Platinum President

[jandrese]

This is a review of the Platinum President in Sky Red sporting rhodium trim with a medium nib, which, of course, is similar to a Western fine in size. The pen is also available in three other colors and with gold trim. Since getting the pen it has been continuously inked with Noodler’s The Alamo’s Twilight that was specially formulated for Dromgoole’s pen store in Houston, TX. This ink goes down a red-brown dark brick color and dries to a ever so slightly faded blood brown color. Very interesting. If anyone is interested I can do an ink review.

 

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2469/3694424845_e1cb903d72_o.jpg

 

This may be the best writing pen I own, and I have more than a few pens! The nib has an ideal amount of feedback, yet, is smooth. The feed is nearly flawless in supplying the perfect amount of ink without fail. Ink flow never hesitates or skips even after the pen has been sitting around awhile.

 

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3630/3694424899_05965d3707_o.jpg

 

Similar in size and looks to a full size Sailor 1911, the President sits perfectly in the hand and remains balanced posted or not. The cap unscrews in one turn, stays on tight, and the clip is usefully strong. The double cap band may or may not be metallic, but it is attractive. The only thing even remotely wrong the pen is the cheap feel of the plastic it is made from. Construction, however, is solidly impressive.

 

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2480/3695234040_7234db6c83_o.jpg

 

Considering it writes with an incredible consistent fine line, the converter holds plenty of ink. Nib creep, at least with The Alamo’s Twilight ink is minimal, and the pen never releases ink into the cap even during air travel or when jostled around in a book bag.

 

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3029/3694424935_554584cf7d_o.jpg

 

So, is the President the perfect pen? Maybe. It does the job of a pen, putting ink to paper, very well. The bright red color is attractive and draws a lot of attention if that is your thing. The nib is amazing, and the pen is very comfortable to write with. Did I mention the nib is really nice? Certainly there is nothing particularly exotic about it; it won’t write upside down, it does not flex, and there is no variation of line width. Well, maybe it is exotic, at least in the sense that it does effortlessly what most nibs, even those tweaked by nibmeisters often fail to do, that is, write without fail. In addition, the price is relatively low, but I think fairly represents the material cost and workmanship. I have many much more expensive pens that look good but don’t write nearly as well.

 

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Platinum has a great, and well-deserved, reputation for their excellent nibs. Nevertheless, they don’t get a lot of love from fountain pen nerds. In terms of a pure writing experience, IMHO this pen is second to none, and if you value that above all else there is no reason to spend more money on a pen. Hands down, no question about it, the Japanese make the best nibs. I used to think Sailor was the king of the (production) Japanese nib. Although Sailor has a huge variety of fantastic nibs that I love to use, the more pedestrian Platinum nibs, their music nib included--watch for an upcoming review--, are superior. Color me impressed.

 

 

 

 

[John Cullen]

Thanks for the review. Nice pen. In my limited experience, Platinum nibs are a little more tolerant than Sailor nibs or wrist turning and angle of attack, but some do have a hint of feedback.

 

I wonder what other colors they will eventually add to the lineup. The dark blue looks very nice!! J

[Silvermink]

Thanks for the review! I've been pondering a 1911 or a President and your review has nudged me back in the direction of the latter. What would you compare the section width to besides the 1911?

[jandrese]

Thanks for the review! I've been pondering a 1911 or a President and your review has nudged me back in the direction of the latter. What would you compare the section width to besides the 1911?

 

I just measured the diameter of the section with a caliper. At the midpoint it is ~.438". This is very similar to the Aurora Demonstrator, Visconti Van Gogh (fullsize), Delta Via Veneto, and a little less than a Pelikan M800.

 

[Brian]

Nice. Thank you for this welcome review. I always wondered about this pen.

[Silvermink]

I just measured the diameter of the section with a caliper. At the midpoint it is ~.438". This is very similar to the Aurora Demonstrator, Visconti Van Gogh (fullsize), Delta Via Veneto, and a little less than a Pelikan M800.

 

That's cool. I find the M800's section a shade too wide for my grip anyhow...

 

Thanks.

[rokurinpapa]

Thank you for the review.I agree. Platinum'nib is very serious and penetrating to practical use, I think.

 

rokurinpapa

[langere]

I am presently using the President I picked up over a year ago, and boy, was I missing something! I am extremely impressed with the M nib that I have that writes, as jandrese says, without fail every time I pick put pen to paper. I thought it might have to do with the Aurora Black ink that I am using, since this is my first time using the ink and I've heard good things about Aurora. But certainly the most important thing, as always, is the nib. My President is the black one and looks very similar to the Sailor 1991 or the Montblanc 149 (might I say a bit of a derivative design?).

 

A great pen and thanks for the review!

 

Erick

[bardharlock]

As a fan of Sailor pens mostly because of the nibs, you have my attention. I may have to try a Platinum out sooner rather than later. Of course, I might just go the Nakaya route.

[Lloyd]

I've owned and sold off more than one Sailor BUT I can never part with my Platinum due to its amazing nib (note: I dislike the feel of the plastic, too). I have the ribbed model with a medium nib that writes a size narrower (but no less smoothly) upside down. I don't know what it is about this nib's characteristics that makes it so perfect.

[inkyfingr]

Regarding the cheap plastic feel of the Platinums -- can you put a Platinum nib/feed into a Sailor body?

[jandrese]

As a fan of Sailor pens mostly because of the nibs, you have my attention. I may have to try a Platinum out sooner rather than later. Of course, I might just go the Nakaya route.

 

 

Nakaya are in another league yet. Of course, they are derived from Platinum so there are a lot of similarities in their base nibs and "cheaper" pens.

[jandrese]

Regarding the cheap plastic feel of the Platinums -- can you put a Platinum nib/feed into a Sailor body?

 

Dr. Frankenstein,

 

I've never tried to do that, but it would probably not work. Nakaya and Platinum are more likely to match up. You need a Nakaya so get one and try it!

[kazoolaw]

What is the capped length of this pen?

There used to be a Very Presidential Platinum: is this the same or smaller?

Thanks,

gary

[jandrese]

What is the capped length of this pen?

There used to be a Very Presidential Platinum: is this the same or smaller?

Thanks,

gary

 

 

Capped length is 5.617". I've never heard of the Very Presidential.

[kazoolaw]

What is the capped length of this pen?

There used to be a Very Presidential Platinum: is this the same or smaller?

Thanks,

gary

 

 

Capped length is 5.617". I've never heard of the Very Presidential.

 

Thanks for the info.

Follow this Google search link:

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navc...22+fountain+pen

gary

[inkyfingr]

"I've never tried to do that, but it would probably not work. Nakaya and Platinum are more likely to match up. You need a Nakaya so get one and try it!"

 

 

That sounds like a good excuse to get a Nakaya, but I just shot my pen budget for the near future. By the way, the MB147 is nice.

Edited July 8, 2009 by inkyfingr

[jandrese]

What is the capped length of this pen?

There used to be a Very Presidential Platinum: is this the same or smaller?

Thanks,

gary

 

 

Capped length is 5.617". I've never heard of the Very Presidential.

 

Thanks for the info.

Follow this Google search link:

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navc...22+fountain+pen

gary

 

Based on the photos I saw after following the above link, the President and the Very Presidential are the same pen. Could be an old name, could be a wierd translation. The cap band of my pen and the nib are simply marked "President".

 

[Silvermink]

Based on the photos I saw after following the above link, the President and the Very Presidential are the same pen. Could be an old name, could be a wierd translation. The cap band of my pen and the nib are simply marked "President".

 

I think the President/Presidential difference is a Japanese/(American/European) market thing. My instinct is that the Very Presidential is a bit different - maybe just trimwise - but I'm having trouble finding a source on that.

 

EDIT: Ah, I think it is the same pen, but "Very Presidential" is the American market name. Thanks for making your naming scheme clear as mud, Platinum!

Edited July 8, 2009 by Silvermink

[Doug Add]

Nice review. Thanks.

 

I have owned two Platinum pens (not this model), and three different nibs. I was impressed with each nib in terms of smoothness, feel of the paper, and ink flow. The music nib was my least favorite because I so rarely need to write such a wide line, but it was an excellent writer. I cannot decide whether I preferred the fine or the medium, both were quite nice.