The Pilot " Celemo", The 50$ 14K Nibbed Wonder Pen From Pilot.

[hari317]

The Celemo (Ceremony ?) is the cheapest 14k nibbed pocket pen that one can buy new from Pilot today. I am very curious and at the same time awed by the capability of the Japanese pen makers to offer such luxury features like a gold nib to some of their pens that they sell for school boy budgets.

 

In this series, I have already documented the plain Pilot Custom here. This one, the Celemo, is 30% cheaper than the Custom at a msrp of 5000JPY + 8% tax. There is also the gold nibbed deskpen DP-500 offered at the same price point as the Celemo which I have documented in my earlier review here.

 

The packaging was the same as the plain custom, so i will avoid repetition.

 

The tags:

 

http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/PilotCelemo/IMG_0255.jpg

 

http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/PilotCelemo/IMG_0254.jpg

 

The Celemo, (I have used this pen for a few weeks now)

 

http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/PilotCelemo/IMG_0240.jpg

 

http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/PilotCelemo/IMG_0242.jpg

 

The Celemo can use only the Con-20 converter.

 

http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/PilotCelemo/IMG_0243.jpg

 

The fully lacquered clip:

 

http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/PilotCelemo/IMG_0249.jpg

 

Cap Imprints:

 

http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/PilotCelemo/IMG_0250.jpg

 

http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/PilotCelemo/IMG_0251.jpg

 

The same spot welded clip button:

 

http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/PilotCelemo/IMG_0253.jpg

 

The clip on missile shaped nib:

 

http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/PilotCelemo/IMG_0256.jpg

 

http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/PilotCelemo/IMG_0257.jpg

 

http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/PilotCelemo/IMG_0258.jpg

 

Comparing the Celemo to the Custom:

 

http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/PilotCelemo/IMG_0246.jpg

 

http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/PilotCelemo/IMG_0247.jpg

 

http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/PilotCelemo/IMG_0263.jpg

 

Comparing the nibs:

 

http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/PilotCelemo/IMG_0259.jpg

 

http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/PilotCelemo/IMG_0261.jpg

 

http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/PilotCelemo/IMG_0262.jpg

 

The Custom and the Celemo use identical parts that are interchangeable(but for the nib, feed and inside cavity shape of the sections). I have weighed each part carefully and even the weights match. Swapped parts:

 

http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/PilotCelemo/IMG_0248.jpg

 

The Celemo is available in two colors, Red and Black. I have both, I show only the red one here. The nib options are just F and M which is a great drawback for me, since i very much prefer B and wider nibs.

 

Some writing samples:

 

http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj582/hari-317/PilotCelemo/IMG_0272.jpg

 

Writing:

 

The Celemo writes as well as the Custom. No adjustments were needed. The Custom has a slightly longer nib tip to section distance and during back to back testing, I discovered that I seem to prefer the Custom more for this reason. Of course, some others might prefer the Celemo for the same reason.

 

Cost:

 

With the usual discounts over msrp and adding to that customs duty and shipment fees, I ended up paying just about 43USD (2700/- INR) shipped for the Celemo, a wonderful bargain in my view.

 

Cheers!

Hari

Edited August 30, 2014 by hari317

[Art]

Great looking pens. I have a few Pilot Metropolitans and like them very much. Seems like this would make a great Christmas present.

[owend]

This pen is almost identical to the Platinum PTL-5000, also 14K nib, currently about £45/$75 in UK, cheaper on Internet.

[hari317]

This pen is almost identical to the Platinum PTL-5000, also 14K nib, currently about £45/$75 in UK, cheaper on Internet.

True, the Platinum PTL-5000A is very similar to the Celemo and at the same 5000JPY price point. I have that pen and I am planning a detailed comparison in a few weeks

[hari317]

Great looking pens. I have a few Pilot Metropolitans and like them very much. Seems like this would make a great Christmas present.

yes, they would make nice presents, especially to students.

[Algester]

True, the Platinum PTL-5000A is very similar to the Celemo and at the same 5000JPY price point. I have that pen and I am planning a detailed comparison in a few weeks

or you can say this is Pilot's answer to Platinum's standard PTL-5000

[hari317]

or you can say this is Pilot's answer to Platinum's standard PTL-5000

Pilot has questions that few have answers to.

[maverink]

Pilot has questions that few have answers to.

Hari great review as usual love the way you put things in perspective with a nice comparison of custom70 desk pen and look forward to your shootout of the pen with ptl5000

i agree with your quote that pilots pen range is unbeatable i doubt any other pen manufacturer can match that.

 

disclaimer: i am a pilot fanboy

Edited August 30, 2014 by maverink

[hari317]

Hari great review as usual love the way you put things in perspective...

thank you for the kind comments.

 

I started off as a Pilot fan too, now I appreciate pens from all the three.

[EclecticCollector]

Can you share where you purchased yours from? I was only able to find one ended auction, and one US seller asking $81.

[hari317]

Can you share where you purchased yours from? I was only able to find one ended auction, and one US seller asking $81.

I bought it off a pen contact based in Japan.

 

However, have a look at Rakuten.com plenty of sellers selling this pen. Search by model number which is FCM-500R

[EclecticCollector]

Thanks, will do.

[Abhik]

Good photos Hari.

[hari317]

Good photos Hari.

Thanks Abhik.

[WDP4BAAZ]

Congrats Hari ,

 

Gr8 looking pen .

 

How much price in INR ?

 

Regards ,

 

BAAZ

[maverink]

Congrats Hari ,

 

Gr8 looking pen .

 

How much price in INR ?

 

Regards ,

 

BAAZ

http://global.rakuten.com/en/store/bunkidou-shop/item/fcm-500r/

its costing about 4320yen about 2513+10 Usd shipping charges about 3200 rupees check the link

[hari317]

Congrats Hari ,

 

Gr8 looking pen .

 

How much price in INR ?

 

Regards ,

 

BAAZ

Thanks Baaz, the price that i paid is there in the review, you just have to read upto there

 

Regards

Hari

Edited August 31, 2014 by hari317

[terminal]

That's really something isn't it. The shape of the nib is not dissimilar to the Cavalier (and the other pens with that nib, like the Metropolitan). But the fact it's 14k is amazing. I wasn't aware of this pen, what a great value. I'm so glad you took the time to post this!

[hari317]

That's really something isn't it. The shape of the nib is not dissimilar to the Cavalier (and the other pens with that nib, like the Metropolitan). But the fact it's 14k is amazing. I wasn't aware of this pen, what a great value. I'm so glad you took the time to post this!

Thank you. The Celemo's "clip on" type missile/rocket shaped nib has been used by them over the years. I have some very old pilots with the same nib shape but in steel, the Birdie and the Cavalier also have similar shaped nibs as you note.

 

The Metropolitan, Knight, 78G, Non Self Filling pen etc have the flared conventional, non clip on type nib, again very similar in shape.

 

The cheapest Japanese pen that you can buy new with a 14K nib is the Platinum KDP-3000A desk pen at a msrp of just 3000JPY plus tax. (30USD msrp!)

 

my review of the pen: link

 

Despite the low price, the pen is no slouch, superb writer it is and very ergonomic.

Edited August 31, 2014 by hari317

[Algester]

Hari curious have you tried transplanting the nib and feed of the Pilot custom into the Metropolitan,78G,knight, and prera?