilot/IMG_0700.jpg Both the nibs are of Medium width. The Platinum has the nib width marked in Kanji script and the Pilot in English. However, as can be seen from the pics, the Pilot runs quite wide as compared to the Platinum. http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/Platinum%20Vs%20Pilot/IMG_0701.jpg http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/Platinum%20Vs%20Pilot/IMG_0702.jpg The Celemo has flat ends, the PTL-5000A has rounded ends which I like very much. http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/Platinum%20Vs%20Pilot/IMG_0703.jpg Writing Performance: Both the pens have proved to be reliable performers. I have carried both the pens through conferences and the Platinum was my sole carry through a 14 day outdoors trip. I have not included writing samples since the nibs do vary from piece to piece and the line made by my pen has little value to others who may buy their own pen. Cost: Both the pens have the same mrp: 5000JPY plus tax. I have seen the PTL-5000A go for as low as 32USD shipped on the auction site. Conclusion: Over all, based on my use, I found that I liked the build quality of the Platinum slightly better, the nib slightly better and ink flow slightly more to my liking on the PTL-5000A to the Celemo, but YMMV. I hope this comparison was useful to the reader who can then arrive at their own conclusion. Best Hari

The Celemo (Ceremony ?) is the cheapest 14k nibbed pocket pen that one can buy new from Pilot today. I am very curious and at the same time awed by the capability of the Japanese pen makers to offer such luxury features like a gold nib to some of their pens that they sell for school boy budgets. In this series, I have already documented the plain Pilot Custom here. This one, the Celemo, is 30% cheaper than the Custom at a msrp of 5000JPY + 8% tax. There is also the gold nibbed deskpen DP-500 offered at the same price point as the Celemo which I have documented in my earlier review here. The packaging was the same as the plain custom, so i will avoid repetition. The tags: http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/PilotCelemo/IMG_0255.jpg http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/PilotCelemo/IMG_0254.jpg The Celemo, (I have used this pen for a few weeks now) http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/PilotCelemo/IMG_0240.jpg http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/PilotCelemo/IMG_0242.jpg The Celemo can use only the Con-20 converter. http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/PilotCelemo/IMG_0243.jpg The fully lacquered clip: http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/PilotCelemo/IMG_0249.jpg Cap Imprints: http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/PilotCelemo/IMG_0250.jpg http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/PilotCelemo/IMG_0251.jpg The same spot welded clip button: http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/PilotCelemo/IMG_0253.jpg The clip on missile shaped nib: http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/PilotCelemo/IMG_0256.jpg http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/PilotCelemo/IMG_0257.jpg http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/PilotCelemo/IMG_0258.jpg Comparing the Celemo to the Custom: http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/PilotCelemo/IMG_0246.jpg http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/PilotCelemo/IMG_0247.jpg http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/PilotCelemo/IMG_0263.jpg Comparing the nibs: http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/PilotCelemo/IMG_0259.jpg http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/PilotCelemo/IMG_0261.jpg http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/PilotCelemo/IMG_0262.jpg The Custom and the Celemo use identical parts that are interchangeable(but for the nib, feed and inside cavity shape of the sections). I have weighed each part carefully and even the weights match. Swapped parts: http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/PilotCelemo/IMG_0248.jpg The Celemo is available in two colors, Red and Black. I have both, I show only the red one here. The nib options are just F and M which is a great drawback for me, since i very much prefer B and wider nibs. Some writing samples: http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/PilotCelemo/IMG_0272.jpg Writing: The Celemo writes as well as the Custom. No adjustments were needed. The Custom has a slightly longer nib tip to section distance and during back to back testing, I discovered that I seem to prefer the Custom more for this reason. Of course, some others might prefer the Celemo for the same reason. Cost: With the usual discounts over msrp and adding to that customs duty and shipment fees, I ended up paying just about 43USD (2700/- INR) shipped for the Celemo, a wonderful bargain in my view. Cheers! Hari