Cavallini Roma Lussa Review

[rfranca]

Well,

Not quite yet.

I'm still writing the review but thought it wouldn't hurt to post some pictures in the meantime.

If anyone has any specific questions, feel free to ask so I can address those specific issues in the review.

 

 

http://i566.photobucket.com/albums/ss101/ricardoemarcia/reviews/DSC03652.jpg

 

http://i566.photobucket.com/albums/ss101/ricardoemarcia/reviews/DSC03661.jpg

 

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http://i566.photobucket.com/albums/ss101/ricardoemarcia/reviews/DSC03667.jpg

 

http://i566.photobucket.com/albums/ss101/ricardoemarcia/reviews/DSC03673.jpg

 

http://i566.photobucket.com/albums/ss101/ricardoemarcia/reviews/DSC03675.jpg

 

http://i566.photobucket.com/albums/ss101/ricardoemarcia/reviews/DSC03677.jpg

 

http://i566.photobucket.com/albums/ss101/ricardoemarcia/reviews/DSC03682.jpg

 

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http://i566.photobucket.com/albums/ss101/ricardoemarcia/reviews/DSC03701.jpg

Edited April 24, 2011 by rfranca

[kazoolaw]

In no particular order:

-does the journal lay flat?

-what is the blue ink in the calligraphy sample?

-what will you use the Roma Lussa for?

-can you share a bit about the pen and paper market in Brazil?

My youngest still raves about her time in Brazil.

Thanks for sharing,

gary

[inkypete]

I must say that I have tried a few Cavallini products over the last few years but have never had one with paper I would be happy to buy again. Its a pity because they make some nice notebooks, including this one - looks really nice but I wouldn't trust their paper again.

[GutSchrift]

I'm so glad you got this! Looks like the paper is holding up rather well with your range of pens and inks. There is shadowing on the other side, but again, looks pretty good. How do you like the paper? I find it nice and smooth, but not glass-smooth like clairefontaine.

[elvawenn]

Interesting! I'd been eyeing it for a while but based from other pictures on the Internet it doesn't seem to lie flat and the paper is laid (which I don't personally like), so I passed it up. Would love to see your take on it!

[Ghost Plane]

I'm surprised to hear Inkypete complain about the paper as I love it and look for these on sale. I adore their lined paper. Is the blank different?

 

I, too, want to know if this width of journal will lay flat. All that's stopping me is the prospect of my hand rolling off the edge of the pages. :blink:

[rfranca]

I tried to edit my first post to insert the review but that didn't work out

 

So, here it goes

I was looking for a nice journal to write the adventures of my soon to be born son (Actually, he was born in the meantime between writing this review and posting it).

 

I wanted something with a classical or even medieval look that could last a long time. The idea was to have somewhere to record my thoughts on the process of being a first time father, the cute silly things he says and does, first words, questions etc, so that one day when he is older he can read it all and remember his childhood.

 

After searching the web a lot I had two final candidates: a homemade Italian leather journal with Amalfi paper and the Roma Lussa.

 

After a very, very, very long time trying to make up our minds, my wife and I opted for the Roma Lussa mostly because of the looks, the generous number of pages and the marbled edges.

 

As I said, it was a hard choice since I was anxious to try the Amalfi paper.

 

I read some opinions of the Roma Lussa here at the FPN but they were kind of contradictory, some loving the paper and others hating it.

 

With the help of some fellow members who answered my PMs I felt confident to click the “buy it now” on Ebay.

 

So here is my attempt of a review. Please feel free to ask or add.

 

 

The Journal didn’t come with much of a package. Just a plastic wrap inside a generic card box and the Cavallini label (showed in the pictures below)

 

I was very happy with the looks of it. Pretty much like the pictures I’ve seen on the web (which is quite something since many times objects look nicer on the internet).

 

The dark brown leather had te classic look I was searching for. I would normally prefere a lighter shade of brown, more like a tan or saddle, but in the Roma Lussa, this option came with a red marbled edge (That frankly I thought looked kind of weird).

 

I also think that over time, the darker brown will better keep its looks.

 

The first time you open e journal, the pages are kind of glued together by the marbled edges and it makes a nice “kracling” sound when you fan the pages (sorry, don’t know the right word here!! But I guess you got the picture - literally)

 

Pages are a creamy color (see the picture comparing with my Rhodia pad). By the way, I just loved the color.

 

I wouldn’t say I was disappointed the first time my pen touched the paper, apprehensive would be a better term.

 

I was using my Delta Dolce Vita with M nib and Montblanc black ink. The feeling was strange, as if the paper was sucking the ink right out of my pen. That was just an impression since, although the paper shoed some see through but no bleeding. Neither did the nib form big blobs of ink.

 

The paper also has a nice texture, different from the smoother papers I’m used to. I would prefer a smoother surface but I guess that’s just me not wanting to leave my comfort zone.

 

To the hand, the paper is thicker than your regular Rhodia pad. I would say almost twice, but not quite.

 

As you can see by the pictures I tested with a selection of pens and inks. While writing I thought that the Manuscript and the dip pen would bleed but I was quite satisfied with the result. I also didn’t notice any feathering (as seen on the close-up picture).

 

Conclusion:

 

I’m satisfied with the purchase. There seem to be better journals out there but the best ones like Epica were way out of my reach and the cheaper ones, even with nicer and friendlier paper didn’t have the old world look I was searching for – the leather looks and smells very nice.

 

It isn’t a cheap journal at 70$. My second option with Amalfi paper would cost about the same but with only 100 sheets (200 pages) while this one has 215 sheets (430 pages - believe me, I counted).

 

It doesn’t lay flat (as can be seen by the picture) and I think it might take some effort to write next to the lump. I guess that one of the down sides of having such a thick journal. I wonder if this will get better with time, as the leather and seems soften.

 

As some have said, it’s not the most fountain pen friendly paper but all in all it gets the job done.

 

Anyway, I am willing to cut out two pages send it to the first one willing to test the paper and his or her impressions to this review.

Edited April 29, 2011 by rfranca

[rfranca]

In no particular order:

-does the journal lay flat?

-what is the blue ink in the calligraphy sample?

-what will you use the Roma Lussa for?

-can you share a bit about the pen and paper market in Brazil?

My youngest still raves about her time in Brazil.

Thanks for sharing,

gary

 

- It doesn't lay flat, might get better with time.

- The blue ink is from a cartridge that come with the Manuscript Calligraphy pen set. Don't know the maker

- ended up answering in the review

- That's an issue for a long talk and many bottles of beer... But I would point out that imported goods are extortively (is that a real word?) expensive here. So it has always been more of luxury market (with high prices for not so nice pens ad few brands). Lately income has increased in Brazil while the exchange rate with the dollar has become very favorable for buying directly abroad through the Internet.

We also have a very dynamic paper production sector (mostly office and publishing paper) but it's hard to find quality writing paper.

One thing is sure, using a fountain pen in a meeting always causes and impression and comments such as "My father use to have one of those I think I got to get myselfe one"

[rfranca]

 

I, too, want to know if this width of journal will lay flat. All that's stopping me is the prospect of my hand rolling off the edge of the pages. :blink:

 

As I mentioned, it doesn't lay flat.

On the ninth picture of my first post you can see that I am exercising quite some pressure with my finger and even then it doesn't lay flat.

But that doesn't mean it's terrible to write on, just that you might have to make some pressure with the other hand or hold up the "other" side of the journal while you are writing

 

By the way, I haven't found any Lined Roma Lussa, so this might be a different paper from other Cavallini products

Edited April 29, 2011 by rfranca

[inkypete]

I'm surprised to hear Inkypete complain about the paper as I love it and look for these on sale. I adore their lined paper. Is the blank different?

 

I, too, want to know if this width of journal will lay flat. All that's stopping me is the prospect of my hand rolling off the edge of the pages. :blink:

 

Let me be more specific. The notebooks I have tried have been the travel style A5 size - general touristy type covers. I have had two bought at different times and they were terrible - probably the most fountain pen unfriendly paper I have tried. One in particular the pen wouldn't even write on the surface. It was like I was tryintg to write on wax paper. The second bought about twelve months ago feathered and blead so never again for me unless someone can tell me a specific notebook is ok. This book looks fantastic but I wouldn't trust it.

[Ghost Plane]

Sounds like the travel notebooks have very different paper from the leather bound journals. I've bought thinner, hard back Cavallinis with lined paper. All were purchased off eBay and all had some of the smoothest paper I've ever enjoyed. The thicker paper in these books is obviously different.

 

Thanks for warning me off the travel notebooks. If you run across leather bound with lined paper, try giving them a shot. I've really enjoyed the paper in the handful I've owned.

[rfranca]

my offer still stands.

I can send a couple os pages for you to try 'em out

[elvawenn]

This may be redundant now that you've purchased this journal, but if you love the old world look very much you can go to etsy.com and search for "leather journal". You'll get a lot of nice medieval bindings, and the beauty of such small but talented community is that the artists themselves are willing to answer your questions as to whether the paper they use are fountain pen friendly and some are even willing to make a custom journal for you. Some books I saw are massive and thick. I scored a medieval leather wrap journal using Navajo Brilliant White paper... very white, very smooth, no feathering, no bleeding. Good stuff.

[inkypete]

Sounds like the travel notebooks have very different paper from the leather bound journals. I've bought thinner, hard back Cavallinis with lined paper. All were purchased off eBay and all had some of the smoothest paper I've ever enjoyed. The thicker paper in these books is obviously different.

 

Thanks for warning me off the travel notebooks. If you run across leather bound with lined paper, try giving them a shot. I've really enjoyed the paper in the handful I've owned.

 

Thanks - I will try one of the leather bound in due course. I really like the style of their notebooks and being Italian I thought they would have fantastic paper but bad experiences so far.

Edited April 29, 2011 by inkypete

[Margana]

Congratulations on you new additions, both the journal and the son. Can only comment on the journal but it is a handsome one. Thanks for sharing your experience with it.

[Gobblecup]

Thanks for the review, I enjoyed the pictures and sample therein.

 

I found a lovely looking journal I am trying my best NOT to buy!

 

 

 

http://www.etsy.com/listing/72745782/the-rugged-journey-handmade-blank-book

[rfranca]

Thanks for the review, I enjoyed the pictures and sample therein.

 

I found a lovely looking journal I am trying my best NOT to buy!

 

 

 

http://www.etsy.com/listing/72745782/the-rugged-journey-handmade-blank-book

I like this one you found.

somethings in especial:

Ruff cut edge, number of pages and it looks beautiful.

 

The thing with the paper is that you never know if it's good until you've tried it