Graf Von Faber-Castell Intuition Grenadilla

[jar]

Jar, my Intuition Grenadilla weighs 53g (34g uncapped). Are you confident in the Pernambuco weight? Seems like a too fair difference.

 

 

Yup, pretty confident. Are you weighing filled or empty? I can always weigh it again if you want. But Pernambuco is less dense than Grenadilla and so I expect it would be lighter.

[ransky]

 

 

Yup, pretty confident. Are you weighing filled or empty? I can always weigh it again if you want. But Pernambuco is less dense than Grenadilla and so I expect it would be lighter.

I was weighing filled. Just curious about the weights, but quite satisfied to let the mystery be. Reflecting on the pen, it's probably my favorite at the moment. A real pleasure to use. The barrel thickness and nib are the main draws I think. It's spoiled me for thinner pens. My poor but lovely Caran d'Ache Ecridor is patiently biding time in the storage box. Whims of fancy.

[breaker]

nice review and pics!

thanks!

[humsin]

Grenadilla is a bit denser, but it should only be marginally heavier

[elderberry]

 

 

Yup, pretty confident. Are you weighing filled or empty? I can always weigh it again if you want. But Pernambuco is less dense than Grenadilla and so I expect it would be lighter.

 

That's interesting, my Elemento (same model, but olive wood) also is considerably lighter than the Grenadilla. Maybe there was a change in the construction at some point.

[humsin]

 

That's interesting, my Elemento (same model, but olive wood) also is considerably lighter than the Grenadilla. Maybe there was a change in the construction at some point.

 

It's only a small block of wood used...weight difference is probably around that of an empty pen and a filled pen.

[karmakoda]

 

Welcome home. Pull up a stump and set a spell. Feel better now?

Somehow , "Pull up a stump and set a spell." makes everyone feel better. Thanks Jar.

 

Wow, even at first glance, this is such a pretty pen, impressive, meticulous craftsmanship. Beautiful nib.

Love the presentation box and cloth bag.

I know about the cap weight, and it can be an attraction to some, not so much to others.

Must get some Iroshizuku Kon-peki.

 

Excellent review, good reading for anyone considering the Intuition.

[Simius]

I bought the Intuition resin and now wish I had bought this pen instead. If anyone knows of a retailer with good prices on GvFC pens, I'd appreciate the information through a PM. Thanks...

[humsin]

I apologize, there's actually a small numerical mistake. I don't know how to correct it though...

[habib]

Very nice! There should be more pens made out of wood.

[Montblanc owner and lover]

Thanks for your answers and kindness

[nicholasyeo]

I dare say the Intuition only just meets expectations or is within expectations because of the simple fact it is too overpriced. I have been eyeing the wood models for so long but never bit the bullet. The price makes your expectations rise, and the pen doesn't really have any outstanding qualities except for the fact it's generally trouble free in terms of nibs and workmanship. Maybe this is characteristic of the brand? Just IMHO.

[Simius]

I dare say the Intuition only just meets expectations or is within expectations because of the simple fact it is too overpriced. I have been eyeing the wood models for so long but never bit the bullet. The price makes your expectations rise, and the pen doesn't really have any outstanding qualities except for the fact it's generally trouble free in terms of nibs and workmanship. Maybe this is characteristic of the brand? Just IMHO.

 

I agree with Nicholas that GvFC pens are overpriced. And yet, I find myself drawn to them. For me, two things stand out - the aesthetic of minimalism, and close to perfect construction. Other posters have complained about scratchy nibs and similar problems, but mine have written perfectly out of the box.

Edited July 25, 2013 by Simius

[jar]

I find the GvFC pens greatly underpriced and value far higher than I expected.

[Simius]

I find the GvFC pens greatly underpriced and value far higher than I expected.

 

Hmm... Elaborate?

[humsin]

I dare say the Intuition only just meets expectations or is within expectations because of the simple fact it is too overpriced. I have been eyeing the wood models for so long but never bit the bullet. The price makes your expectations rise, and the pen doesn't really have any outstanding qualities except for the fact it's generally trouble free in terms of nibs and workmanship. Maybe this is characteristic of the brand? Just IMHO.

 

Hmm I'm interested in knowing what criteria you look for in pens. GvFC uses some of the nicest materials in industry...

 

 

I agree with Nicholas that GvFC pens are overpriced. And yet, I find myself drawn to them. For me, two things stand out - the aesthetic of minimalism, and close to perfect construction. Other posters have complained about scratchy nibs and similar problems, but mine have written perfectly out of the box.

 

I had nib problems on my Classic, but the Intuition nib is of a different design, one much better.

[ransky]

Regarding price, I've forgotten what I paid for my Intuition. It wasn't cheap, but the cost was a one-time entry fee to the ongoing enjoyment of a really nice pen. The nib on mine was not trouble free. It had some hesitation and skipping initially, I also had a problem with nib dry out. After some smoothing, cleaning and experiments with different nks, the nib is just superb.

 

The slip on/off cap makes this a great pen to use in meetings, plus the nib is now so forgiving that I can quickly make notes without worry about whether I've rotated the thing one way or the other (which I've a tendency to do). The wood barrel is truly unique, even among wood barreled pens, and I love that there's no section, you just hold the barrel. Anyway, not trying to convince anyone, just food for thought.

[jar]

 

Hmm... Elaborate?

 

Sure.

 

I can only speak based on my small sample, about six pens.

 

First, the care, materials, workmanship and attention to detail on all the GvFC pens I have purchased has been superb. All the pens have worked from the moment the nib first touched paper through today (a Classic Pernambuco with Private Reserve Tanzanite ink). Capping and uncapping the Intuitions is of course simple and quick and the Gulloche models are the same. The screw cap Classic models take three quarters of a turn to open or close and post securely by slipping onto the endpiece. If you look under the spring loaded clips you will find ridges engraved to increase the security across different materials and the clip works equally well on thick or thin fabrics.

 

Faber Castell also makes a full line of pens from inexpensive entry level pens to their Pen of the Year.

 

On the Classic series you can have your choice of sections, resin, Platinum plated or Sterling silver and you can purchase spare section/nib assemblies for a reasonable price and online.

 

But the biggest reason is the support I've received from the company.

 

Of the German companies I would rate my experience with GvFC above Montblanc and far above Pelikan in service and perfomance.

Edited July 25, 2013 by jar

[nicholasyeo]

 

Hmm I'm interested in knowing what criteria you look for in pens. GvFC uses some of the nicest materials in industry...

 

 

I had nib problems on my Classic, but the Intuition nib is of a different design, one much better.

 

To address that, I think its the "wow" factor that is missing in some of the GvFC pens. There's also the fact that the same amount of money can buy you a nice limited edition from other brands. In addition, GvFC pens aren't very rare or limited in supply so I keep putting off the purchase because something else comes by.

 

YES, I know its German and its minimalist and utilitarian, but when you see yourself paying such a large amount of money for a pen you ask yourself what makes it stand out from the rest? And here the Intuition doesn't really have anything special to show - for example, unlike the Omas wood pens with in-built pistons, the Intuition is a C/C pen. Unlike the Japanese wood pens, this isn't made of some thousand-year-old cedar wood from protected reserves on some mysterious Japanese island.

 

(And this is coming from a person who adores the Pernambuco version so much... yes, it makes me feel so conflicted )

 

Edited to add: Just IMHO, don't take me too seriously!

Edited July 26, 2013 by nicholasyeo

[Simius]

(And this is coming from a person who adores the Pernambuco version so much... yes, it makes me feel so conflicted )

 

Nicholas, it's time to stop these feelings of being conflicted, and get yourself a GvFC! At least, that's what I did. And then, I liked it so much that I got another.

 

More to to the point of the topic; the Intuition resin does not look so special (I did get a considerable discount, so it was not quite so overpriced). However, once I started using it, the pen became a favorite of mine - must be because of some combination of appearance, functionality and reliability it embodies. I do think, however, that the Intuition Grenadille (or another wood model of Intuition) is a better buy than the resin version, despite a higher price.