Namiki Yukari Royale Kingfisher photo review

[pmrogers]

This was our most unanticipated acquisition from the Chicago Pen Show. In person it is simply stunning, with a depth and liveliness to the maki-e that my photos don't even begin to capture. It is also a terrific writer, with a nice size and balance (unposted, of course!), and the maki-e adds a nice texture that makes it more comfortable to grip. I'll shut up now and let the photos speak for the pen from here...

 

 

Full pen, front view:

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_pBj9ZgXVuRE/S-N1XmfBTyI/AAAAAAAABoI/F3XgHXPZHJc/01-2010-05-06%20at%2020-32-09.jpg

 

 

 

 

Full pen, back view:

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_pBj9ZgXVuRE/S-N1YcYJx8I/AAAAAAAABoM/VtwDtQPhIT0/02-2010-05-06%20at%2020-39-01.jpg

 

 

 

 

Medium closeup of Kingfisher head:

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_pBj9ZgXVuRE/S-N1Y4xXkdI/AAAAAAAABoQ/rtFro2nWDJE/03-2010-05-02%20at%2009-27-34.jpg

 

 

 

 

Back of barrel:

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_pBj9ZgXVuRE/S-N1ZJorrwI/AAAAAAAABoU/elCSei1Rv-0/s912/04-2010-05-02%20at%2009-33-31.jpg

 

 

 

 

Back of cap:

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_pBj9ZgXVuRE/S-N1Zav4dAI/AAAAAAAABoY/xClFRIKqOYI/05-2010-05-05%20at%2019-28-34.jpg

 

 

 

Size comparison with Montblanc 146 and Classic Pens LB2 based on Parker Duofold:

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_pBj9ZgXVuRE/S-N1cfVAT6I/AAAAAAAABow/PWOUz6vOeMo/11-2010-05-06%20at%2020-36-52.jpg

[pmrogers]

Photo review, part 2:

 

Closeup of wing:

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_pBj9ZgXVuRE/S-N1Z_IKtgI/AAAAAAAABoc/8Ts4JnXwu-A/06-2010-05-06%20at%2019-02-41.jpg

 

 

 

Closeup of barrel back, platinum dust mixed in with gold:

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_pBj9ZgXVuRE/S-N1aRsNtVI/AAAAAAAABog/xgP3ud7h_0I/07-2010-05-06%20at%2019-07-20.jpg

 

 

 

Uncapped:

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_pBj9ZgXVuRE/S-N1a3n3InI/AAAAAAAABok/7xzolZk5_no/08-2010-05-05%20at%2019-30-01.jpg

 

 

 

Closeup of cap. Even the clip ball is nicely finished:

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_pBj9ZgXVuRE/S-N1bWMJQSI/AAAAAAAABoo/NZlBMQ7AIOE/09-2010-05-06%20at%2019-03-31.jpg

 

 

 

Closeup of Kingfisher beak. Platinum dusting is heaviest in this section of the pen.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_pBj9ZgXVuRE/S-N1b-oiEXI/AAAAAAAABos/N_8_9osJ3LM/10-2010-05-06%20at%2019-04-51.jpg

[twincityskyline]

Wow - gorgeous pen!

[geoduc]

Wow - gorgeous pen!

 

Really nice, congratulations! Love the detailing and the gradation on the clip is a nice touch.

 

Excellent photos as well.

[slimshaneee]

That is a great pen! Congratulations

[Ed Ronax]

Beautiful pen and great photographs, thanks.

[reprieve]

This pen is devastatingly gorgeous! Your photographs aren't bad, either.

[rokurinpapa]

Thank you for your nice review and beautiful photos! Very very beautiful pen by much efforts and time .

 

rokurinpapa

[georges zaslavsky]

a superb pen :clap1: enjoy it

[cxcxx]

Congratulations

[Brian]

Beautiful pen and photos that do it justice. Thanks for posting.

[egretsrus]

magnificent pen! did you have to sell your house to buy it? ...photos really do it justice. congrats!!

[pmrogers]

Thanks everyone for the nice words . I feel very fortunate to have such a beautiful piece of art in our collection.

 

The photos came out okay on color and sharpness but I still have a lot to learn on lighting. There really is a depth and movement to the pen that these photos don't even begin to capture, especially in the flow of the dust sprinkles. Maybe a high definition video made with a macro-caliber lens could do it, or at least pick up some of the flavor of how it interacts with the light? In any case, if you have the opportunity to see one of these pens in person I promise you will only be more impressed.

 

-Paul

[jakelogan]

I'm stunned at the beautiful maki-e artwork and attention to details. The photos are actually very nice but I don't know how amazing it really is in person.

[dannyboy]

I've always admired the subtlety of the contrast between the slowly falling maple leaves and the speed of the kingfisher making its dive to capture the fish! This is one of my favorites of the Namike Yukari pens and I never tire of studying its intricacy and artfulness. Add those qualities to the fact that this pen is an amazing writer and so well-balanced in the hand. I know you'll enjoy this one for years to come. Congratulations in adding this one to your collection!

[dnb]

Very beautiful! Congrats! It is nice that the kingfisher can be see between your fingers when writing.

[dannzeman]

Smokin' good pics! So how's it write?

 

I was at the Chicago Pen Show too. Great time, wasn't it? Who did you buy the pen from, if you don't mind me asking?

[fabrimedeiros]

Amazing piece of art! Is it Broad nib? How does it write?

 

Congrat!

 

Fabricio

[SamCapote]

That is stunningly beautiful. Do you know what the printed characters mean? I wonder how long it must take them to make it.

[pmrogers]

I was at the Chicago Pen Show too. Great time, wasn't it? Who did you buy the pen from, if you don't mind me asking?

It was a great time! We got the Kingfisher from Alex Ziskind. It was our first time to deal with him and a real pleasure. He has a remarkable collection of limited edition pens , especially in Montblanc, and terrific prices.

 

 

 

Amazing piece of art! Is it Broad nib? How does it write?

Fabricio

It is a medium. A very wet and wide medium, similar to a Visconti medium, which is surprising for a Japanese nib; if it were a Sailor nib it would probably be labeled BB. The weight, balance, and size of the pen is perhaps my favorite among all of our medium weight pens. The 146 is another favorite, and compared to it the slightly larger barrel diameter and the texture of the maki-e on the Namiki make for an even more comfortable grip. As for the nib feel, I'd rate it in the first tier of factory nibs, up there with David Oscarson and the MB 146 (though I don't know if the 146 counts as 'factory' any more since it's coming up on 20 years old). The Yukari Royale nib is in the 'butter smooth' family, which isn't my favorite, but impressive in its own way, especially for me as a lefty overwriter with an atrocious writing angle.

 

 

 

That is stunningly beautiful. Do you know what the printed characters mean?

I don't know for certain, but I think the characters are probably the artist's name, Michifumi Kawaguchi.

Edited May 8, 2010 by pmrogers