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This was an impulsive purchase on ebay, I put in an idle bid and to my shock, won. Consider this review as an extension of my review of the Izumo #28 Akatame. The Platinum Izumo is offered in three broad types today. Ebonite with Makie on it, Ebonite with Urushi coating in three colors: Red, Green, Black and finally in Iron wood (Tagayasan) with a Urethane coating (NOT Urushi), here again two finishes are offered, Glossy and Matte. The pen under review is the glossy finish one. Model No: PIZ-50000T #21 in F point. The Izumo is sold gift wrapped in a special brown wrapping paper, and this is how I received the pen. The converter is not included with the pen so it was placed externally. The unwrapping: http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/PlatinumIzumoTagayasan/IMG_9019.jpg http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/PlatinumIzumoTagayasan/IMG_9021.jpg Bubble wrap removed: http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/PlatinumIzumoTagayasan/IMG_9023.jpg The tag outside the gift wrap to help the shop identify the goods: http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/PlatinumIzumoTagayasan/IMG_9024.jpg Gift wrap removed: http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/PlatinumIzumoTagayasan/IMG_9025.jpg Tag on the outer box: http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/PlatinumIzumoTagayasan/IMG_9026.jpg The Distinctive Paulownia box with Izumo on it: http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/PlatinumIzumoTagayasan/IMG_9027.jpg Finally the pen: http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/PlatinumIzumoTagayasan/IMG_9028.jpg The paraphernalia: http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/PlatinumIzumoTagayasan/IMG_9030.jpg Some background about the materials: The wood is from the Dalbergia latifolia tree, a native of India thus special to me. It is also known as Indian Rosewood or Malabar Rosewood or Bombay Blackwood. (Bombay happens to be my city, I am curious how this wood got the Bombay name ) http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/PlatinumIzumoTagayasan/IMG_9056.jpg The pen: http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/PlatinumIzumoTagayasan/IMG_9031.jpg The pen is very dark, looked nearly black at first glance. But the grain pattern is there and is very nice. Clip Tags: http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/PlatinumIzumoTagayasan/IMG_9032.jpg http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/PlatinumIzumoTagayasan/IMG_9033.jpg

I finally took the plunge finally and bought an Izumo (Tagayasan) after going through some lovely reviews from my fellow fpners. I could not find a review of the matte version at fpn before buying this. Here is also a link to my blog with some more pics: Platinum Izumo Tagayasan - Matte Review The Izumo series was launched in 2010 to celebrate the birthplace of Platinum’s founder Shunichi Nakata. The Nakata surname of course reflects in all Nakaya nibs. Coming to Izumo, the Izumo province is located in the eastern coast of Japan and is famous for its political history as well as making traditional Japanese paper out of vegetable fibres (a sample of which is also included in a paper roll). The two variants of Izumo pens are Urushi-on-ebonite and Wooden versions. I am reviewing one of the wooden versions here. Some of the other versions have been rather marvellously reviewed by Hari1(had got mine on his recommendation), Hari2, & atomic_doug at FPN. This Izumo is called Tagayasan which literally translates into Iron Sword Wood (鉄:Iron 刀:Sword 木: Wood). More on this later. PRESENTATION The pen comes in a wooden box (IZU4000061) made of up Paulownia wood encased inside a handmade paper box. The box will itself feel very light which is characteristic of this wood along with high resistance to deformation, and it’s also used to make chests and boxes in Japan. This box also used for Nakayas and a few other premium pens of Platinum (Urushi Maki-e) with an RRP of JPY 50000 or greater. http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B7KYVFMlZuk/VdGlYG3u0fI/AAAAAAAAFIw/bfiUzb6WrBk/s1600/aPack.jpg Once you open the satin lined top cover, you will find a green kimono encasing your Izumo, resting along with a standard platinum converter, a cartridge (though a complementary box was included by the seller), a paper roll made of traditional Japanese paper (Kiku) and a few other cards for maintenance & use. The one important out of them warns you against posting the cap. You will see later that there is a metallic insert for threading the cap and it might chip off the barrel wood, if posted. http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8y7BZXL4Goc/VdGlbpicYvI/AAAAAAAAFI4/ZSBvDhdR7zk/s1600/apack2.jpg DESIGN - THE WOODEN CIGAR (6/6) The Izumo Tagayasan comes in two finishes : Matte (PIZ-50000T #20) and Gloss (PIZ-50000T #21). The word Tagayasan in Japanese refers to a wood which is as hard as iron, and to my delight, I found that it was produced in India. The scientific name is Dalbergia latifolia and it’s more commonly known in India is Shisham or Bombay Black Wood. As the wood is hard, durable and resistant to termites, it’s used in India to make premium furniture. The build is remarkably sturdy and for a wooden pen it’s heavy and quite comfortably so. You will find this to be a large pen and initially I was concerned about its dimensions. The wood has a dark brown appearance with still deeper streaks running horizontally across the length of the pen. The golden gleam coming solely from the clip supplies the pen with a simply amazing contrast. Doesn’t the pen look like a marvellous piece of art? I salute the Japanese craftsmanship behind this handmade pen. http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CbnpPdS3trg/VdGlCk3-zwI/AAAAAAAAFHQ/8qv7eCnqUPQ/s1600/DSC_5213.jpg The cap feels substantial and unscrews with one and a half turns, revealing a stunning two-tone nib. The threads of golden glitter mark start of the grip section. The tapering of the section in someway ensures that your grip remains least affected by the metallic threads. Towards the nib a golden trim ensures the aesthetics remain singularly complete from top to bottom. http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iay_4sCJZyk/VdGlIEzHmRI/AAAAAAAAFHg/YIbcLvU1wTs/s1600/DSC_5237.jpg The finial is in the shape of an elliptical dome and quite deftly conceals the clip-joint. The dazzling tension-fit clip is plated with gold and has some resemblance with a traditional Japanese double edged sword called Tsurgi or Ken. It sports the brand name of PLATINUM within a dome of etched squares. There is a smaller sculpted impression below mirroring the sword in the green kimono. The metallic thread insert inside the cap render the pen unsuitable for posting. http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wUo-EoodEso/VdGk-oEKD9I/AAAAAAAAFHA/AUqTHBzvq78/s1600/Cap.jpg FILLING SYSTEM (5/6) As a cartridge converter filler, the supplied convertor is limited by a volume of 0.6 mL although platinum cartridges have an advantage with capacity of 1 mL or more. The Izumo also takes in proprietary converters and like other Platinum pens and there is an adapter available for international cartridges/converters, whose production is currently stopped. The proprietary converter does look good with its golden trims, but again you can see it only when you are filling up ink. The barrel unscrews from the grip section with four turns revealing the gold accented metallic thread section. The wooden barrel carries the opposite threads with a similar metallic insert, eliminating any chance of internal chipping of wood. The feed does draw ink even when the nib is not fully immersed inside ink. http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dcHnwGYCYs0/VdGlIK5ZYBI/AAAAAAAAFHk/h9ApMJDh1gc/s1600/DSC_5286.jpg NIB - ALL THAT MATTERS (5/6) The nib/feed section is friction-fit and comes in a 18k two-tone design across three stock widths of F, M & B. I like the design of these nibs. Above the tail lies the brand imprint of PLATINUM specified with nib type i.e PRESIDENT (or 3776) along with nib-composition (18 K) and width (B). A hearty breather hole lies above the imprint. Three bands of rhodium decor run amidst the body and shoulders as an enhancement. These bands are limited to the tines. The nib lays a moderately wet and smooth line with a characteristic stiffness. I would have personally preferred a bigger nib given the price point of this pen. http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mgtpCTtzEdU/VdGlLj4bZcI/AAAAAAAAFHw/5vZCFh5ytsc/s1600/DSC_5297.jpg The black plastic feed for the President nib has closely spaced fins and even with the cap open for a while, it does not take any effort to lay a nice and wet line. http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UIHq32QBusE/VdGlNmM-P8I/AAAAAAAAFIA/O461HSTuDOc/s1600/DSC_5304.jpg PHYSICS OF IT (6/6) – RELATIVELY SPEAKING A comfortable length and weight ensures that the cap doesn't need to be posted while writing. With a cosy girth of around 1 cm, it poses absolutely no problems with extended writing times. Capped Length ~ 16.5 Uncapped Length ~ 14 cm Nib Leverage ~ 2.4 cm Overall Weight ~ 38 g Capped and uncapped comparisons with a pelikan m805 run below for your reference. You might be already noticing the giant cap with an elliptical dome finial, which contributes rather lavishly to the length of the pen. http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jAKoO_FBARE/VdGlSWvVgyI/AAAAAAAAFII/_pPe2OhEaYE/s1600/DSC_5317.jpg Uncapped the Tagayasan is about 1 cm longer than a m8xx, making it a comfortable wooden companion. The threads at the section are located necessarily at an upper region of the section, which does not interfere with my grip, given the section taper. http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9Ig9nj0XF1M/VdGlXHtQicI/AAAAAAAAFIg/r0pKXytek58/s1600/DSC_5338.jpg ECONOMIC VALUE (3/6) The Izumo wooden versions - Tagayasan retail around US$ 600, though they are available at much lower prices around US$ 400 with known Japanese shops like Engeika or Rakuten. I expected a bigger nib at this price point and I do have a sinking feeling that the usual President nib does not do complete justice either to this pen or its price point. OVERALL (5/6) This stunning 18k nib is smooth but not buttery, with kind of a controlled glide. It’s blessed with a moderately wet ink flow. There is a subtle bit of line variation, the horizontals being a tad thinner than the verticals. The nib is as stiff as a nail. Though, there is a hint of softness with this nib. Even being a wet writer out of the box, this Broad nib puts a line which takes around 30 seconds to dry on MD Paper. Ink used was Platinum Blue Black cartridge. http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AK8OBMu_L9E/VdGlWmqbz3I/AAAAAAAAFIc/fZWtb49MDOk/s1600/DSC_5343.jpg REFERENCES Platinum Izumos Hari’s Review of the Gloss Version Bombay Black Wood Thank you for going through the review. You can find some more pen and paraphernalia reviews here.

http://www.iguanasell-pics.com/photos/logos/fpn_logo_45_45.png See all our items @ FPN Platinum Fountain Pen Izumo Gloss Tagayasan Wood #21 PIZ-50000-21Brand New in Box - Warranty by authorised Dealer - Free Shipping CHARACTERISTICS: Brand Platinum Description Platinum Fountain Pen Nib 18k Gold Finish Bombay Black Wood (Tagayasan) - Gloss Closure System Screw-on Filling System Converter/cartridge filling system Dimensions (capped/uncapped) 16,4 cm / 13,5 cm (6.4" / 5.3") Warranty (years) - Line Izumo Reference PIZ-50000-21 Retail Price 575€ / $750 / £490 Special features: Platinum pens are artisan made Japanese pens, finished with great detail and quality.The line of Izumo pens are larger sized pens with an elegant and bold personality and made of the highly resistant Bombay Black Wood (Tagayasan).The name Tagayasan means ‘that which is as hard as a ‘Sword of Iron". The pen has no extra finish aside for this wood, so it will feel warm in your hand!The design for this pens is #21, and the wood is highlighted and protected with a gloss coating.The pen comes with a nice Platinum 18K gold nib, and a gold plated clip.The pen comes in a wonderful wooden box with a Platinum pen pouch and cartridge. CONDITIONS:The item is brand new in original box and comes with all papers and warranty stamped at the moment of the purchase by authorised dealerList price: $750 - Contact us for a personalized offer Payment Methods: PayPalCredit cardGoogle CheckoutMoney Order (We have Bank accounts in the US as well as in Europe)Cash on Delivery (Euro Countries) Free Expedited Shipping (UPS or Fedex) to the US, Canada and European Union. Other countries, $18 (shared shipping costs) ABOUT US: We are an international company with more than three (3) years of experience in e-commerce, duly registered in the US and Europe. We are present on the most important Marketplaces such as eBay and Amazon, ecommerce sites: shopping.com, yahoo shopping... and our own website You can take a look at our eBay feedback here or read the opinions of other forum members: 1 , 2, or 3 CONTACT:To contact us, just write us a pm, orsend us an email to info@iguanasell.com http://iguanasell-pics.com/photos/E461/Platinum-Fountain-Pen-Izumo-Gloss-Tagayasan-Wood--21-PIZ-50000-21-PIZ-50000-21-1.jpg http://iguanasell-pics.com/photos/E461/Platinum-Fountain-Pen-Izumo-Gloss-Tagayasan-Wood--21-PIZ-50000-21-PIZ-50000-21-2.jpg http://iguanasell-pics.com/photos/E461/Platinum-Fountain-Pen-Izumo-Gloss-Tagayasan-Wood--21-PIZ-50000-21-PIZ-50000-21-3.jpg http://iguanasell-pics.com/photos/E461/Platinum-Fountain-Pen-Izumo-Gloss-Tagayasan-Wood--21-PIZ-50000-21-PIZ-50000-21-4.jpg http://iguanasell-pics.com/photos/E461/Platinum-Fountain-Pen-Izumo-Gloss-Tagayasan-Wood--21-PIZ-50000-21-PIZ-50000-21-5.jpg http://iguanasell-pics.com/photos/E461/Platinum-Fountain-Pen-Izumo-Gloss-Tagayasan-Wood--21-PIZ-50000-21-PIZ-50000-21-6.jpg http://iguanasell-pics.com/photos/E461/Platinum-Fountain-Pen-Izumo-Gloss-Tagayasan-Wood--21-PIZ-50000-21-PIZ-50000-21-7.jpg CONDITIONS:The item is brand new in original box and comes with all papers and warranty stamped at the moment of the purchase by authorised dealerList price: $750 - Contact us for a personalized offer Payment Methods: PayPalCredit cardGoogle CheckoutMoney Order (We have Bank accounts in the US as well as in Europe)Cash on Delivery (Euro Countries) Free Expedited Shipping (UPS or Fedex) to the US, Canada and European Union. Other countries, $18 (shared shipping costs) ABOUT US: We are an international company with more than three (3) years of experience in e-commerce, duly registered in the US and Europe. We are present on the most important Marketplaces such as eBay and Amazon, ecommerce sites: shopping.com, yahoo shopping... and our own website You can take a look at our eBay feedback here or read the opinions of other forum members: 1 , 2, or 3 CONTACT:To contact us, just write us a pm, orsend us an email to info@iguanasell.com More Platinum pens on our website Thanks for looking!----------------------------- Website: www.iguanasell.comJoin our newsletter for special promotions and news http://static.anuncios.ebay.es/images/dailydeals/dm/icon_facebook_24.png Follow us on Facebookhttp://static.anuncios.ebay.es/images/dailydeals/dm/icon_twitter_24.png Follow us on Twitter: @Iguana_sell